Mat's Funeral Fund

My older brother Mat died suddenly of a heart attack at age 49 in his home on Monday December 11, 2017. We were raised in Oregon and went to Carus Elementary and Canby Union High Scool. Mat and I had are battles over the years, but we always were able to work out our differences. I didn't agree with all of my brothers lifestyle choices, but he came by his stubborness naturally. Mat was proud to have served in the Navy after high school, but his services came with a price. Mat struggled with the effects of PTSD for several decades before he ever received veterans benefits, but unfortunately the damage had already been done with him self medicating with alcohol. Mat had a broken trail of relationships throughout his life. One of his relationships was blessed with the life of his only daughter Alina. Mat was a kindhearted person with a lot of baggage that made it hard to see sometimes. The day Mat died he had just taken in a new roomate who was homeless that Mat was helping to get back on his feet. This fellow found Mat collapsed in the kitchen and gave Mat CPR as he called 911, but it was to late. The coroners report to me over the phone was that Mat died of heart attack from chronic alcoholism. I loved my brother dearly and he was so proud of me for being clean and sober for the last 19 years, but I couldn't convince him to follow suit. He had expressed to me his wishes to be interned with our mother in Zion Cemetery in Canby, Oregon. Unfortunately Mat did not have any insurance or benefits to cover the expenses of this. The VA will reimburse about a total of one thousand dollars for burial benefits, but that is only about a tenth of what is needed to pay for a funeral at Zion cemetery. I have flown here to Oregon from Kentucky with my two children to settle Mat's affairs with his only daughter Alina. The expenses have already piled up and are still growing for me just to fly out here and settle his affairs. Christmas is only 10 days away now and unfortunatley this tragedy has over shadowed this joyous holiday for our family. We would love to have all of his affairs settled by Christmas. Any funds recieved will be handled by Alina and I to be used for Mat's funeral expenses.