Lea Elizabeth Matthews, age 31, of Massillon, OH, passed away on January 6, 2026, peacefully with her husband by her side. She was born on September 14th, 1994 in Wooster, OH, the daughter of William and Kay Bergman. Lea was married to Evan for 5 years, and together they shared a life filled with love, devotion, and laughter. She was a loving wife and dog mom, and her friends and family were the center of her life. She worked as a 2nd Grade Teacher at Wooster Christian School, where she was known for her devotion to her students and upbeat personality. Outside of work, she enjoyed reading, playing games, and catching up with her close-knit friend group. She will be remembered for her kindness, strength, sense of humor, generosity, love and the way she touched the lives of everyone who knew her. She is survived by her husband Evan, siblings Jed and Ben, and best friends Tiffany, Tricia, and Hannah, and her dog Finley. She was preceded in death by her parents William and Kay Bergman. A celebration of life service will be held on January 12, 2026 at Heitger Funeral Home - Jackson Chapel, 5850 Wales Ave. NW, Massillon, from 5-7pm with special concluding words at the end. We ask that you wear your brightest colors as this is not a grim affair. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to American Cancer Foundation, in loving memory of Lea Matthews. Condolences to the family may be made here on our tribute wall. Heitger Funeral Home and Crematory 330-833-3248

American Cancer Society
P.O. Box 22478, Oklahoma City OK 73123
Tel: 1-800-227-2345
Web: http://www.cancer.org/