Matthew David Funk - Online Memorial Website

It is hard to believe you were called to heaven. All I keep thinking is how lucky you are and how much fun you're having.  I have had every range of emotion from anger to sorrow but everyone should know Matty had some serious life changing moments over the past few years including dealing with the death of his grandfather and then sudden death of his father in May 2007. There were many tears shared with Matty and I hurt for him every day and carried his burdens as if they were my own.

As the days have passed and more information has revealed itself, I now understand that there was a plan in place and there was nothing that I could have done to change it. Matty spent the night of September 10^th at my home for my other son, Jonny's 18^th birthday. I could not have scripted a better evening and in fact if none of this ever happened I would list that night as one of the top 10 greatest moments that I have had with my sons in their lifetime. Little did I know that less than 24 hours later my sons would be living in heaven.

We take for granted that these children are ours but they are not – we are just chosen. I am honored that I was chosen to care for them. They are my best friends but they are not lost they are still with me guiding me every day and now just wait for me to come home. This life is over in a blink of an eye and I now have a reason to continue to wake up every day looking forward to seeing them again. Maybe this is selfish but I can't stop thinking what a way to live!

Not only did I get a gift of time with my sons, I was left with a beautiful grandchild, Giavanna. She is not only a part of Jonny but a part of Matt as he loved her equally as much as her parents. I will honor my sons by caring for Giavanna as my own and will raise her to know what awesome people her Uncle Matt and Daddy are. I do not talk in the past because they are not gone they just don't live in New Jersey anymore.

Nothing will change for me, I will still talk to them at least twice a day and maybe a third if I get the urge. I will think about them often and smile knowing that no doubt they are in heaven doing something together. I will watch football on Sunday and know that are right there with me routing on our Dallas Cowboys. I will watch Giavanna smile and look over my shoulder and know that Matt and Jonny are smiling back at her. I will play with Jude and Dallas and know they had a soft spot in their brothers hearts. I will visit Disney World and remember all the great trips we shared. I will visit the beach and remember all the great summers. I will celebrate birthdays and holidays and know that they will share them with me. I will remember all the laughs and the tears. I now begin to count the days until we see each other again.

 It is no coincidence that I now have 3 year old twin boys, Jude and Dallas, that resemble Matty and Jonny so much. I am grateful to God that he was kind enough to lessen my pain by giving me two sons that will carry on the legacy of Matty and Jonny.

It is also no coincidence that Matty and Jonny left together. Matty lived approximately 3 hours after the accident and was revived on several occasions and although he was severely injured reports indicate that his blood pressure was near normal during that 3 hours – that information alone provided the confirmation for me that he chose to leave with his brother, Jonny. I am at peace with his decision and understand his choice, after all who would want to come back here after seeing heaven? All I could think was this kid finally made a right decision.

There so many things that have fallen into place and things that have been revealed to me over the past few days that I will hold in my heart. I am reminded that it is God who is in control and I know that he needed these kids for something really special in heaven far more important than anything going on here. These things will give me the strength to continue in this life and guide me in my decisions.

The turn out for their service is confirmation that these kids touched so many lives far beyond what I could have ever imagined. I am so proud of both of them and know that God is proud of the people they became. I can't help but be a little jealous that God will be hanging with them in the meantime and I am sure they are making him laugh right now.

As a Mom, I can lay my head down every night and know that I did everything that I possibly could to help them in this life. I was not always the perfect parent and made some wrong decisions but I loved them unconditionally in this life and I am happy that I was able to give then my all until their last days here. Just as parents are excited to see their kids move into adulthood, marriage and then children of their own, I am just as excited for my sons who begin their legacy in heaven full of joy and happiness. I can just imagine the stories I will hear when I get there.

I will celebrate their lives not only today but every day. Lastly, I want to thank God who has never let me down.

Love Mommy

What I wouldn't give for one more Christmas, to watch you open one more gift, to eat Christmas dinner with you.  I love you boy and miss you more and more every day but your message was loud and clear on Christmas morning and when I knew you were here everything was okay and I knew all was well in heaven - I love you. Mommy

Son, I received this poem from a wonderful lady who lost her only son.  When I read it I felt like you and your brother sent this to me.  There is not a day that goes by that I feel like you two are just in the next room waiting for me.

WHAT IS DEATH

Death is nothing at all.
I have only slipped into the next room.
I am I and you are you.
Whatever we were to each other,
that we still are.

Call me by my old familiar name.
Speak to me in the easy way
which you always used.
Put no difference in your tone.
Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow.

Laugh as we always laughed
at the little jokes we enjoyed together.
Play, smile, think of me, pray for me.
Let me name be ever the household word
that it always was.
Let it be spoken without affect.
without the trace of a shadow on it.

Life means all that it ever meant.
It is the same that it ever was.
There is absolutely unbroken continuity.
Why should I be out of mind
because I am out of sight?

I am waiting for you,
for an interval,
somewhere very near,
Just around the corner.

All is well.

~Henry Scott Holland