This memorial website was created in memory of our beloved Jeffrey Matis, 50, born on June 12, 1964 and passed away on November 17, 2014. We will remember him forever.
Tributes
Leave a tributeDad and Johanna
Dad & johana
I miss you!
I miss you every day more and more as time goes by. By the way, Johanna And I got married last Christmas. David, Gretchen and girls were here, so was Suzi and Johanna's family. Wish you could have been there too and maybe you were. Uncle Pete came to visit in September. Love you forever DAD
I miss my brother so much as do his friends and family. I wish he could be here to see the girls grow up and for them to have the chance to know how kind Uncle Jeffrey was.
Loved you! Still do!
You made me feel a special part of your life.
always miss you
Johanna
another year has passed. I missed you on my 81st birthday. The past year I have been going to chapel and saying prayers for you and MA.
I've been burning candles for you. Still miss you and our talks. You were a joy in my life and helped me more than you could have known.
Love forever and a day
Dad
Dear Jeffrey,
I have been beating myself up the past couple of days for not having had the chance to tell you some very meaningful things to me. I know you wouldn't want me to feel bad because you were such a positive person. I am saying these things now and hoping you can hear me. Jeffrey, the first time I saw you, I was standing outside of the Monday night Burbank meeting, one of my first meetings ever. I was crying to Sharon and Colette about some stupid boy (shocker, right?) and I remember seeing this adorable man with a killer jacket and a rockin haircut walk by. He turned to me with an empathetic smile and said, "I know how you feel. It hurts but you'll be okay." And that was my introduction to you Jeffrey. I smile quickly spread across my cheeks and I was instantly drawn to you. I knew you were someone I wanted to get to know and that I did. Jeffrey, you are truly one of a kind. I have never in my life experienced anyone quite as quirky and unique. Your enormous smile and contagious laughter are just two of the characteristics that make you shine. I remember when you asked me at a meeting on my bellybutton birthday, if you could be my fairy godfather. I laughed but you kept a straight face and said, "No, really, I feel like I am your fairy godfather," and that you are. I mentioned to Gagik that I can't help but picture you with fairy wings looking down on us. I feel your presence deeply and will forever carry your spirit with me. About a month before you passed, on our drive to the hospital, you looked at me with tears in your eyes and said, "I know this sounds silly but If I had a daughter I'd want her to be like you." Those were probably the most touching words ever spoken to me. You then kept repeating how dumb a thing to say that was, and hearing you say that broke my heart. I told you it wasn't dumb at all. I told you it was so sweet, but what I wish I said is, "Any girl would be lucky and blessed to have you as a father." Just as a father teaches his children, You, Jeffrey, have taught me some invaluable lessons. You have led by example in your constant expression of gratitude. I have never in my life met someone who is just so grateful to be alive. You also taught me how to be honest and accept others as they are. When you missed my birthday meeting you profusely apologized and shared with me the honest truth for why you weren't there. You were doing something that you weren't proud of, yet you told me about it and expressed your deepest apologies. If it were the other way around, I may have hidden the truth and made up a white lie saying that I was sick or something. Because of your honesty, I strive to be more honest. Sometimes I lie because I think I am doing the other person a favor or protecting their feelings, but you've taught me that honesty is the best policy an in your honor Jeffrey I will make strong efforts to follow in your footsteps. In my step work with Shaimoom, we read the step four booklet and I answered the questions about qualities I admire in a friend and how I compare my qualities to those I admire. I shared with him that I love how you, Jeffrey, are able to love and accept people even if you do not particularly like them or agree with them. That's a tough one for me but your ability to just exude love is incredibly inspiring to me. How can I forget your vibrant, fiery passionate shares, which all your shares were, but in particular those that were aimed toward individuals in the rooms who upset you?? Rob and I giggled about that yesterday. Your shares inspired the hell out of us. You expressed yourself graciously and