Norman "Matt" Withey, 86, of Sharon and formerly a longtime resident of Burlington, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, June 10, surrounded by the love of his family.

Born in Elmhurst, IL, Matt was one of three children born to the late Norman and Marion (Matthews) Withey. He spent his childhood growing up in Wisconsin, where he developed a lifelong appreciation for the outdoors, family traditions, and the simple joys of life.

Matt's greatest blessing came in the form of a chance encounter that would change the course of his life forever. While home on leave from the United States Navy, he met the love of his life, Anna Giansiracusa, on the Green Line subway platform in Boston. Spotting Anna as they waited for the train, Matt struck up a conversation that continued throughout the ride. By the time they parted ways, he had earned her phone number and the beginning of a remarkable love story had been written.

When his leave ended, Matt returned to active duty, but distance could not diminish his affection for Anna. He faithfully wrote to her every day while serving his country. Upon receiving his honorable discharge from the Navy, he returned home and married the woman who had captured his heart. Together they built a beautiful life, welcomed two daughters and a son whom they adored, and eventually settled in Burlington, where they raised their family and created countless cherished memories.

Matt worked for over 40 years as a draftsman, mostly in the city of Boston. His career started before 1982, when the Auto CAD machine was invented. This means that he initially did all of his drafting by hand. He learned to use the CAD machine on the job. He worked for Sverdrop Corporation and Jacobs Engineering on the Central Artery/ Tunnel Project, better known as "The Big Dig" in the city of Boston. Matt was especially proud of contributing to this project.

In 2004, Matt was laid off from his job with Jacobs Engineering, and instead of retiring at the age of 64, he and Anna chose to embark on a seven year adventure. They drove their Subaru Forester across the country so that Matt could work for Martin and Martin Engineering in Las Vegas, Nevada. While in Las Vegas, they enjoyed going to watch as much live music as they could, and they visited their youngest daughter and her husband in Orange County, CA on weekends and holidays. Matt and Anna took this opportunity to explore some of the West Coast, traveling up and down the Coast of California and to Bryce and Zion National parks in Utah. During this time, Matt also won a battle with prostrate cancer, the same illness that had lead to his father's death at age 68. Matt retired in 2011 and Matt and Anna drove back to Massachusetts just in time to welcome their grandson who was born in 2010. Matt and Anna loved being able to spend their retirement with their grandson, and they have been especially proud to watch him excel in school, sports and music.

A proud veteran, Matt carried with him many fond memories of his military service. A gifted musician, he played the saxophone in the Navy band and maintained a lifelong love of music. Nothing brought him greater joy than attending his daughters' band concerts and shows, proudly supporting them in all of their endeavors.

Matt found happiness in life's simple pleasures. Growing up in Wisconsin, he treasured spending time boating and fishing with his brother, a beloved tradition they continued for many years until his brother's passing. He was an avid sports fan who rarely missed a Patriots, Celtics, or Red Sox game and greatly enjoyed following college basketball.

Family time was always at the center of Matt's life. He loved summer days spent at the beach, swimming, and taking family day trips to Lake Winnipesaukee. He enjoyed friendly tennis matches at the Burlington Swim and Tennis Club and cherished visits to Wisconsin to spend time with his sister, enjoying the peaceful beauty of her family farm, horseback riding, and the surrounding countryside. During the winter months, Matt's passion turned to skiing, a sport he loved so much that he taught his entire family, creating traditions and memories that will endure for generations.

Matt was also remarkably handy and possessed a quiet confidence that there was no problem he couldn't solve. Whether it was a household repair, a mechanical issue, or even electrical work around the house, he was always ready to roll up his sleeves and tackle the task himself. Family and friends knew that if something needed fixing, Matt was the person to call.

Among his greatest joys was the special relationship he shared with his grandson, Jason. Matt rarely missed an opportunity to cheer Jason on from the sidelines, attending countless games and sporting events throughout the years. He was immensely proud of his grandson and treasured every moment they spent together. Whether watching sports, sharing stories, or simply enjoying each other's company, the bond they shared brought Matt tremendous happiness and will remain one of the family's most cherished memories.

Above all else, Matt was a devoted husband, loving father, proud grandfather, loyal brother, and cherished friend. His kindness, quiet strength, unwavering dedication to his family, and appreciation for life's simple moments will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered.

He was predeceased by his brother, Jackman Withey and his sister Eleanor Hicks.

Matt is survived by his loving wife Anna, his daughters Maria Ikonitskiy and her husband Roman of Stoughton, Jennifer Knoll and her husband Alex of Fullerton, CA and Jackman “Jack” Withey of Duncan, OK, a grandson, Jason Ikonitskiy as well as several nieces and nephews.

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend his visiting hours on Wednesday June 17th from 4PM to 7PM at the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., Burlington. His funeral services will begin on Thursday starting at 9AM from the funeral home with a Funeral Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at 10AM at Saint Malachys Church, 99 Bedford St. Burlington. Burial will follow in Puritan Lawn Cemetery, Peabody. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association at Alzheimer's Association .