Matthew Elijah Smider

Matthew Elijah Smider had just celebrated his 26th birthday last week. Matthew was born to Deborah (Stotka) and Ted Smider on August 23rd, 1988 and spent all his growing up years in Washington, PA. Matt was thriving; he worked every day, had just begun a special relationship with a girlfriend, was preparing to set out on numerous future plans, and was surrounded daily by the love of family and friends. October 31st was to be his year anniversary of being sober. Life was blossoming for him again. Matthew is survived by his parents, Deborah and Theodore Smider of Washington; three older sisters, Rachel Smider of Pittsburgh, Laura Smider and Sarah Pentland both of Washington; maternal grandmother, Josephine Stotka of Washington; a nephew, Noah (Laura) and niece, Madison (Sarah); Uncle David Stotka (Darlene) and Aunt Cindy Hunnell (Mike) both of Washington, PA; Uncle Michael Stotka (Cathy) of Tulsa, OK; cousins Ashely Hurbanek (Joel) of Meadow Lands, PA, Tara Pulig (Shane)of Adah, PA, Sheila Matras (Mark) of , Brittany Stotka of Washington, PA and Michael, Christina and Amanda Stotka all of Tulsa, OK; paternal grandmother, Barbara Dunn Badley of Tampa, FL; Uncle Patrick Smider of Washington; Aunt Sarah Becker of Tampa, FL and numerous extended aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. Preceding Matthew’s death were his maternal grandfather, Michael Stotka of Washington, paternal grandfather, William Badley of Tampa, FL and baby cousin Eric Hunnell. Matthew was a fantastic human being with a gentle soul, blessed with a gift of making people happy when they were with him. He will be long remembered for his infectious personality and unwavering helping hand, his heart of gold and zest for life. “To be around him was to be in his sunbeam.” Matt graduated from Washington High School in 2008. He was an avid lover of sports. During his young life, if there was a ball, he was playing it. The Bronson House and Washington Youth baseball fields were where he spent so much of his time. His heart was out on the diamond, though, and he sure shined as a baseball player. He was a first baseman on the Pinto team that played for the National Championship in Baltimore, MD, and a pitcher on the Washington Mustang and Bronco All-star traveling teams. Matthew’s greatest joys were spending time laughing and talking and really enjoying the people and things this world had to offer him. He enjoyed sharing a good meal, going to the movies, working out, shooting hoops at the playgrounds of Washington and at the Wellness Center and attending concerts and sporting events. He found simple pleasure in and appreciation for a good book, the giggles he brought out of his niece and nephew, a long car ride listening to music and the beauty of Mother Nature...he had such a lust to travel and explore more of her. Through his most difficult times his biggest strength was the love and support he shared with those closest to him. Matthew’s heart was always open to the help and guidance of those that offered it. Even in his most trying times, he carried with him the hope of living a long happy and fulfilling life. He had finally been clean for the past 10 months and was optimistic about his continued sobriety. Matthew will be greatly missed by everyone who knew him. He was the kind of young man that anyone would be honored to call son, grandson, brother, uncle and friend. He was truly a beautiful person inside and out. Friends will be received on Wednesday, from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8pm inn the William G. Neal Funeral Homes, Ltd., 925 Allison Avenue. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, September 4, 2014 at 10:00 AM in Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church. Burial will follow in Forest Lawn Gardens.