H. Daria Mattox, 85, died January 11, at River Glen Health Care Center. She was one of the pioneer antiques dealers in Woodbury, Conn., establishing Daria of Woodbury Antiques in 1972.

She was born in Duquesne, Penn., on November 3, 1924, daughter of the Michael and Mary Whalen Hickey.

Specializing in American folk art, political antiques and Victorian and early country furniture, Daria quickly established herself as one of Woodbury’s most popular dealers with a great eye for exceptional pieces. She continued to attend auctions and collect antiques until her final days.

Like many collectors and dealers, Daria began purchasing antiques to beautifully furnish her South Windsor, Conn., development house on a limited budget. “My brother, sister and I used to ride around the neighborhood in a green ’66 Ford van,” according to her son Wayne. “Mom was the driver. We used to strain our eyes looking ahead in the road for those dreaded ‘Tag Sale’ signs that caused the squealing brakes and insufferable delays. When one was spotted, we would point across the street and yell ‘fire’ so my mom would miss the sign, or cover her eyes with our hands. It did no good. We were too young to understand that Daria had an incurable disease †antiqueitis.”

Daria took upholstery classes. She learned refinishing. She read her Antiques and The Arts Weekly and Maine Antique Digest cover to cover, doing her best to learn all she could. Daria did not change the antiques business; rather, she was changed by it. It became one of the joys of her life.

She leaves a daughter, Amy Mattox of Aliso Viejo, Calif., son Wayne Mattox of Woodbury and his wife Kathleen Dowd, son Keith Mattox of Cary, N.C., and his wife, Nanette, and their son, Evan.

A memorial mass and graveside services will be conducted in the spring at Woodbury Cemetery for both Daria and John Mattox. Memorial contributions may be made to Woodbury Lions Club, PO Box 716, Woodbury CT 06798.