Opal Lematta Obituary

OPAL “PAT” LEMATTA
November 9, 1929 ˜ March 6, 2025

With deep and profound sadness, we announce the passing of Opal Lematta, a woman whose strength, warmth, and unwavering love for her family shaped every moment of her life.
Born in Kansas, Opal carried fond memories of her early years before her family moved to the Portland-Vancouver area when she was nine. She often spoke of her time at Battle Ground High School, where she developed secretarial skills that would serve her well in her career with several Portland companies.
On November 14, 1953, Opal married her childhood sweetheart, George “Willie” Lematta, and together they built a life filled with camping trips, family gatherings, and quiet joys until Willie’s sudden passing in 1973. She never stopped loving him, kissing his photo each night, and looked forward to their reunion in the life to come.
Opal moved forward with resilience and grace, raising her children as a single mother while creating a home filled with warmth, comfort, and the traditions that made everything still feel spectacular. Her home was a place of exquisite beauty, from her carefully curated decor to the music that filled each room, and the Blue Willow china she loved to collect. She found joy in decorating and creating a space where others felt welcome and cared for.
She had a profound appreciation for beauty in all its forms, especially music, which was a constant companion and source of comfort throughout her life. She found contentment in her own company and in the small conversations she shared with those she met, offering kindness in many thoughtful ways.
Opal cherished the adventures she shared with her granddaughter, Victoria “Tori,” creating memories together in Canada, Mexico, the Oregon and Washington coasts, Sunriver, and Lake Tahoe. She was a fun, adventurous, and generous grandmother, loving her family with every bit of her being.
Opal is survived by her daughter, Susie (Ted) Mayson; granddaughter, Tori; siblings, Lois Bloomquist, Delbert (Lois) Proudfit, and Cecil Proudfit; and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents, Cecil and Nora Proudfit; her husband, George “Willie” Lematta; her son, Scott Lematta; her daughter and son-in-law, Julie (Jerry) Brown; and her siblings, Ruth Grelck, Charles “Chuck” Proudfit, Dale Proudfit, Hazel Proudfit, and Thelma Yamada.
Opal’s legacy of love, perseverance, and generosity lives on in all who were blessed to know her, and the warmth she brought to the world will continue to comfort those she loved most.
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