If tears could build a stairway,

and memories a lane,

we would walk all the way to heaven,

and bring you back again.

No farewell words were spoken,

no time to say goodbye,

you were gone before we knew it,

and only God knows why.

Our hearts ache in sadness,

and secret tears will flow,

what it meant to lose you,

no one will ever know.

~ 18th June 2008 ~

Your Mother's tears surrounding you with her love...

'In loving memory of you Matthew'

My thoughts are with you, and all of 

your family and friends on your Angel day & beyond

Much love always.. from Sue XOXOXOX

We will never stop loving our children. A thoughtful, gentle man named
William Penn once wrote, "Those who love beyond the world cannot be
separated by it. Death cannot kill that which does not die." We loved our
children yesterday, we love them today, and we will love them tomorrow.
There is neither force nor foe that can ever remove the love we have for our
children. They live within us and beyond this world, now and forever. This
is not the way we wanted our lives or their lives to be because our children
belong, not to the ages, but to us. In the end, sadly, they are not ours to
keep. They will always be ours to remember, to honor, and to love.

We hurt so much because we love so much. It is our curse to live with the
reality of death's details. It is our Blessing to be given a glimpse of the
infinite possibilities of perpetual Love. It is not a fair trade. Neither
is this a bargain we sought to make. The Children that died too soon have
broken our hearts while giving us the great gift of enlightenment. Where do
we exchange that unwanted present for one minute with them when no refund
line exists. We reach out to strangers, to family or friends to help us
remember, to help us hope all is not lost. It helps. It is not a cure.
This pitiful plight is not a wound that time heals.

Death cannot kill that which does not die. Our children would no more leave
us than we would stop loving them. Those that Love beyond the world cannot
be separated by it. No one, no thing, not now, not ever can take away our
love for our children. Our Love defies death and taunts time while
embracing and displaying its eternal nature. Sometimes Love travels an
earthly path filled with tears and cheers inspired by the life of a child
measured in moments or years. Our children live forever in the glorious,
unending infinite light of our Love, as we in theirs. That is our blessing.
That is their gift and maybe they are waiting to see if we like it. Perhaps
a cheer joined to the tear is what they need to hear.

I Believe
Written by Diamond Rio

Every now and then soft as breath upon my skin
I feel you come back again
And it's like you haven't been gone a moment from my side
Like the tears were never cried
Like the hands of time are holding you and me
And with all my heart I'm sure we're closer than we ever were
I don't have to hear or see, I've got all the proof I need
There are more than angels watching over me

I believe.

That when you die your life goes on
It doesn't end here when you're gone
Every soul is filled with light
It never ends and if I'm right
Our love can even reach across eternity

I believe.

Forever, you're a part of me
Forever, in the heart of me
And I'll hold you even longer if I can
The people who don't see the most
Say that I believe in ghosts
And if that makes me crazy, then I am

'cause I believe

There are more than angels watching over me.

I believe

To Matthew's site

This memorial website was created
in the memory of our loved one,
Matthew Anthony Rodgers
who was born in Sarver, Pennsylvania
on July 15th 1982
and passed away on
June 18th, 2005
at the age of 22, unexpectedly
of viral myocarditis.
We will remember him forever.
We wanted to send this to
family and friends and
keep his memory alive 
forever!
He was the best Son,
Brother,
Brother in-law,
Uncle,
Nephew,
Grandson,
Cousin and Friend
and will be missed more
than words could ever express.
We are forever  changed
since Matt left us.
Our love for him will always be alive
and we look forward to the day we
can all be united again.
A whole family together...
as it was for 22 years.

To my dearest ones, some things I’d like to say...
But first of all, to let you know, that I arrived ok.

I’m writing this from heaven. Here I dwell with God above...
Here, there’s no more tears of sadness; Here is just eternal love.

Please do not be unhappy just because I’m out of sight.
Remember that I am with you every morning, noon and night.

That day I had to leave you, when my life on earth was through,
God picked me up and hugged me and He said, “I welcome you.”

