Jennifer Woodbridge Mathes

In Loving Memory of Jennifer Woodbridge Mathes November 2, 1945 – February 24, 2025

 We mourn the loss of our beloved Jenny who died suddenly of a stroke on Monday, February 24, 2025 in her home in Burlingame, CA. She was born Jennifer Tandy Woodbridge on November 2, 1945, to Donald B. and Nora W. Woodbridge in New York City, and was raised in Oak Ridge, TN.

She graduated from the University of Tennessee, where she earned her undergraduate degree in History. During her college summers, Jenny worked as a counselor at a girls’ camp in Androscoggin, Maine where she met her future husband, Stephen John Mathes of New Orleans, LA and they married in 1966. First living in New Orleans, Louisiana while Stephen was in Medical School, they then moved to Charlottesville, Virginia, where they welcomed their first son, David. Shortly thereafter, they moved to Atlanta, Georgia, where their family grew with the births of their two sons, Brian and Edward. Subsequent job opportunities had the family living in St. Louis, MO, Ann Arbor MI, before making their final move to the San Francisco Bay Area in California. Here, Jenny established deep roots, forming lasting friendships and becoming an integral part of the community where she built a life filled with love and purpose.

A longstanding member of St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in San Mateo, California, Jenny’s faith was her guiding light. She served in various capacities, from singing in the choir and teaching Sunday school to being an active member of the Vestry. Her most cherished role was as a member of the St. Catherine’s Guild, a group of Christian women dedicated to serving the local community and the church where she formed deep and lifelong friends.

She loved to host gatherings in her home, or contribute with her talents in the various fundraising efforts for the church. Jenny had a profound love for gardening, creating a serene backyard oasis that brought her immense joy and pride. She an insatiable curiosity about the world, particularly places rich in history and culture and always planned travel with her friends and family. Jenny was also an avid reader, often found with a book in hand which she often recommended to her friends and family. Jenny was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Timothy and sister Melissa. She is survived by her sons Dr. David Woodbridge Mathes, and wife, Amanda, and their children Hudson, Olivia and Henry, of Denver, CO, Brian Arthur Mathes and wife, Vasso, and their two children, Zoe and Elenora, of Newton, MA, and Edward John Mathes and wife, Dr. Erin Mathes, and their children William, George and Lauren of San Francisco, CA. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to St. Matthews Episcopal Church St. Catherine’s Group in San Mateo, California, in honor of Jenny’s lifelong dedication to her faith and community. Jenny W. Mathes will be dearly missed, but her gentle spirit and warm smile spirit will live on in the hearts of those who were fortunate enough to know her. 

Celebration of life services will be held on Saturday March 22nd at 10:00 AM with reception to follow at the Church at St. Mathews Church1 S. El Camino Real, San Mateo, CA 94401