with so much confidence yet at the same time, humility. Even last week, in your weak physical state, you called me to express your concern over a fellow member's behavior toward another member. You are a fighter Jeffrey who doesn't give up on anyone but more importantly, on yourself. You appreciated all you had and were so very loved and admired. You talked about how good it felt to be loved. I'll always remember driving up to Oxnard with your dog Boomer and the dogs I was dogsitting, having a picnic with Joel and his dog Ginger at Doggy Beach...and getting my hair cut by you...definitely a unique experience, standing up for a haircut. Jeffrey, you possess this innocence and purity that is unmatched. And your sense of humor - it is my favorite kind, because you have no idea that you're funny, and that's what makes me laugh the hardest. I value our long conversations where we could open up and share secrets and tell each other things we felt ashamed to tell others. I also admire your ability to stop yourself from gossiping - what growth! I know you loved it, as many of us are guilty of, but through your recovery, you would always say, "I don't want to gossip anymore." Thank you Jeffrey for opening your heart to me. I don't know what I'm going to do without you. You are by far in my top five favorite people ever! I miss you terribly. I'm glad I was able to hold your hand and kiss your forehead yesterday and I'm sorry I didn't come a few days earlier to bring you the orange soda you were craving. Your face when you tasted mine last time was priceless. Sadly it was too late for you to drink it yesterday. You have changed my life in more ways than you can imagine and I am forever grateful to have had you in my life. Last night I went to my parents house and cried in my mom's arms. She wants to make a donation to a cause you were passionate about. I was thinking AIDS/Cancer research, but now I'm leaning toward GA, because I remember you telling me that GA saved your life and that without it you'd be on the streets using drugs or dead. Jeffrey, you will always be my fairy godfather. I love you.
Love,
Sara
We talk about you and miss you always.
Love you dear one.
Johanna
Remembering you always as a special person who made a big impact on my life. I loved and love you.
Johanna
I miss you dearly so very much and think about you every day... your always in my heart FOREVER strong...Im sending you love, gentle ,big hugs and kisses... You are my Super HERO Jeffrey touching so many stars reaching out to others " Dust in the wind" Forever strong" I played some of you favorite songs" music" today and celebrated your life with some of the students at school today... Jeffrey you will be FOREVER in our hearts...Give mom big hugs and kisses from me and a HIGH FIVE to David BOWIE~Peace, Love Suzanne,Yazzi, Dani, and Faith
Today is the 52nd anniversary of Jeffreys birth
Treasured Memories on your Birthday Brother
I thought of you today
But that is nothing new
I thought about you yesterday
And will tomorrow too
I think of you in silence
And make no outward show
For what is meant to lose you
Only those who love you know
Remembering you is easy
I do it every day
It's just the heartache of losing you
That will never go away
Love, Suzanne XOXOXO
"Sweet Dreams"
Jeffrey LOVED U2~ BONO:-)
" Whenever you see darkness, there is extraordinary opportunity for the light to burn brighter" ~ BONO
"My heroes are the ones who survived doing it wrong, who made mistakes, but recovered from them.~ BONO
Jeffrey your my "HERO"
"FOREVER LOVED"Suzanne;(
I miss you and your little jokes. As much as I miss you though, your dad really really misses you and the gab sessions you guys would have that could go on for days. I miss that little toss of the head before you would say something and then the smile.
Love
Johanna
Love suzanne, yazzi, dani, and faith, meow,meow
Love,
Sara
We love you
Dad and Johanna
I'm sending you a flower on your birthday. I miss you. You were a big presence.
Love
Johanna
I can't believe you have been gone so long already. I really miss you popping in at different times. You always brought so much excitement with you. You were a wonderful breath of fresh air.
I Love you
Johanna
Leave a Tribute
Dad and Johanna
Chicago May 2014
The reunion of a lifetime and it was!!!
Jeff flew to Chicago after a few half steps. He told me he could do rain or cold but not both! Hah! Welcome to the Midwest. He actually changed his reservation once bc it was too cold. I just did not want him to miss the tulips.. I see from another post on this memorial who he was texting all that time. Hah!
We had beautiful weather as you can see from this picture. short sleeves and smiles.