“It’s good to have you back again, you were missed while you were gone.
As for your dearest family... They’ll be here later on.”

“I need you here badly, you’re part of my plan.
There’s so much that we have to do to help our mortal man.”

God gave me a list of things that he wished for me to do.
And foremost on that list was to watch and care for you.

And when you lie in bed at night, the day’s chores put to flight,
God and I are closest to you... in the middle of the night.

When you think of my life on earth and all those loving years,
Because you are only human, they are bound to bring you tears.

But do not be afraid to cry, it does relieve the pain.
Remember that there would be no flowers unless there was some rain.

I wish that I could tell you all that God has planned.
If I were to tell you, you wouldn’t understand.

But one thing is for certain, though my life on earth is o’er.
I’m closer to you now than I ever was before.

There are many rocky roads ahead of you and many hills to climb,
But together, we can do it by taking one day at a time.

It was always my philosophy and I’d like it for you too...
That as you give unto the world, the world will give to you.

If you can help somebody who’s in sorrow and pain,
Then you can say to God at night, “My day was not in vain.”

“And now I am contented that my life was worthwhile.
Knowing as I passed along the way I made somebody smile.”

So if you meet somebody who is sad and feeling low,
Just lend a hand to pick him up as on your way you go.

When you’re walking down the street and you’ve got me on your mind,
I’m walking in your footsteps only half a step behind.

And when it’s time for you to go, from that body to be free,
Remember, you’re not going... You’re coming here to me. 

Author unknown

Butterfly History/Jenn Rodgers
 (Sister-in-law)



A few months before you passed away Matt, someone at work
 shared this with me. I thought it was nice and saved it
 in my email. I really forgot about it until the afternoon
 of your passing. Todd and I were walking by Mom's garden
 and we saw this butterfly. Todd said, "Look, there he goes
 up, up" and I just lost it. I remembered this saying and
 knew that was a some sort of sign. The next day I 
was looking through pictures and came across the one 
of you at the beach. It is just an awesome 
picture and I knew that was 
the one I wanted to put with the butterfly saying.

I remember framing it and setting it on the table.

A butterfly lights beside us like
a sunbeam, and for a brief moment,
his beauty and glory belong to our
world... and although we wish he
could have stayed...
We feel so blest to have seen him"... 

 Dad was walking in from outside and read it.
 I explained that it was more for me because of 
what Todd and I saw the day before (Todd kept saying,
 "My brother is not a butterfly"). But Dad said 
that Mom and him were just sitting on the swing 
by themselves when a  butterfly flew up to them 
from far away. By then I was starting to really 
believe that you were definately trying to tell 
us something. (Kerri saw one the day after that, too).
 On the day following your funeral, Ryan and Garrett
 were sitting with Kerri on the swing when a butterfly
 flew by. Kerri showed the boys and Ryan called out 
your name. Although the boys could not comprehend 
the situation we all were going through, Ry-guy 
somehow knew to say your name. 

And the rest of the summer is Butterfly history...
you were giving us signs left and right. I have never 
seen so many butterflies as I did this summer. They were
 all at the right times, too. Before Ryan's birthday
 party (which, thanks for the beautiful day!) Todd 
was putting up the tents and a butterfly fluttered
 inside one of them. Todd said he was there for about
 20 mins or so... you would of been there that day 
early to help set up. And at the golf course when the 
guys were golfing for Dad's birthday. At the beach 
with us on vacation, and at the Pirate game 
when Todd, me and the boys were there. Now that
 was something, 2nd level at PNC Park. Never thought
 I'd see a butterfly there.

Now, Spring cannot come fast enough...I miss those 
butterflies already. Before I just thought butterflies 
were pretty, but now they mean so much more...
I cannot see one without thinking of you! 

I know you have been there with each of us every single
 moment since you left. We are lucky to have you as 
our Angel to watch over us...especially those boys!!!

We miss you and love you!!

Jenn

Standing freely on my fingertips! 

