Joseph W. DeMatthews, 27, passed away on Friday, December 23, 2005, at St. Lucie Medical Center.
Born in Edison, NJ, 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. 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, he put 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 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 nigtmares that any 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 a kid himself when he was around them.
He had such a close knit family and so many friends. When Joey was little his father and him would play basketball all day until it was dark. Joey was always on the team in High School and
College. He ended up being MVP everytime. 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 all times of the day just to play the game outside. But even though Joey loved the game, he persued sports medicine. At one time his brother Wayne Jr., and Joey drove an ambulance and transported patients that couldn't drive to their appts. His brother use to be a police officer and now he is a Firefighter/Paramedic. His brother Wayne last week went into a burning house to save a paralyzed vet and his mother. He had no hose or flashlight because there was no time. He went in twice. He was on T.V. and in the newspaper. I believe Joey helped him find his way out. Joey and his brother were always there to help people out not 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 emptyness of you missing from their life. We get letters and phone calls daily. Regarding how many people's life you touch and helped. You were just bigger than life. You had so much going for you and you had so much unleft things to do. We love you!!!
Until we are all together again.
Joey also has his own website you can visit:
JoeyDematthews.com/On the site it is set up for credit card's and checks.
Joey would want me to continue helping everyone and anyone who needed help. It is tax-deductible-501c-3
I SET UP A NON-PROFIT CORP. IN JOEY'S NAME
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.
If you would like to donate to Joey DeMatthews, Inc. (Im Free) please do so
Please make Check to the name above
and address below:
2512 SW McDonald Street
Port St. Lucie, Fl, 34953
Thank You and God bless
Survivors include parents, Wayne Sr. and Deborah DeMatthews, of Port St. Lucie; brother, Wayne DeMatthews, Jr.,and his grandparents of Port St. Lucie, Ralph and Jean DeMatthews, and Elizabeth and Edward Williams, of Port St. Lucie. and all of Joey's niece's & nephews who Joey loved so much and they love him. Joey and his brother Wayne and their friends use to have such a great time together. Joey lived life to the fullest making the most out of everyday. He had so much to give. He is an angel and will be missed so much. He touched everyone who knew him. He is with us always and everyday until we are all reunited again.
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.
