Obituary for Matthew Gates
Matthew D. Gates (57) left us too soon and unexpectedly from a heart attack on January 14, 2024. Matt was a kind, funny, generous, gentle soul who brightened our lives.
Matt was a registered nurse and worked for various healthcare organizations in the Rockford, IL area. As a hospice nurse, he brought comfort to those at the end of their lives. When he cared for residents in senior facilities, he advocated for their comfort and dignity.
As a devoted member of the recovery community, Matt lovingly and selflessly mentored others on their sobriety journeys.
Matt always gave us his empathy, love, care, humor, and humanity. He treasured his friends and family.
Matt loved to laugh and to make us laugh, sometimes to tears. The joys of his life included his cozy home, musicals, his cats, antiques, days off, naps, pizza, good biographies, bargains, movies, electric fans, sugar free anything, dark lighting, podcasts, and diet cheat days.
Matt was his own special creation.
Every day Matt read Just for Today: Daily Meditations for Recovering Addicts. On the Sunday he passed, the meditation stated: “I will open my mind and my heart to believe that God is loving and trust my loving Higher Power to do for me what I cannot do for myself.”
Matt’s family asks that you share your memories of Matt on this website and that we keep Matt alive in our minds and hearts.
Stateline Cremation is assisting the family, 6204 Forest Hills Rd., Loves Park, IL 61111. www.statelinecremations.com
Matt was a registered nurse and worked for various healthcare organizations in the Rockford, IL area. As a hospice nurse, he brought comfort to those at the end of their lives. When he cared for residents in senior facilities, he advocated for their comfort and dignity.
As a devoted member of the recovery community, Matt lovingly and selflessly mentored others on their sobriety journeys.
Matt always gave us his empathy, love, care, humor, and humanity. He treasured his friends and family.
Matt loved to laugh and to make us laugh, sometimes to tears. The joys of his life included his cozy home, musicals, his cats, antiques, days off, naps, pizza, good biographies, bargains, movies, electric fans, sugar free anything, dark lighting, podcasts, and diet cheat days.
Matt was his own special creation.
Every day Matt read Just for Today: Daily Meditations for Recovering Addicts. On the Sunday he passed, the meditation stated: “I will open my mind and my heart to believe that God is loving and trust my loving Higher Power to do for me what I cannot do for myself.”
Matt’s family asks that you share your memories of Matt on this website and that we keep Matt alive in our minds and hearts.
Stateline Cremation is assisting the family, 6204 Forest Hills Rd., Loves Park, IL 61111. www.statelinecremations.com