Wow ~~~ 

Gorgeous ... Monarch 

Such a tender moment... unbelievable 

The above photos were taken

in our yard. Sept. '07 

This butterfly I found . It was
stuck on the ground at the hospital
parking lot the night we left after visit-
ing our newly born grandson, Collin.
Todd & Jenn had their 3rd baby boy!
Uncle Matt found a way to let us
know he was there too!

The butterfly is a symbol of,
New Creation
Transformation
Freedom
Grace & Hope!
This is why God chose to allow you
to show yourself to us
through this beautiful butterfly .
You are a New Creation Matt.
You are Transformed into God's perfection.
You are Free to fly now Matt,
anywhere you want to be!

You have the Grace of an eagle
and are able to soar to new heights.
We all have the "Hope" to see you
and be with you again when God calls us home.
Until then, we will look for the butterflies,
and the eagles (we settle for hawks).....
we will be watching all around us
everywhere we go for you to be
paying us a visit.
We love you always and forever!

"Why" ~~~



In a minute "EVERYTHING" can change

Dear Father who art in Heaven...
Please join our family on this day
and bless each one as we sit down to pray
as we remember those who have joined you above
so dearly missed and deeply loved.

Please provide us strength on this day
Bless us with memories of those faraway...
Please grant patience to family and friends as we grieve
and help us reach out to others who are bereaved.

We give thanks to you on this day....
For Your presence in our lives each and everyday.
For Your comfort, guidance, and never ending love...
And for taking care of our loved ones...in Heaven above.


As we light this candle on this day...
And it glows in memory of those in Heaven today....
May their lights always shine down on us and give us light...
And may we feel their presence along with yours tonight.

May the peace and tranquility of this day
Be an everlasting light within each of us along the way...
Lets bow our heads and give our Thanks to God above.
For our blessings, whether on earth or in Heaven above... 

Amen

This is one of my favorite

pictures of Matt. His big

beautiful  dark brown eyes ...

~For Mom~

This memorial frame was given to me by
Nancy Davis.
She has helped me so much in the making of Matt's site.
As she always says, "WE CAN DO THIS TOGETHER"...

Thank you Nancy...Mom of Dusty

Todd, Pap Rodgers & Matthew





Matt's Pap Rodgers was known as
"Mr. Smiley"...He was the most
 loving, happy, caring & giving
 man I have ever known.

 He was a man who wore many
 hats. One of those hats was 
of a School Bus Driver.
The kids all adored him & were
 more than happy to get on his
 bus each day!  After work
 he would go home & tell so many
stories of all of his little friends!


Pap had the children smiling too!



 He loved his goodies & most of all 
anything chocolate.
  His favorites were Hershey Kisses! 
He would roll the foil papers into
  a huge ball after eating so many! 



When we took Pap & Gram 
on vacation to the ocean
 he loved sipping on a 
 strawberry daiquiri... or two, while
 relaxing in the beach house!



Matthew, Todd, & Kerri loved
 their Pap with all of their hearts.
 They looked up to him and 
respected him, and more than
 anything... they knew
 they were loved by him.

Tim loved his Dad so very much.
 He was everything to him.
 I miss Pap dearly & I am honored
 to be a part of his loving family.

It comforts us to know
 Matt is with Pap...
Matt loved his Pap on Earth
and now for all of eternity.


He would want us to keep 
on smiling as he always did.

 Tim had a dream of his Dad
& Matt golfing on top of a hill.
 Tim was standing at the bottom
 looking up at them & of course 
Pap had his big huge smile as 
he & Matt waved down to him!

Pap passed away on 1-19-'06
 7 months & 1 day after our Matt.

We will love and honor your 
memory, Pap... forever. We know
 you are taking good care
 of our Matt.

Matt's big brother, Todd was and 
always will be his best friend.

 It breaks our hearts that they
 were separated from one another
 so early in their lives. Being five
 years apart, they were only
 beginning to really bond as men.

