Cheryl Ann Mattson

Cheryl A. Mattson, age 66 of Farmington, passed away peacefully at her home on Tuesday, November 5, 2019. Cheryl was born in St. Paul, Minnesota on December 29, 1952, the daughter of R. Corrine (Raschke) and Joseph Sierakowski Jr. She attended North St. Paul High School, where she met her future husband, Craig Mattson. She graduated from high school a year before Craig and studied theater at the University of Minnesota - Morris and the College of St. Katherine. While attending college, she and Craig were married on September 30, 1972 at Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church. Cheryl worked as a retail manager for numerous companies, with her favorite being Hanna Andersson. Throughout her time at Hanna Andersson, she won many awards as a store manager. When she wasn't working or spending time with her family, she loved traveling. She took many family trips and girls trips to Florida. Her favorite places to go while in Florida were Anna Maria Island and Walt Disney World. She was an avid reader, a wonderful cook, and a passionate gardener. Cheryl loved animals, particularly Shetland Sheepdogs. During the 1970s she and Craig did conformation breeding of Shetland Sheep Dogs and agility trials through the AKC. Her other passions were theater, film, English History, and supporting her favorite sports team, the Minnesota Vikings. In 2012, Cheryl was diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer and began her journey to become a cancer warrior who stunned even the best cancer doctors. Throughout her eight years of breast cancer, she never once let the cancer define her or affect the way she lived her life. After her first round of treatment, she experienced an absolute miracle which took her into remission for over two and a half years. When the cancer came back, there was not a treatment or trial that she wasn't willing to try. She astounded her doctors, her family, and herself. She continued to live life to the fullest during all of her treatments, even traveling to Disney World three weeks before she passed. Cheryl's zest for life and sharp sense of humor will be missed by all who knew her. She was a kind, polite, and loving woman. She knew many people throughout all her accomplishments in life. She was well liked and respected personally, as well as professionally. Her family was her top priority and she cared for them deeply. She doted on all four of her granddaughters and was constantly delighted by them. Cheryl is preceded in death by her father, Joseph Sierakowski, Jr.; and her grandson, Nathan Jurgensen. She is survived by her husband of 47 years, Craig L. Mattson of Farmington; her mother, R. Corrine Sierakowski of Grand Marais; her children, Karen (Michael) Jurgensen of Hastings and Dr. Christina Mattson of Sauk Rapids; her siblings, Michael (Kathy) Sierakowski, Mark (Veronica) Sierakowski, Carol (Brian) Stark, James Sierakowski, and Julie (Tony) Killian; her grandchildren, Lily Jurgensen, Holly Jurgensen, Ivy Jurgensen, and Constance Hillman; and many other family and friends. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, November 13, 2019 at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, 2035 15th Street W, Hastings with Fr. Dave Hennen officiating. An interment will be held at Lakeside Cemetery in Hastings immediately after Mass. Family and friends are cordially invited to a visitation from 9:30 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. at the church and to a reception immediately following the burial at Starkson Family Life Celebration Chapel, 3075 Vermillion Street, Hastings. Arrangements are being completed by Starkson Family Life Celebration Chapel of Hastings.