News anchor seen smiling and cooking with mum days before tragic suicide

14 December 2023 , 10:23

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Emily Matson was pictured cooking with her mum just days before her unexpected passing (Image: Facebook/PatriciaMatson)

News anchor Emily Matson was pictured joyfully cooking with her mum just days before her heartbreaking suicide.

The 42-year-old tragically died on Monday after she was struck by a train in Fairview, Pennsylvania. Her death was confirmed as a suicide. Her mum, Patricia Matson, was teaching her daughter how to make a lasagna just days before the tragedy, as she captioned the pictures saying she was "happy and proud".

The news anchor was dressed in a festive red jumper, holding a glass of wine, and stirring a pot. "Teaching Emily how to make sauce and lasagna last Friday. She was so happy and proud," Patricia wrote. "She wanted her picture taken to show her brother Travis that she made lasagna just for him! "I mentioned getting her a lasagna pan for Christmas and she said she would love a lasagna pan for Christmas."

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Emily proudly posed with her mum Patricia (Facebook/PatriciaMatson)

Her devastated brother, Travis Matson, paid tribute to his 'beautiful and wonderful' sister's sense of humour in a heartbreaking post on social media, writing: "We had plans. I have your Secret Santa gifts in my closet, you have yet to reply to my last text message, and we have a Christmas Eve party at Mom and Dad’s house next week where we were JUST talking about what to get for the kiddos because every Christmas you just have to get the perfect.

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"This was not supposed to happen, it was not planned, and you should still be here. I hear and see many who have “no words” but, I have a few that I have been screaming to heaven on repeat.

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Tributes have been paid to the popular TV host (Emily Matson/Facebook)

"Yes, she was a professional when she was working, she worked hard and loved what she did. But, when we got together she was not a news anchor she was my goofball sister, and neither one of us took anything seriously," he added.

Matson is survived by her two kids, Kyle and Emily Onderko, and her husband, Ryan Onderko. She had worked for Erie News Now for 19 years before she died. She was most recently the anchor of the weekday 7 pm and 11 pm newscasts.

"It is with a very heavy heart that we have learned of the passing of our beloved Erie News Now news anchor Emily Matson,' said Scott MacDowell, the station's news director.

'Emily was a shining light in our newsroom, delivering news with a passion and love she had for the Erie community and Northwest Pennsylvania. We loved Emily dearly and our hearts go out to the Matson family and her husband Ryan at this time.'

Colleagues of the popular news presenter said they were devastated by the news. "Emily was such a presence in the newsroom and the studio, and I can't count the number of times that I would stop by her desk to talk to her or just listen to her talk to others,' wrote meteorologist Sara Tonks.

For emotional support you can call the Samaritans 24-hour helpline on 116 123, email [email protected], visit a Samaritans branch in person or go to the Samaritans website.

If in the United States, you can dial the 24/7 National Suicide Prevention hotline at 1-800-273-8255 or go to

Liam Buckler