 In this photo Matt was 22. He
 would have been 23 less than
 a month later. Todd was 28.

Dad's Dream

Matt,
I had a fantastic dream the other night...
Mom and I were talking about dreaming about you,
and that night I did!
I dreamed I was walking out on a wooden dock,
and as I approached the end I saw you sitting there
looping a hook into your line.
You were with someone else,
I don't know who it was,but you were both in snow white t.shirts.
As I approached you, I wanted to put my arm around you
and just hug you, but I was thinking, this can't be,
because I knew you were in heaven now.
I put my arm around your shoulders and hugged you,
as I did this, you looked right into my face and said
"Everythings cool Dad." 
Then I woke up.
This little connection with you
lifted a very heavy load from my shoulders.
I miss you terribly and will always miss you
and love you forever, but I know now that you
are enfolded in God's arms and are healthy and smiling that
unforgettable smile of yours.
Love you and miss you.
Sleep tight with the angels my son. 

Love you, always & forever,

Dad xox

Matt and his Dad, best buds.
Matt was a chip off his Dad's block.
They had so many of the same expressions
and talked so much alike. Matt loved
his Dad beyond description.
His Dad loved him the same.
To see the pain in my families faces...
is heart wrenching.
We are all so much less
without our Matt...

SOMETHING WILL
REMIND ME
I NEVER KNOW JUST WHEN,
IT MIGHT BE SOMETHING SOMEONE SAYS
AND IT ALL COMES BACK AGAIN.
THE TIMES WE SPENT TOGETHER
THE HAPPINESS,
THE FUN.
ONCE AGAIN, I FEEL THE PAIN
OF LIFE WITHOUT MY SON.

IT'S SAID THAT TIMES A HEALER
I'M NOT SURE THIS IS TRUE,
THERE'S NOT A DAY GOES BY MATT,
THAT I DON'T CRY FOR YOU.

IF I COULD HAVE ONE LIFETIME WISH,
A DREAM THAT WOULD COME TRUE
I'D PRAY TO GOD WITH ALL MY HEART
FOR YESTERDAY AND YOU.

A THOUSAND WORDS WON'T BRING YOU BACK,
I KNOW BECAUSE I'VE TRIED
NEITHER WILL A THOUSAND TEARS,
I KNOW BECAUSE I'VE CRIED.

YOU LEFT BEHIND MY BROKEN HEART,
AND HAPPY MEMORIES TOO,
BUT I NEVER WANTED MEMORIES
I ONLY WANTED YOU...

Matt's Dad, has wanted
 to have this "Tiger Butterfly" 
tattooed on his arm...as it
 turns out I looked up the
 name of the yellow
 and black butterfly 
that has been near
 to us since Matt passed
 and it just "Happened"
to be called... 

A poem Kerri found in
 the paper for your first
 angel date. June 18, 2006.







Matthew & his big sister, Kerri.
 She was so happy when he was
 born. She was seven years
older than Matt and became
 his second mom.
 She misses him every minute of
 every day and her heart just
aches for her little brother.

"If you need me call

 and I will come"~~~

Our kids ... all three together.
Our family was complete.
Our home blessed.
Each one of us separate ...
yet linked together.

... Forever ...

These photos were taken at home 
...in our garden... 
 It is July of 2007

His name is "Aphrodite Fritillary." 
His name is bigger than he is!

So perfectly created...

This beauty is named 
"Great Spangled Fritillary"

Dancing in the flowers!

Free ... to fly anywhere

Enjoying the sunshine!

This one is a female "Tiger Swallowtail."
August of '07... on our patio ...

Just showing off his wing span!


This one is "The Butterfly" which is 
named "Tiger Swallowtail", that
 has been
 with us from the day we found
 out our son was gone. Seems
 everywhere we go it is there... 


a sign to us that our Matthew
... is still near...

Sept. '07









This cross, candle, and balloons were
made for Matt's  first angel date by
a special friend of mine, Sue Smith.
She has devoted many hours of love
in helping me to make his site. For
this... I will be forever grateful. Love
to you... "My Dear Aussie Friend!"



