Monday, March 16, 2020
Matthew Jarmin – Words of Honor – Feb 01st, 2020
It is with the deepest heartbreak that we are gathered here today. We have lost our Matt. I have read every post on social media, and we, as a family are so moved by your outpouring of love we have received with every message, text and phone call. We are truly shocked, heartbroken and in disbelief. How could he have left us? I have read as many of your messages as possible. I’d like to share the words you have used to describe him.
Gentle Giant, Amazing Man, Talented, kindest soul, Heart as big as he was, Incredible father, Great Guy, Awesome Person, Wonderful Man, True Friend, Nicest Man, Incredibly Romantic (oh, that was from me).
There are so many more words to describe him, but you get the point. Matt was someone special to everyone who met him. One special email I receive from a friend goes as follows:
Hi Jo,
You do need to know that every day, when I do my swim, I start it with a standing silent prayer in the pool. It includes “Jo Ann, Matt and the kids”. Every day. It’s comforting to me to know that you are in good company. Them Jarmin’s are a solid bunch. As are the Comeau bunch. It was that thought that made me think of Heaven’s bunch. It just got stronger. If Heaven was drafting a team, Matt is a first-round pick. In fact, they’re probably already stitching the “C” on his sweater. A leader, an educator, a father and a wonder. The staff at his old shop, the entire school, the community as a whole will miss Matt terribly. His children will go on to do amazing things inspired by his example. And you were lucky enough to be the one he chose to truly share himself with. Blessed to have him as a very big part of your life. A life that now has a 6’4 hole in it. Fill that hole with the love Matt gave you. Think of who / what you are now compared to the day you “first saw him again for the second time” all those years ago. That ain’t a 6’4 hole. It’s 6’4 of angel on your shoulder saying, “You’ve got this… make me proud”.
Plus he’ll be playin’ crib with your dad by lunch time.
That was from my dear friend Pat Thomas of Victoria.
Matt was a beloved part of our communities of Fenn, Big Valley, Stettler, Lloydminster and beyond. He greeted everyone with a smile, and usually one of his famous hugs. He always had a moment for a quick chat. He enjoyed those moments with YOU. With everyone in this room. He often shared stories with me about who he ran into at the grocery store, the post office and elsewhere. His favourite places to be were at his farm at “Yetiville” and at his cabin, which was his labour of love. He loved to be anywhere with his kids, anywhere with me, on one of his fishing trips, on the wobbly wheel tour, at the owl and in the back of the Snap-On truck.
Matt was a skilled craftsman in his chosen trades of a machinist and a heavy-duty mechanic. There wasn’t a thing he couldn’t fix or build. He just had that gift. A few years ago, when we were out to dinner, he said to me “How would you like to be dating a teacher?” I was so excited for him with his prospective career change. Although he was in his 2nd year at Wm E. Hay Composite, he had just, last Thursday visited the U of A to start the process of achieving his formal teaching education. Both apprehensive and excited, he was ready for this next step in his career! I’m so sad for his students and fellow educators that they didn’t get to realize Matts full teaching potential.
He always told me that in this life, he wanted to leave something that would be his legacy. Something that he could leave the world of significance. He didn’t realize that he was building that legacy all along through love. Every person shared loving words about him. He was honest, kind, strong, intelligent, logical, patient, calm and loving. He was a centered man of integrity and truth.
So many of you have asked, “What do you need?” “What can I do?” I’ve thought about that a fair bit and when you are grieving, it’s hard to answer those questions. You know what I need? I need you to honor this man who has honored you all with his friendship.
Be a good person, don’t gossip, don’t make fun of others. If you see a need, help. Be kind to one another. Be a friend. Love one another. Honor Matt’s legacy. That’s what I need. That’s what you can do.
I need you to think about Matt and as you do, greet someone with a smile or maybe a warm hug. Do one random act of kindness for a stranger. Offer your service to someone and when they ask how much? Say, don’t worry about it man! Just do a good thing. Honor this wonderful man who so deserves to be honored.
Support his kids, they’ve been through so much in their young year. Call them, bring them meals. Remind them that this community cares about them in the months and years to come.
Lastly, a personal reflection about our love. We persevered for almost 10 full years with our long-distance relationship. We only had just over a year to go until we could be together and start our lives, living together as a couple, only to have that dream cut short. One thing that I HAVE IS THE UNDYING LOVE OF Matt Jarmin. He often told me that he loved me more than any woman he’s ever known. We always promised to leave each other’s world better than we found it and we did. Every time we were together. It was a miraculous love story that was one of the greatest gifts in my life. I will hold him in my heart forever. Thank you, baby, for the kitchen dances, snuggles, thousands and eleventy kisses and all of the sweetness over the past decade.
It is said that you know you are with the right partner when you can recite first Corinthians 13 and insert the name of your partner in place of the word Love.
Matt was patient, Matt was kind, He did not envy, He did not boast, He was not proud, He was not rude. He was not self-seeking; He was not easily angered. He kept no record of wrongs. Matt did not delight in evil but rejoiced with the truth. He always protected. Always trusted. Always hoped. Always persevered. Matt never failed.
Baby wait for me until I can come home and we can start again.
Rest in eternal peace, my love.
Your Sweetheart,
Jo Ann
