Maxima Mateo Jorge de Matias

Maxima Mateo Jorge de Matias, 72, originally from Guatemala, a resident of Fort Myers, FL since 2013, passed away Friday, May 12, 2023. She was born February 21, 1951 in Barillas, Huehuetenango, Guatemala to Mateo and Paulina Jorge, now deceased.

Maxima was a practicing Catholic and was a member of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Fort Myers.

She was of Mayan descent whose primary language was Q’anjob’al, one of the more than 20 languages spoken by Mayan descendants in Guatemala.

She instilled love of family, culture, and tradition in her children and grandchildren. She encouraged her sons and daughters to seek out knowledge and practice curiosity to learn as much as they could about the world, they are a part of. She was a true believer in Catholic education. Respecting and caring for God’s creation was something that Maxima practiced throughout her life; as Mayan, indigenous people, their aim is to live in harmony with every living creation.

She infused love into the coffee she produced and kindly shared with her loved ones, including their family priest, friends, and neighbors in Southwest Florida. She spent her time reading her bible, praying the rosary, and enjoying her work in nature. 

Maxima’s sense of humanity has been of great guidance and has led her family to care for others, communities in need here in Southwest Florida and back home in Guatemala. Despite the challenges she encountered, she became a great advocate for those who needed a voice, regardless of who they were and where they came from. She never stopped reminding her family and community of what it means to be a member of an ancient culture whose roots date back thousands of years. The importance of keeping the culture and history alive through oral tradition was practiced by her. She will return to her ancestral home.

She is survived by nine children, Marta Matias of Lehigh Acres, Maria Matias of Fort Myers, Paulina Matias of Cape Coral, FL, Idalia Matias of Fort Myers, Calixtro Matias of Fort Myers, Diego Matias of Fort Myers, Marilinda Matias of Fort Myers, Maximiliana Matias of Guatemala, and Mateo Matias of Guatemala; as well as 20 grandchildren.

Mass of Resurrection will be held at 6:00 PM on Saturday, May 27, 2023 at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, 2157 Cleveland Avenue, Fort Myers, FL 33901 with Father Anthony Hewitt, JCL, Pastor, officiating. The Family will receive friends for a Time of Visitation from 7:00 PM until 10:00 PM on Friday, May 26, 2023 at Mullins Memorial, 3654 Palm Beach Blvd., Fort Myers, FL 33916.

Memorial Contributions in memory of Maxima Mateo Jorge de Matias are suggested to St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, for the Blessed Mother’s Prayer Garden, 2133 Heitman Street, Fort Myers, Fl 33901.

Mullins Memorial Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Fort Myers, is entrusted with final care.