Obituary of Brian C. Matthews Sr.

For Brian’s loved ones unable to attend his Funeral Mass, on Saturday, January 20^th, starting at 10:00 AM, we will be making it possible to attend online via livestream please click on the link below:

Link for Livestream

Brian Conlan Matthews, Sr

Brian Matthews of Parsippany, NJ, passed away peacefully at Center of Hope Hospice in Scotch Plains, NJ on Monday, January 15th 2024 with his family by his side.  He was 71 years old.

As a lifelong resident of the South Orange and Maplewood area, he later resided in Parsippany and is survived by his wife, Maryellen Froelich Matthews, of Maplewood, and their three children Brian C Matthews, Jr (Mary beth), Gregory, and Courtney Hancur (Matthew).   He also leaves behind his seven grandchildren Conlan, Thomas, Finnegan and Margaret Matthews and Ryan, Marie and Dylan Hancur.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Peggy Jo (Conlan) and John A. Matthews Jr, sisters Patricia and Jane Marie, and brother John A Matthews III (Jack).  His is survived by six siblings Joseph, Edwin, James, Margaret, Thomas, and Marian Matthews Power along with numerous cousins, countless nieces and nephews and grand nieces and nephews, and many great friends and co-workers.

Brian attended Our Lady of Sorrows School, St. Benedict's Prep, College of the Holy Cross and graduated cum laude from Seton Hall Law School.  After graduating law school, he was a law clerk to Hon. John W. Fritz of the Appellate Division, Superior Court , New Jersey.  He then joined the Essex County Prosecutors Office where he worked from 1978 – 1983, and then again from 2011 until his retirement in 2023.  He spent 25 years in private practice in between.  Brian believed his time in the Prosecutors Office was the most rewarding work of his career.

In 2017, he was awarded the Outstanding Advocacy of a Case award by the County Prosecutors Association of New Jersey.  At the awards ceremony in Atlantic City, his speech was entirely dedicated to his co-workers and partners.  

Brian enjoyed golf in his earlier years, loved spending time with his siblings, and attended his grandchildren’s sporting events whenever he could.  He cheered (and moaned) about his beloved Giants, Yankees and Seton Hall Pirates.

Visitation will be held on Friday, January 19th from 3:00 to 7:00 pm at  Preston Funeral Home, 153 South Orange Avenue in South Orange. The Funeral Mass will be held at Our Lady of Sorrows Church, 217 Prospect Street in South Orange on Saturday, January 20th at 10:00 a.m., Internment will follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in East Hanover. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to St. Benedict's Prep in his honor at 520 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd, Newark, NJ or Center for Hope Hospice and Palliative Care, Scotch Plains N.J.