Our son, Matthew Kane Laustsen left his earthly home to be before our Lord on June 19th, 2024, in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Matt was the youngest of three brothers, with Ryan and Zachary leading the charge.
He grew up in Lower Sackville having attended Caudle Park Elementary, AJ Smeltzer and Sackville High. He was always strong academically receiving the Governor General Medal in his Grade 12 year for the highest academic standing.
He had a core group of friends throughout those years and has maintained those relationships.
A huge part of his life growing up was with the Sackville Waves Aquatic team (SWAT) where he swam competitively for 10 years competing at National level meets and representing NS at the International Children’s games in Lanarkshire, Scotland when he was 15.
His love and aptitude for swimming gave him his first job working as a swim lesson instructor and lifeguard at Sackville Sports Stadium. He went on to work as a lifeguard with the Nova Scotia Lifeguard Service and lastly with Halifax Recreation as the coordinator at Bedford Outdoor Pool.
After graduating high school, he received a full scholarship to St. Mary’s University where he started a business degree. In his second year, he became ill and after many months of investigations, he was diagnosed with a rare form of brain cancer known as germinoma. As a result of these tumours, different areas of his brain were affected, one of which was the optic nerve which resulted in the complete loss of sight in his left eye and only a small window of central vision in his right eye. He also struggled with memory issues having trouble getting new information encoded in his memory. Despite undergoing every diagnostic test imaginable, chemotherapy and radiation, he remained positive and achieved the cancer free designation. Matt was a guy who had an amazing outlook on life trusting in the plan God had for him even when at times it seemed hard to understand.
The significant life challenges he faced for one so young were daunting. As Matt adjusted to his new life with only partial sight and memory issues, he embraced his faith more strongly. He became actively involved in his church, Stoneridge Fellowship, as a member of the worship team, youth group leader, greeter, and baker with the hospitality team. He worshipped his Lord and Saviour with his hands lifted high and inspired many by his unwavering faith and lived out the words “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him who have been called according to his purpose” (Rom. 8:28).
After Matt lost most of his vision, he became a member of the Blind & Partially Sighted (BPS) Dragon boat paddling team. Every summer, he would climb into the centre of the boat, seated next to his mom as his paddling partner. He had just gotten in the boat for the first time this season the week before he went to heaven.
Matt started training as a baker with Stonehearth Bakery and in April of 2022, he began working at Sobey’s Mill Cove as a part-time baker.
In May 2023, he moved into his own apartment with his cat, Marble, in a new building on Joseph Howe Drive with support from the Community Living Centre. He thrived with his new independence and loved being able to get out each day on his own or with one of his workers and do something, whether picking up a few groceries, stopping for breakfast at Tim’s or McDonald’s, getting a slice of pizza, going for a walk on the nearby trail or getting in a swim at the Dartmouth Sportsplex. His love for people made it easy for him to connect with his workers.
Family was everything to Matt. He loved to travel near and far. His next trip was planned to watch his favorite football team, the Minnesota Vikings, at training camp and playing their first preseason game. He regularly visited his brothers and their families in places like Eagle River, Alaska, Sioux Lookout, Ontario and Chicoutimi, Quebec and did a two-week road trip down the West Coast with his aunt and uncle. He loved his five nieces and nephews fiercely and cherished any hugs he would get. He also made regular visits to PEI to spend time with his aunts and uncles and grandfather. Whenever there was baking to be done or something needing chopping in the kitchen, Matt was right there wanting to help.
Matt leaves his parents, Dave and Sandy Laustsen of Lower Sackville, Kim and Paul Fleming, Windsor Junction, brothers Ryan (Julia) Laustsen, North Bay, Ontario, and Zachary (Olive) Laustsen, St. Honoré, Quebec, grandfather, Jim (Betty) MacLeod, aunts and uncles, Velvet and Paul Dennis, Donald and Deborah Jenkins, Wendy Bourque, Janet and Werner Sawatzky, Sandy and Dwayne Gordon, nieces and nephews, August, Rose, Sage, Ellie and Noelle and cousins Vanessa (Luke) Passi, Emily (Grant) Nelson, Amanda (Dan) Glynn, Miranda (Wade) Jenkins, Kaalee Jenkins, Brandon Gordon, and Elisha (Matt). Matt was predeceased by his grandparents and an aunt and uncle. The family is mourning deeply.
Matt left us far too early as a result of another rare medical event. He leaves behind a hole that can never be filled and a lifetime of memories. I love you forever, I like you for always, as long as I’m living, my baby you’ll be. If you listen closely, you can hear the words from Heaven, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” We miss him and are confident that we will be united again.
The Celebration of Life service will be held at 12:00pm on Wednesday, June 26, 2024, at Stoneridge Fellowship Church, 85 Temple Terrace, Lower Sackville with a reception to follow.
Visitation will be from 10:00am to 11:45am.
Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to the Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada, QEII Health Services, CNIB, or SPCA.
COMPARTA UN OBITUARIO
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