Matthew Owen Yonce

March 22 1961- January 13 2022

Matthew was born in Hartford, Conn. on his father’s birthday, and moved with the family to Orleans, Cape Cod when he was one. He spent his youth traipsing through bogs, backyards, and beaches with a troupe of friends and siblings. He graduated from Nauset Regional High School in 1979, studied automotive technology at Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology in Boston, and later studied at Ivy Tech and Lesley University.

Through high school and into the mid- 1980s, he loved and ran the gas station at South Orleans General Store (SOGS), re-opened its repair shop, and enjoyed a loyal following as a mechanic and mentor to the youth hanging out at the station. He later owned Hilltop Pizza in Orleans, joined behind the counter by his wife, mother, and infant daughter (in a backpack!) He loved to sing and dance, and was very active in high school and community theater. Matt met his future wife, Jane Mahrdt, in a production of My Fair Lady at the Academy of Performing Arts; they were married in 1987. He gave his parents their first grandchild, Madeline Hollister, born in 1989.

He moved to Indianapolis after being diagnosed with, but not slowed by, multiple sclerosis. There he gave his parents the first grandson, Owen Calvert born in 1992. He developed a passion for cycling, logging

hundreds of miles per week, and was a Lincoln-Mercury dealership mechanic before returning to the Cape. He refused to be slowed by his disease, and was for many years a daily fixture at Willy’s Gym in Orleans, Still, he wanted to help others, and so attended school for addiction counseling. He passed suddenly at home on the Cape, surrounded by loved ones.

Preceded in death by mother Joan Tassi Yonce and siblings Michael and Eileen (Burke). Survived by children Madeline of Indianapolis, Owen (Annie) of Salt Lake City, Utah; Father Harvey Alfred of Orleans, siblings William of Dennis, Daniel of Orleans, Thomas of Yarmouth Port,John of Scituate, Mary Gainey of Brewster, his Uncle Paul Tassi, Aunt Eileen, and many nieces and nephews. Much to his chagrin, there are no grandchildren, but 2 granddogs.

Memories, stories, or thoughts of Matt can be sent to [email protected]. They are being collected by his children. After a private family service, a public celebration of life is planned. He is in the care of Nickerson Funeral Home in Orleans. Contributions in Matthew’s memory may be made

to the charity of your choice. He always wanted everyone to remember: The most important thing is to smile.