Obituary

Matthew Gordon Saunders, a son, brother, nephew, grandson, partner, and friend, was taken from this world on February 26, 2026 at only 25 years old, after an inexplicable and unexpected illness. He fought very hard to stay with us, as only a young man devoted to his loved ones, would have.

Matthew’s life, his character, were a lesson in love and devotion. He was the best anyone could ask for in a brother; he loved his siblings deeply, and was always the first person to give you a pep talk, a much needed “you’re amazing.” And an empathetic ear. If you needed a laugh, or someone to distract you with a story, you could call Matthew.

He was an adoring son; not often do young adults in their 20s fervently try to spend time with their parents. But Matthew did. He made an effort to have special relationships with each of his parents; whether that was weekly phone calls, movie dates or even just not letting too much time pass in between texts. He always promised to be the one to care for his parents into their old age and the best part about Matthew is that he would have taken joy in that endeavour.

He was a loving, fiercely dedicated partner; in their short 7 years, Matthew never faltered in his love and commitment to his partner, his “button”, Ashley. He was a rock in tumultuous times, a soft place to land. The pair were only just beginning to build a life together. Matthew took great joy in his relationship, always speaking highly of Ashley, their many plans, their dogs and cats.

Not many people can say, at only 25, that they lived with passion. Matthew was not one of those people. From the beginning of his life, Matthew was dedicated and captivated by his craft in filmmaking, editing and VFX. He was a talented visual effects designer, and storyteller. No matter the project, he always had a creative approach that would amaze you. As a child, he would employ his siblings and friends as stars in his latest movie. He dabbled in stop motion, bringing to life stories with his Legos, or even just helping his younger siblings with school projects. He had a wide collection of vintage cameras and filming equipment and had dreams of making it big one day as the next Martin Scorsese or J.J Abrams. He was deeply analytical when it came to movies and he was firm in his assessments of whether or not a movie was good or bad, but somehow in a way absent of any snobbery and despite his deep knowledge, without boasting. According to Matthew, the perfect film is Toy Story 3.

Matthew had a lot of heart, almost more than you can imagine could be contained in one person. He was thoughtful and generous. Matthew never tired of spending time with those he loved. Or if he did, he never made you feel like it. Even though it may have pained him not to interject in conversation with his own opinion or anecdote, there was never a more compassionate ear than his. He answered with integrity and with Matthew, you always knew where you stood.

Writing an obituary for a 25-year-old is not something anyone should have to do. Matty was taken from this world far too soon, but those who survive him unanimously agree, there never would have been enough time. Matthew is survived by his parents, Lori (Dave) and Stuart (Jenny), his siblings Kristina (Eric), Emily (Mark), Molly (Matt), Nicklaus (Lila), Lucy and nephews Henry and Lucas.

It is with great heartbreak that he leaves behind the love of his life, his “button”, Ashley.

Matthew was so loved by his extended family including the Daniel family, Tammy, Heather, Brody (Stephanie), Andrew and Zachary. His grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and beloved “ma tante”, hold great memories of his warmth, attentiveness and humour.

How we begin to fill this hole is beyond us, but already we are comforted by what feels like endless stories all inspired by Matthew and his excellent sense of humour, enduring love and zest for life. He will live on through these stories and through the incredible gift of organ donation. Matthew’s gift saved 3 lives.

A celebration of life, honouring his legacy of loving his family well and showcasing his passion for filmmaking is planned for early spring. Details below.