Joseph William DeMatthews

Biography

Joseph W. DeMatthews, 27, passed away on Friday, December 23, 2005, at St. Lucie Medical Center.
 
Born in Edison, New Jersey, Joseph has been a resident of Port St. Lucie, FL for the past several years.  Joey was employed by Publix for the past 10 years. Joseph was of the Catholic faith.

It was Christmas time a time for family and friends to get together and enjoy everyone's company and to be thankful for what we had. Christmas was one of our biggest family holiday's that we celebrated. All the family would be here. The laughs, the fun and the pictures that would be taken and especially the food. We were getting ready and doing our last minutes things for the big day. We did not know Joe was home because his car was not in the driveway. His brother Wayne and the kids were here so we just continued to prepare everything. The Christmas music was playing and everyone was so excited especially the kids. When we found out that Joey was home all along sleeping in his bed, we started calling his name and moving him, but he didn't respond. That is when his brother Wayne knew something was wrong. He started working on his brother Joe right away until the ambulance got here. Wayne Jr. is a Firefighter/Paramedic and lives his life saving other lives everyday. That horrible day that Wayne Jr. had to endure was just too much. Wayne Jr. just went to work on his brother Joe, knowing that this is my brother Joe who I grew up with, who I looked after, who always looked up to me, my best friend,  knowing all of this in the back of his mind, while he was putting all of his expertise and experience and most of all his love for his best friend to work. My beautiful son Wayne never stopped even when the ambulance arrived.  

That horrible day that my son Wayne and Joey's Dad went through was nothing short of a terrible dream that you never thought would/could ever happen in your family or life, (The DeMatthews Family.) Just like every other family. That just goes on with life, enjoys being with their family and friends. Enjoying life. Until one day everything you lived for and everything you love comes to a startling halt. Everything was like one big fog and was happening as if it was on fast speed. When you wake up  from this terrible dream and reality smacks you like a ton of bricks and you try so hard how  to comprehend it or you try to make sense of it all but it is just to overwhelming. But it was so real. It was real life and beyond all of our worst nightmares that no one should have to endure.  

My baby passed away in his sleep.
 
Joey was so sweet and would be there to help anyone who needed help. Joey was such a free spirit. He loved family functions and would be around everyone he loved. As big as he was his heart was bigger. He was always at the gym and was into his health and helping his friends and anyone else who ask him to help them workout. He always had that wonderful smile that would just light up the room. He loved being around his nieces and nephews they always made him laugh.. Joey was loved by so many people it was like they were drawn to him because of his outgoing and shining personality, kindness and especially his SMILE. He loved being around the kids so much and would act like one himself when he was around them.
When Joey was little his father and him would play basketball all day and night on the weekends.Joey was always on the team in High School and College. He ended up being MVP every time. The awards and Gold Medals surround his room. The college coaches would call all the time. All the kids, neighbors, friends from school  would be over the house until all times of the day just to play the game outside. But even though Joey loved the game, he pursued sports medicine. At one time his brother Wayne and him drove an ambulance and transported patients that couldn't drive to their appts. Joey and his brother were always  there to help people out no matter what they had to do. We are missing him daily. Our hearts are broke in half. Part of our family link is missing but it will be reunited one day. I don't think Joey realize the effect he had on people. I want to keep Joey's name alive and in my heart always.I was blessed with two great boys, but I don't understand why my baby was taken away. I am still and always will try to make sense out of it. I try to make it everyday without seeing his smiling face and his big heart and gentleness. Joey I will see you hopefully soon and until that day I will never stop hugging, loving and missing you. I miss all the talks we had laying across my bed when I came home from work. I just feel so empty inside. You left so many love ones, family members, friends and co-workers with an emptiness of you missing from their life. You were just bigger than life. You had so much going for you and you had so many things left to do. We love you!!!   

Until we are all reunited together again.

Life Love Loss
I would like to take this opportunity to announce the publication of my new book, Life Love Loss, about a parent losing a child. Information can be found at http://www.authorhouse.com/Bookstore/BookDetail.aspx?BookId=SKU-000425213
It also can be purchased at any bookstore, Barnes & Noble, Amazon, etc., or online.
www.deborahdematthews.com

WITH THE PROCEEDS OF MY BOOK, it will go to charities
Joey would want me to continue helping others in need.
I am going to help out Charities, Churches, Hospitals, Schools, and Scholarships for students and people who lost their love ones unexpected and was not prepared to pay for the funeral expenses.

Survivors include parents, Wayne Sr. and Deborah DeMatthews, of Port St. Lucie; brother, Wayne DeMatthews, Jr.,and all of Joey's niece's & nephew's, paternal grandparents, Ralph and Jean DeMatthews, of Port St. Lucie, and Edward and Elizabeth Williams of Port St. Lucie.  

Friends and Family call on Saturday, December 31, 2005 from 11:00-1:00 PM at Aycock Funeral Home, Port St. Lucie, FL.  A service followed at 1:00 PM.

Arrangements are entrusted to Aycock Funeral Home, Port St. Lucie.


Thank You all God Bless
Debbie-Joe's Mom