Natalie Matko Jackson

40 fantastic years. Natalie was a force. A lover of friends, family, food, wine and life. A best friend to so so so many. Devoted. Loyal. Laughing. Loving.

She was the daughter of John and Ivanka Matko, born in Aurora, Illinois. Raised on the tennis courts, she and her identical twin, Stephanie, followed sister Michelle’s footsteps to lead the West Aurora High team to a State championship. Along the way, they were the Illinois State doubles champions 2 years running. A star on and off the court, Natalie received both an academic and a full athletic scholarship to Division I school DePaul in Chicago. She was awarded the academic student athlete of the year for 2003. After graduation, she started a successful career in fashion retail. In 2010, she watched the Olympics and was so taken with Vancouver that within 6 months she had secured a position at Lululemon and moved to Vancouver. There, she met fellow transplant Jaime, who became her best friend. Through that friendship, she met her husband, Stephen.

In 2010, at age 28, Natalie was diagnosed with breast cancer. She endured chemo, radiation, and surgery without complaint or despair. In September 2017, the cancer returned. Without fear or sadness, Natalie moved forward, got engaged and learned to ski (and apres). On June 14, 2018, she and Stephen were married with her friends and family present. She traveled to Korea, Japan, Sri Lanka, Argentina, Peru, Mexico, Hawaii, California, Greece, Croatia, England, Wales, Ireland, Switzerland, and France, and eventually invented Italy. She worked to raise money for BC Cancer Foundation through her web page http://donate.bccancerfoundation.com/goto/nataliematko and helped her close friends launch an exciting new clothing brand.

At the end, she was still making plans and calling her friends to arrange visits. Natalie died on October 20, with friends and family at her side. She is remembered fondly by her parents, John and Ivanka Matko; sisters, Michelle Pridmore and Stephanie Chrisman; their loving husbands, Paul and Mark; nieces and nephews Joely, Alexander, JJ and Henry; amazing aunt Marina, and her family, the Bogards - Tom, Carli, Kevin, and his wife Alysha; her “step-children” 😊, Eleni and Dionis; her adoring husband Steve, and her beloved dog Moses.

Natalie was passionate about raising money for the BC Cancer Foundation. She requested that, in lieu of flowers, people donate to the Foundation in her name, through her page. Please review the page and donate if you are able.