Obituary for Reverend Matthew Martin Azzolina
Of South Park was born on October 18th, 1928 and passed away on January 3rd, 2022.
Matthew was born to a Sicilian immigrant family in Milwaukee Wisconsin, the 10th of 12 children born to Francesco Azzolina and Sarah (nee DeAngelo) Azzolina. Matthew is predeceased by his parents and 10 siblings and their spouses except for youngest sister Grace DuBoise. He is also predeceased by beloved daughter Joan Lohnes and Mark and Lisa Snatchko. He is survived by wife Jean (Engler) Azzolina, daughter Linda Snatchko of Canonsburg PA, son Philip Azzolina of Seminole FL, son Frank (& Suzi) Azzolina of Valparaiso IN, and daughter Sara (& Robert) Kuzma of West Mifflin PA. He is also survived by 17 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren and 10 great-great grandchildren.
Matthew graduated from Lincoln High School in 1947, he began his first career path at Cornell Paper eventually as a draftsman. After marrying Jean in 1954 he began attending night school, graduating in 1963 from Milwaukee Institute of Technology with an engineering degree (the first college graduate in his family). He worked there from 1956 to 1976 which by then had become St Regis Paper (later Georgia-Pacific). Upon graduation, Matthew accepting a job as a production engineer and moved to Pittsburgh.
The family settled in Mt Lebanon until in 1973, Matthew felt called to the ministry and with the support of his wife Jean, left their home and a career of 30 years and moved to Crown Point, IN to attend Hyles Anderson College, graduating in 1976 with a bachelor's degree in Pastoral Theology. His second career began with an offer to return to Pittsburgh as Associate Pastor of Library Baptist Church (Crossroads Ministries) in Finleyville, PA and settled in South Park, PA.
This tenure lasted for fourteen years spending time ministering to hundreds of sick folks in the hospital, and presiding over a group of retirees called the Sweet Sixties and leading an inner-city ministry sponsored by Library Baptist Church in Mt Oliver called the Arlington Chapel. He remodeled the building, once even tracking down and recovering stolen stained-glass windows from the building and celebrated a mortgage burning service with Pittsburgh Mayor, Richard Caliguiri in the 80's.
Pastor Matt, as he was known, was always on call day or night to come to the aid of all those in need. For decades the church had a food pantry that delivered to those without transportation every week. The church also ran buses and vans to pick up those who needed transportation to church. He helped many people rebuild their lives after failure and hardship, even going to court hearings to help and was a friend to many.
In 1991, he became pastor of South Park Baptist Church. There, he continued mobile food bank and providing church transportation to those in need. Once again he undertook he undertook a building improvement project which included an upgraded church sign on Baptist Rd proclaiming encouraging and thought-provoking messages to the thousands of people on their daily commutes. The church held services on Sunday morning, evening and Wednesday nights and over the years delivered thousands of lessons, devotionals, sermons, sermons, officiating at dozens and dozens of funerals, weddings and special events.
Pastor Matt and his wife and church members made visits to homes long beyond the days when that practice was no longer common, showing the great love and compassion for those in need and always helping the underdog. He liked to remind people that whenever you point your finger at someone else, there are always three pointing back at you. He strove to follow the words of his own father before he died who said to him: "Preach the Word. Never compromise and stay true to Jesus!"
Matthew was a caring father who, in spite of his busy schedule took time for his children and grandchildren and was humble in rebuke and always had a word of encouragement.
Funeral arrangements by BEINHAUERS. Family and friends welcome at 2828 Washington Road, McMurray, 724 941-3211. Wednesday January 5, 2022 4-8p.m. A funeral service will be celebrated Thursday at 10:30a.m. at the funeral home. Entombment Forest Lawn Gardens. Please view or add tributes at www.beinhauer.com.
Matthew was born to a Sicilian immigrant family in Milwaukee Wisconsin, the 10th of 12 children born to Francesco Azzolina and Sarah (nee DeAngelo) Azzolina. Matthew is predeceased by his parents and 10 siblings and their spouses except for youngest sister Grace DuBoise. He is also predeceased by beloved daughter Joan Lohnes and Mark and Lisa Snatchko. He is survived by wife Jean (Engler) Azzolina, daughter Linda Snatchko of Canonsburg PA, son Philip Azzolina of Seminole FL, son Frank (& Suzi) Azzolina of Valparaiso IN, and daughter Sara (& Robert) Kuzma of West Mifflin PA. He is also survived by 17 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren and 10 great-great grandchildren.
Matthew graduated from Lincoln High School in 1947, he began his first career path at Cornell Paper eventually as a draftsman. After marrying Jean in 1954 he began attending night school, graduating in 1963 from Milwaukee Institute of Technology with an engineering degree (the first college graduate in his family). He worked there from 1956 to 1976 which by then had become St Regis Paper (later Georgia-Pacific). Upon graduation, Matthew accepting a job as a production engineer and moved to Pittsburgh.
The family settled in Mt Lebanon until in 1973, Matthew felt called to the ministry and with the support of his wife Jean, left their home and a career of 30 years and moved to Crown Point, IN to attend Hyles Anderson College, graduating in 1976 with a bachelor's degree in Pastoral Theology. His second career began with an offer to return to Pittsburgh as Associate Pastor of Library Baptist Church (Crossroads Ministries) in Finleyville, PA and settled in South Park, PA.
This tenure lasted for fourteen years spending time ministering to hundreds of sick folks in the hospital, and presiding over a group of retirees called the Sweet Sixties and leading an inner-city ministry sponsored by Library Baptist Church in Mt Oliver called the Arlington Chapel. He remodeled the building, once even tracking down and recovering stolen stained-glass windows from the building and celebrated a mortgage burning service with Pittsburgh Mayor, Richard Caliguiri in the 80's.
Pastor Matt, as he was known, was always on call day or night to come to the aid of all those in need. For decades the church had a food pantry that delivered to those without transportation every week. The church also ran buses and vans to pick up those who needed transportation to church. He helped many people rebuild their lives after failure and hardship, even going to court hearings to help and was a friend to many.
In 1991, he became pastor of South Park Baptist Church. There, he continued mobile food bank and providing church transportation to those in need. Once again he undertook he undertook a building improvement project which included an upgraded church sign on Baptist Rd proclaiming encouraging and thought-provoking messages to the thousands of people on their daily commutes. The church held services on Sunday morning, evening and Wednesday nights and over the years delivered thousands of lessons, devotionals, sermons, sermons, officiating at dozens and dozens of funerals, weddings and special events.
Pastor Matt and his wife and church members made visits to homes long beyond the days when that practice was no longer common, showing the great love and compassion for those in need and always helping the underdog. He liked to remind people that whenever you point your finger at someone else, there are always three pointing back at you. He strove to follow the words of his own father before he died who said to him: "Preach the Word. Never compromise and stay true to Jesus!"
Matthew was a caring father who, in spite of his busy schedule took time for his children and grandchildren and was humble in rebuke and always had a word of encouragement.
Funeral arrangements by BEINHAUERS. Family and friends welcome at 2828 Washington Road, McMurray, 724 941-3211. Wednesday January 5, 2022 4-8p.m. A funeral service will be celebrated Thursday at 10:30a.m. at the funeral home. Entombment Forest Lawn Gardens. Please view or add tributes at www.beinhauer.com.