In loving memory of
 Matthew Anthony Rodgers

Sue & her precious baby boy, Matthew..
www.matthew-sturzaker.memory-of.com

Sue from Australia, me from the USA.
 Somehow we were brought together...
 by our Matthews on these memorial
 sites. The deaths of our sons has
 brought us as close as
 "Thelma & Louise." From tragedy...
To a bond of love. 
                         

When somebody dies,
 a cloud turns into an Angel 
and flies up to tell God to put 
another flower on a pillow.
A bird gives the message back to the 
world and sings a silent prayer 
that makes the rain cry.
 People disappear,
 but they never really go away.
The spirits up there put the sun to bed,
wake up the grass, 
and spin the Earth in dizzy circles.
Sometimes you can see them dancing 
in a cloud during the day time 
when they're suppose to be sleeping.
They paint the rainbows 
and also the sunsets 
and make waves splash
 and tug at the tide.
They toss shooting stars 
and listen to windsongs,
 they whisper to us,
 "Don't miss me too much. 
The view is nice, 
and I'm doing just fine."

Alex, Garrett, Brayden, Ryan 

Matt's 5th born nephew...18 mths.

Taylor Matthew King

Our latest addition~ 4 months old

Collin Timothy Rodgers 
Born: 10-10-"07
Matt's 6th born nephew

Uncle Matt's 6 favorite nephews...'07

An updated photo of Tim & I
and all of Matt's boys. They
always made him smile ... now
they are the reason we smile! 

Left to right... 

Taylor Matthew
 Ryan Matthew
Alexander David
Brayden Shawn 
Garrett Andrew 
  Collin Timothy!

"Til Kingdom Come"
by Coldplay

"Steal my heart and hold my tongue
I feel my time, my time has come
Let me in, unlock the door
I've never felt this way before

And the wheels just keep on turning
The drummers begin to drum
I don't know which way I'm going
I don't know which way I've come

Hold my hand inside your hands
I need someone who understands
I need someone, someone who hears
For you, I've waited all these years

For you I'd wait 'til kingdom come
Until my day, my day is done
And say you'll come and set me free
Just say you'll wait, you'll wait for me

In your tears and in your blood
In your fire and in your flood
I hear you laugh, I heard you sing
I wouldn't change a single thing

And the wheels just keep on turning
The drummers begin to drum
I don't know which way I'm going
I don't know what I'll become

For you I'd wait 'til kingdom come
Until my days, my days are done
And say you'll come and set me free
Just say you'll wait, you'll wait for me

Just say you'll wait, you'll wait for me
Just say you'll wait, you'll wait for me

Wait for us Roogy...
We'll be there with you and Mom
 in time...

Til' Kingdom Come
This is the song that came on right after
 Matt's funeral on the way 
up to the cemetary. 
The tone of the song and the lyrics 
just hit me hard. 
I will always think of Matt everytime
 I hear this song for the rest of my life. 
Tommy Medovitch... best buds  

This past weekend I went
camping with some friends
 at The New River Gorge,W.V.
 It's so beautiful down
 there. It was our second 
time going. Everytime I go
 camping, I always
 think of the great times me 
Matt & Josh had camping
down at Paradise when we
 were kids. Those
are the greatest memories
 that I will never lose.

 Love ya, Diane & take care!

 Tom

Tom, Matt & Josh (1989)

The pillow that this little teddy bear is 
hugging is the same as all the pillows
that were made for us with Matt's tee-
shirts that he always wore. All of us
sleep with them and hug them by our sides
every night. The boys can't sleep without them.

 We call them our "Uncle Matt" pillows!

They were made with love from our daughter-
in-law, Jenn's Mom, Arlene Fortino. 
She will never know the comfort we all have 
 every night because of these gifts
she created for us all!
Thank you, Jenn for the idea of
making these, and thank you Arlene for 
your time & love in making them!

^`