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Our hearts are heavy with the loss of our brother, Matt. Death is never easy, but it is particularly hard when the person was so young and was so kind, generous, and good-hearted, as Matt was.
He had been admitted to the hospital on May 1st for a severe infection, just a day before his 34th birthday. Over the course of several surgeries in the weeks to follow, intended to address the infection amidst other health issues that he had been enduring up until that point, the doctors discovered that he had advanced cancer which had metastasized. Given the particular circumstances of his case, the doctors had no course of treatment that they could offer. He faced this news with a strength and positivity that baffles the mind.
Over the next two weeks, we were able to share invaluable time with him, and he kept us all in stitches with his sense of humor, which never wavered. We held a belated birthday celebration for him in the hospital, with the obligatory Carvel ice cream cake (in honor of our dad).
And he was there for a very special moment, when our brother Dan and his fiancé Megan held a symbolic wedding ceremony. Ever since they announced their engagement, Matt was so excited to be the best man. And though he was very sick by that point, he gave an absolutely amazing best man speech that would put most others to shame.
Matt has battled health issues for a number of years and has always been a fighter, but ultimately, this particular battle was more than his body could bear. He passed away late in the evening on June 10th.
Matt valued family above all else, and I am sure that any of you who have spoken with him over the past year has heard him rave about his nephew, Dylan. Becoming an uncle was such a important moment for Matt.
Over the past several years, Matt had become very active in Buffalo's Polish community. Many of you may have been weekly listeners of his radio show, Polka Jamboree. The energy and life that he brought to the show were infectious, and you couldn't help but smile hearing his commentary between songs. He took a lot of pride in his radio show, as well as his weekly column in the Am-Pol Eagle, "Polka Time", and the numerous features he wrote on various community events throughout the year, such as Dyngus Day. He has left an undeniable impression on the community, evidenced by the outpouring of support that he received while in the hospital.
Please know that you all meant so much to Matt, and that your love and support helped keep him going during those last difficult days. As his family, we cannot begin to fully express the gratitude that we feel for all of your emotional support.
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His funeral service will be private due to the current state of Covid-19 procedures, however, once safety guidelines allow for a larger gathering, we do plan on having an open/public memorial service for us all to come together and celebrate Matt's life properly. Stay tuned for details in the future.
Unfortunately Matt did not have any life insurance considering he had just turned 34 and had not planned on leaving us so soon. We are asking for your help to fund Matt's funeral and memorial expenses.
Any money donated will go towards:
- Funeral Home and Service Expenses
- Cemetery Expense / Gravestone Purchase
- Memorial Service Expenses (to celebrate with everyone in the future)
Sincerely, any dollar amount helps, as it all adds up. Our mom will be managing the use of all donated funds.
To be honest, we did not realize the entirety of the impact Matt had on so many of your lives, and we are so grateful to all of you who were there for him throughout all his trying times.
Thank you,
Susie, Mairé, Dan, Karen (Mom)
He had been admitted to the hospital on May 1st for a severe infection, just a day before his 34th birthday. Over the course of several surgeries in the weeks to follow, intended to address the infection amidst other health issues that he had been enduring up until that point, the doctors discovered that he had advanced cancer which had metastasized. Given the particular circumstances of his case, the doctors had no course of treatment that they could offer. He faced this news with a strength and positivity that baffles the mind.
Over the next two weeks, we were able to share invaluable time with him, and he kept us all in stitches with his sense of humor, which never wavered. We held a belated birthday celebration for him in the hospital, with the obligatory Carvel ice cream cake (in honor of our dad).
And he was there for a very special moment, when our brother Dan and his fiancé Megan held a symbolic wedding ceremony. Ever since they announced their engagement, Matt was so excited to be the best man. And though he was very sick by that point, he gave an absolutely amazing best man speech that would put most others to shame.
Matt has battled health issues for a number of years and has always been a fighter, but ultimately, this particular battle was more than his body could bear. He passed away late in the evening on June 10th.
Matt valued family above all else, and I am sure that any of you who have spoken with him over the past year has heard him rave about his nephew, Dylan. Becoming an uncle was such a important moment for Matt.
Over the past several years, Matt had become very active in Buffalo's Polish community. Many of you may have been weekly listeners of his radio show, Polka Jamboree. The energy and life that he brought to the show were infectious, and you couldn't help but smile hearing his commentary between songs. He took a lot of pride in his radio show, as well as his weekly column in the Am-Pol Eagle, "Polka Time", and the numerous features he wrote on various community events throughout the year, such as Dyngus Day. He has left an undeniable impression on the community, evidenced by the outpouring of support that he received while in the hospital.
Please know that you all meant so much to Matt, and that your love and support helped keep him going during those last difficult days. As his family, we cannot begin to fully express the gratitude that we feel for all of your emotional support.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
His funeral service will be private due to the current state of Covid-19 procedures, however, once safety guidelines allow for a larger gathering, we do plan on having an open/public memorial service for us all to come together and celebrate Matt's life properly. Stay tuned for details in the future.
Unfortunately Matt did not have any life insurance considering he had just turned 34 and had not planned on leaving us so soon. We are asking for your help to fund Matt's funeral and memorial expenses.
Any money donated will go towards:
- Funeral Home and Service Expenses
- Cemetery Expense / Gravestone Purchase
- Memorial Service Expenses (to celebrate with everyone in the future)
Sincerely, any dollar amount helps, as it all adds up. Our mom will be managing the use of all donated funds.
To be honest, we did not realize the entirety of the impact Matt had on so many of your lives, and we are so grateful to all of you who were there for him throughout all his trying times.
Thank you,
Susie, Mairé, Dan, Karen (Mom)
Organizer and beneficiary
Susie Kushner
Organizer
Orchard Park, NY
Karen Kushner
Beneficiary