Mere Mataira Hatch

Mere Mataira Hatch, our beloved matriarch, died on 28 October 2026 in San Jose, California at the age of 97. She was surrounded by so many family members that every doctor commented, “Wow, there’s a lot of you in here.” She was ready, and we will miss her. Mere was born in Nuhaka, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand on 3 December 1928. She was the fourth child of thirteen born to Te Ratu “Sonny” Mataira and Hinewirangi Brown Whakaware. 

As a child, she was taught to work by her father and how to love by her mother, living a largely carefree childhood. She studied English literature and trained to be a nurse. Mere met Milton C Hatch while they were both serving as missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, of which she was a devoted lifelong member. After her mission, she immigrated to the United States via Canada in 1957. Soon after, Mere married Milton on 12 February 1957 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. She remained in Cardston, Alberta, Canada, furthering her studies in nursing, until she received a visa to enter the United States. After living in other various places including Spokane, Washington; Montpelier, Idaho; and Centerville, Utah, Milton and Mere’s young family settled in the San Francisco Bay Area, first in Mountain View, California, and then in San Jose, California. During her life, she raised their five children and worked as a nurse, including years at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, where she later died.

 After retiring, she served multiple missions with her husband for the church, including a family history mission in New Zealand from 1996 to 1997. When Milton died in 2015, she spent the rest of her time traveling between her children in Madison, Virginia; Orem, Utah; and San Jose, California. Mere taught us all to love the ocean. She went to the coast to be reminded of where she grew up and those she left in New Zealand, and then she would always stop for prawns and chips from Barbara’s Fishtrap. She was a fierce card player (Five Crowns was her most recent favorite) and would beat you every time, especially when she was the one keeping score. Mere had a special way of making people feel welcome and like they belonged. She was a fantastic cook and hostess, hosting many a meal as well as a yearly caroling party with her beautifully displayed Christmas decorations, including over one hundred nativities. She was always painting something, whether it was a canvas or the metal chairs in her backyard. She was a prolific journal writer, always commenting on the weather, and loved reading her scriptures. She was strong, courageous, independent, loving, adventurous, beautiful, and graceful. Her favorite foods were salt and butter and she attributed her long life to enjoying them. We will honor her by enjoying them, too. 

Mere was preceded in death by her sweetheart, Milton C Hatch; her eldest son, Zealand Rei Hatch; her parents; and eleven of her siblings. She is survived by her other children, Lani Jay (Jill) Hatch, Moana Leigh Butler, Tamara Jean (William) Johnson, and Perri Milton (Brook) Hatch; Zealand’s wife (Irene); 25 grandchildren, 34 great grandchildren, and 1 great great grandchild; and her last surviving sibling, her sister Matewai Arihi Peka. 

There will be a viewing held on Friday, November 20, 2026 from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm at Webb Funeral Home (1005 S 800 E, Preston, Idaho). On the same day at 2:00 pm, there will be a graveside dedication at the Oxford Cemetery (North Westside Highway, Clifton, Idaho), where she will be laid to rest next to Milton. This will be directly followed by a luncheon at Moose Spring Lodge (6345 Oxford Loop Road, Oxford, Idaho), the family cabin where Mere loved to spend time. If the lodge is snowed in, the luncheon will be held at the Clifton LDS Church Building (170 W 1st N, Clifton, Idaho). As she would want, all are invited. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at webbmortuary.com