Ann Stephanu Matthews

On June 12, 2026, Joanna “Ann” Matthews (nee Stephanu) devoted mother of George N. Matthews and his wife Tracy Ann and Stephanie M. Kambouris and her husband Dr. Nicholas G. Kambouris and cherished grandmother of Christiana Sophia Kambouris and sister of Anastasia S. Kosmides, passed away in Annapolis, Maryland. She was predeceased by her beloved husband, Nicholas Thrasyboulos Matthews and dear sister Irene S. Zanakos. Also survived by many loving nieces and nephews.

Ann (Joanna) S. Matthews of Annapolis, formerly of Baltimore and Towson, was born in Bethlehem, PA on October 19, 1928, to George and Sophia Stephanu whose families migrated from Asia Minor to Crete, Greece during the Turkish War. Her parents were members of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church where Ann joined the church choir at age 12 and remained an active member until she married and moved to Baltimore. For nine years, she attended Greek School daily learning to read and write Greek.

While in high school, she was an active member of the Liberty High School Glee Club and graduated in 1946. Upon graduation from Liberty High School, she attended Bethlehem Business College. At this time, she auditioned and was accepted to the nationally recognized Bach Choir of Bethlehem. During the period from 1947 to 1956, the choir performed in many notable venues including Carnegie Hall in New York City accompanied by the Philadelphia Orchestra. The choir was under the direction of the highly acclaimed conductor Dr. Ifor Jones who also taught at the Peabody Conservatory of Music.

She was active in St. Nicholas Greek Church in Bethlehem and participated in numerous campaigns to acquire property to build a new church. Ann was a founding member of the Daughters of Penelope Chapter of Bethlehem and remains a member to the present time. Prior to her marriage, she was employed as the Administrative Manager for Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company in Bethlehem.

While attending the 1954 National AHEPA Convention as a delegate to the Daughters of Penelope in Pittsburgh, she met her husband, Nicholas Thrasyboulos Matthews of Baltimore. He traveled from Baltimore to Bethlehem every other weekend for two years while serving his apprenticeship as a mortician and then in 1956 they were married. Ann was employed as Administrative Assistant to the Manager of Industrial Relations for Crown Cork and Seal from 1957 to 1960.

In 1961, they established the Matthews Funeral Home on Eastern Avenue in Baltimore. Having assisted at the funeral home, she decided to pursue her funeral director’s license with the state of Maryland which she attained in 1964. Upon her husband’s death in 1984, Ann continued operating the funeral home until 1998, and then as a consultant after it was acquired by a national firm.

After surviving three episodes of cancer, she retired in 2004. Ann and her family were always most grateful for the profound dedication of Dr. Ross Donehower and the entire staff of Johns Hopkins Hospital but also to the grace of God for allowing her to continue life. In 2008, she moved from Towson to Annapolis to be closer to her children and granddaughter, Christiana.

She was a subscriber to the Baltimore Opera Company for many years, served on the Board of the Mayor’s Baltimore-Piraeus Sister City Committee, the Board of the Baltimore Medical System, and various committees at The Reserve at Heritage Harbour in Annapolis where she resided. In addition, she was a dedicated volunteer to the Anne Arundel Medical Hospital for many years and volunteered throughout these years at the Greek churches.

Ann was a member of the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Annunciation of Baltimore, St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church of Baltimore and Saints Constantine Helen Greek Orthodox Church of Annapolis as well as the Ladies Philoptochos Society of these churches.

She was an avid reader and read multiple newspapers every morning. Throughout the years, she attended various classes at the community college in Baltimore and Annapolis and believed that education was a lifelong process. Throughout her life, Ann enjoyed gardening and loved her travels to see Broadway shows with her family in New York. She also traveled extensively with her family. Ann will be remembered for her kindness and empathy in helping thousands of people in need in both her professional and personal life. Most of all, Ann was a dedicated mother, grandmother, and friend and delighted in sharing time together. She and her entire family are eternally grateful to our Lord and Savior for allowing her to live almost 98 years and consider ourselves extraordinarily blessed.

Mrs. Matthews will lie in state on Thursday, June 18th from 10:00 to 10:30 AM with the funeral service to begin at 10:30 AM at the Chapel of the Holy Resurrection at the Greek Orthodox Cemetery, 5917 Windsor Mill Road, Baltimore MD 21207. Interment to follow also at the Greek Orthodox Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be offered to any of the Greek Orthodox Churches of Baltimore or Annapolis c/o The Philoptochos Society, caring for the needs of the poor and under privileged.