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Thank you all for coming today. It gives Pam and I great comfort to know Matthew had so many friends who cared about him. We are not here to talk of blame or guilt, or sin or shame. We will not dwell on Matthew's illness, we will not try to understand his dispair that became an endless night without the promise of dawn's early light. We are here to honor Matthew and as I look around this room I see his life had great meaning, great love and great passion. He was a complex person even as a child: he could do or be anything he put his mind to. When Matthew was 17 he picked up a saxophone and was playing solos within months. He was full of surprises - he later went on to act and sing beautifully in the touring summer musical "Joseph". This piece of music is dedicated to that memory. Charlie Parker was a great Jazz Sax player. We will always be proud of Matthew's accomplishments but we did so quietly because he shunned any praise or accolades from us. We were most proud of his move to Montreal and his choice to live his life en francais. Matthew taught himself the ins and outs of the French language and stunned us with his ability. Thank you all for giving Matthew a home here in your artistic community. I know for a long time he thrived and grew strong here. It was truly his home. Pam and I are simple people - we do not dwell on death or tragic events. We look to the positive to us the glass is always half full with the hope and promise of more. We all need to live our lives with love, hope and courage. Love our families, love our friends and most importantly, love ourselves. We need to give hope to those around us, give our love and pass on courage wherever we can. If you live the Arts, then you know it takes courage to be creative. We must be kind to one another and if we have to leave, close the door softly when we go. Above all we must keep our faith and our hope because in the end we have but love, faith and hope to sustain us. In some cultures, they believe that death by suicide leaves the spirit to wander aimlessly. I don't believe that. Matthew always had a restless spirit . . . I think now his spirit is free . . . free from pain, free from despair and free to travel. I believe his spirit is all around us and even though we take his Remains back to Marchmont, we are leaving his heart in Montreal. The last piece of music for Matthew is by Pat Metheny. It is simply called 'Travels'. I like your words 'au revoir'. In English it means 'Till I see you again'..... and, so I say, 'Au revoir' to Matthew Mon Fils..... |