Helga Anneleise Matano

June 12, 1939 – October 16, 2025

Helga Anneleise Matano passed away in her Laguna Beach home on Thursday, October 16, 2025, at the age of 86.

A wonderful mother, grandmother, neighbor, and friend, Helga had been a friendly, familiar face in the Top of the World neighborhood since 1968. Each morning, her open garage door served as an invitation for friends and neighbors to stop by and say hello.

Helga's warmth extended beyond her street. She was a cherished member of the Susi Q Center, where she volunteered with passion and rarely missed a game of bingo. She will be missed dearly by her Susi Q family.

Helga's simple joys were her greatest treasures. She enjoyed her daily walks along the "Rabbit Trail" at Alta Laguna Park, playing cards, trying new soups, laughing over lunch with her cousin Wiltrud Thewes (Seal Beach, CA), listening to live music, appreciating local art, and taking in the excitement of community sports like pickleball, baseball, and soccer. She was also a devoted Dodgers fan, celebrating her 86th birthday by attending her first game at Dodger Stadium.

Helga is survived by her sons, Anthony Matano (fiancée Julie Holland) and Christopher Matano (spouse Jeannie Bellsmith), and by her grandchildren, Anthony James Matano, Jacob Bellsmith Matano, Cassidy Bellsmith Matano, and Kayla Renee Matano.

Per Helga's wishes, there will be "no hoopla," and her family will honor her life in a private ceremony. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to the Susi Q Center bingo program at https://thesusiq.org/
.