Raymond Sydney Matters (Services next week, July 24 & 25)

On July 14, Raymond Sydney Matters took his final breath at the QEH, surrounded by love.

Raymond will be deeply missed by his devoted wife of nearly 60 years, Mary (nee Power); daughters, Raeona (Clint) Lacey and Debbie Matters; beloved grandchildren, Travis (Nathalie) Lacey and Ember Lacey; sister Colette (George deceased) Stordy; and brothers and sisters-in-law, Rita (Francis) Matters, Helen (Paul deceased) Hughes, Charlie (Jo) Power, Joe deceased (Carol-Ann) Power, Colleen Peric, Isabel (Kerry), Eddie (Theresa) Power, Theresa (Wayne) Power, Bernadette (Brian) Schmeisser, Annemarie Power.

After a life-altering car accident in 1972 left him partially paralyzed, Raymond showed remarkable strength and resilience. With the support of family and friends, he continued to operate the family farm - a testament to his unwavering determination and tenacity.

Raymond worked hard every day of his life. He loved his farm deeply, even when the work was long, demanding, and full of challenges. When something got in the way, he didn’t stop—he invented a way around it, often with tools he modified himself. He took pride in caring for his family, his land, and the machines that kept it all running.

Raymond was once asked what the first sentence of a book about his life would be, if it were written to inspire people with disabilities. Without missing a beat, he replied: “Always have baler twine in your back pocket—if you can’t push it, you can pull it.”

That simple wisdom captured the essence of who he was: resourceful, practical, and always ready to find a way forward. His life was a quiet triumph of will and heart.

Raymond is now reunited in heaven with his beloved infant son, Larry; his parents, Marguerite (nee MacGuigan) and Freddie; and his brothers, Jerry (Audrey) and Francis; brother-in-law Joe Power. We take comfort in knowing that he now walks, runs, and dances again - free of pain, free of limitations.

Special thanks to the staff at QEH, South Shore Villa, and Burnside Community Care for making Raymond and his family as comfortable as possible.

Visitation will be held at Belvedere Funeral Home on Thursday, July 24, from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. The funeral mass will take place at St. Joseph's Church in Kelly's Cross on Friday, July 25, at 10:30 a.m. This service will be livestreamed and may be viewed by clicking on the following link Livestream. If you have difficulty accessing the livestream, please call 1-877-895-2739.  Donations may be made to St. Joseph's Parish or ResourceAbilities (formerly known as the PEI Council of the Disabled).