In memory of
Matthew Brian Sheehy
September 8, 1960 - August 20, 2025
Our beloved brother Matthew Brian Sheehy—also known as Tiger or Gilligan (his choices)-- left us on Wednesday, August 20th, 2025, just three weeks after we received the devastating diagnosis of Acute Myeloid Leukemia, with tp53 subtype. These weeks were spent mostly at Princess Margaret Hospital (with four days of ICU in Mt. Sinai), where the nursing staff and doctors gave him exceptional professional and compassionate care. We could not have asked for more. Matt “roared” when staff greeted him as Tiger. When he had moments of feeling slightly better, he took up his theme of telling doctors and nurses “don’t work too hard.”
Matt passed away just weeks before his 65th birthday (September 8, 1960). He is predeceased by our mother Patricia, our father John and step mother Sheila. In these last weeks, Matt grieved other deaths in our family that occurred many years ago: his Great Aunts Margaret, Joan, Neta, Verna, and Connie, and his Great Uncles Tom, Rex and Ken. Matt leaves his sisters Valerie (Kevin) and Elizabeth (Dean), his nephew Connor and his nieces Corinne (Gabriel) and Fregine with a huge hole in all our hearts. Matt was the glue and the love bug that held us all together. Matt also leaves his step-sister Lynn (Kenny), best friend George, his girlfriend Carol, his room-mate Gordon, and countless other friends and staff from Community Living Ontario (CL).
Matt lived in CL since he was an adolescent. He started in the original Harold Lawson Residence where he made lifelong friends and became quite independent. He graduated to the CL apartment program, and only a few years ago to CL’s fully supported 24/7 units on Rogers Road in Toronto. Matt worked in a sheltered workshop for many years, and was able to navigate the TTC, ride a bike and even fly to Ottawa on his own. As he aged, his balance became precarious and his mobility more limited.
Yet Matt still took much joy from life: he was able to enjoy American Thanksgiving in Ann Arbour and Battle Creek with his many loving cousins; week long visits to Ottawa to spend time with Liz and family; Christmas and other holidays with Val and family; his weekly “work out” at Variety Village; his weeks at Shadow Lake Camp; his many phone calls with his dear cousin Bobbie, former brother in law Martin, Aunt Maureen and many others on his speed- dial list; his weekly art and music classes; and of course the occasional Blue Jays game.
Matt had many loves: balloons; rainbows; parrots; maps; the Canada flag; cats—he regularly advised others that they should get a cat; music—his favorite songs being As The Years Go By, American Woman, and Born to be Wild. He loved the flavour strawberry and his favorite meal was fish and chips. He also loved Carol Burnett and all the tv shows from the 1960s, like The Beverly Hillbillies, Gilligan’s Island, and My Three Sons. He loved to sing along with The Sound of Music and to get as much time with his family as he could.
During his last weeks in hospital Matt was surrounded by family who at his insistance made paper bag puppets and decorated his room for his birthday, balloons and all, showed him family photos and played movies and music for him. Those who could not get to him Face Timed him. He knew he was well and truly loved. He asked for many, many hugs and told us he loved us many, many times.
We thank the Community Living staff for caring so well for Matt over so many years and providing him with community and the possibility of a bigger life. We thank the staff in Unit 15A Princess Margaret Hospital for trying so hard to save his life. A service in his memory will occur at a future date. In lieu of flowers donations to Community Living Ontario would be appreciated:
https://communitylivingontario.ca/donate/.
Matt passed away just weeks before his 65th birthday (September 8, 1960). He is predeceased by our mother Patricia, our father John and step mother Sheila. In these last weeks, Matt grieved other deaths in our family that occurred many years ago: his Great Aunts Margaret, Joan, Neta, Verna, and Connie, and his Great Uncles Tom, Rex and Ken. Matt leaves his sisters Valerie (Kevin) and Elizabeth (Dean), his nephew Connor and his nieces Corinne (Gabriel) and Fregine with a huge hole in all our hearts. Matt was the glue and the love bug that held us all together. Matt also leaves his step-sister Lynn (Kenny), best friend George, his girlfriend Carol, his room-mate Gordon, and countless other friends and staff from Community Living Ontario (CL).
Matt lived in CL since he was an adolescent. He started in the original Harold Lawson Residence where he made lifelong friends and became quite independent. He graduated to the CL apartment program, and only a few years ago to CL’s fully supported 24/7 units on Rogers Road in Toronto. Matt worked in a sheltered workshop for many years, and was able to navigate the TTC, ride a bike and even fly to Ottawa on his own. As he aged, his balance became precarious and his mobility more limited.
Yet Matt still took much joy from life: he was able to enjoy American Thanksgiving in Ann Arbour and Battle Creek with his many loving cousins; week long visits to Ottawa to spend time with Liz and family; Christmas and other holidays with Val and family; his weekly “work out” at Variety Village; his weeks at Shadow Lake Camp; his many phone calls with his dear cousin Bobbie, former brother in law Martin, Aunt Maureen and many others on his speed- dial list; his weekly art and music classes; and of course the occasional Blue Jays game.
Matt had many loves: balloons; rainbows; parrots; maps; the Canada flag; cats—he regularly advised others that they should get a cat; music—his favorite songs being As The Years Go By, American Woman, and Born to be Wild. He loved the flavour strawberry and his favorite meal was fish and chips. He also loved Carol Burnett and all the tv shows from the 1960s, like The Beverly Hillbillies, Gilligan’s Island, and My Three Sons. He loved to sing along with The Sound of Music and to get as much time with his family as he could.
During his last weeks in hospital Matt was surrounded by family who at his insistance made paper bag puppets and decorated his room for his birthday, balloons and all, showed him family photos and played movies and music for him. Those who could not get to him Face Timed him. He knew he was well and truly loved. He asked for many, many hugs and told us he loved us many, many times.
We thank the Community Living staff for caring so well for Matt over so many years and providing him with community and the possibility of a bigger life. We thank the staff in Unit 15A Princess Margaret Hospital for trying so hard to save his life. A service in his memory will occur at a future date. In lieu of flowers donations to Community Living Ontario would be appreciated:
https://communitylivingontario.ca/donate/.