SEYMOUR – Matthew George Balser, Jr., 78, is best known for his deep and unwavering love for his family, fly fishing, the blues, and the absurdity of life. Born the youngest of four to Margaret and Matthew Balser, Sr. on November 11, 1943 in Derby, CT, he lived most of his years in his Garden City home in Seymour, where he was a well-loved character of the neighborhood. He was happily devoted to his beloved wife, Dianne (Faulkner) Balser, for 37 years, with whom he raised two loving and creative daughters, Meghan and Lauren. Matt spent many years working tirelessly as a jack-of-all-trades at both Seymour Specialty Wire Co. and Ansonia Copper & Brass, before retiring early to care full-time for Dianne in her final years. Off the clock, he passionately enjoyed gardening, fostering pesky alley cats, carrying a jukebox of songs in his heart, and yelling at inanimate objects. Matt passed away peacefully on November 18, 2021 at Yale New Haven Hospital and will be dearly missed by everyone who had the good fortune of knowing him.

In addition to his wife, he was predeceased by his parents Peggy and Matt; his brother, John; sisters, Margie Randall and Beverly King; and his mother-in-law Veronica Faulkner. He is survived by both his daughters, his sister-in-law, Sandy Faulkner, son-in-law, Michael Paolucci, his bundle-of-dynamite of a granddaughter, Eleanor Paolucci, and several cousins, nieces, and nephews

A viewing will be held Wednesday, November 24, 2021, at 10am, immediately followed by a funeral service celebrating his vibrant life at 11am in the Ralph E. Hull Funeral Home, 161 W. Church St. Seymour, CT 06483. Family and friends are asked to wear masks. Burial will follow at Mt. St. Peter Cemetery, Derby.

In lieu of flowers, charitable contributions can be made in Matthew’s memory to the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation https://cholangiocarcinoma.org/donate