Matthew W. Friedel

But this will not be an announcement of his death.

Instead, what follows is a celebration of his life.

Because that’s what Matt was all about. Life.

Matt was born April 10, 1984, the son of Mark and Tamara. And ever since he was old enough to make decisions, he always chose to go his own way. He was the epitome of a free spirit. A proper bohemian. A bon vivant whose intention was not just to be alive, but to live.

And he was fearless in his pursuit. Doing what felt right by his soul, not by society’s decree. Seizing every unorthodox experience this world offered him with passion and fervor. And his devotion to his purpose was well rewarded. Because while the rest of us raced for the next day off, Matt lived an endless summer break.

But the spirited and serene life he chose to live wasn’t only for him; it was for us all. He wanted us to see our days not as a burden, but as opportunities to indulge in the things we love most. To curate an existence that brings us joy and spreads it to others. And to stop taking ourselves so seriously.

Matt is our son, our brother, our kin and our friend.

Peace was his dogma. Love was his currency.

And while it feels like he left us far too soon, we take solace that he lived more in 31 years than most of us ever will.

In his passing, Matt joins his beloved mother Tamara Jackson, who lost her battle with cancer in 2007. He is predeceased by his grandparents Carolyn and Frank Friedel and Paul Argo, Sr. He is survived by his father Mark, his sister Stephanie and her boyfriend Ryan, his grandmother Jodi McCook Argo, his stepfather Mike Jackson, stepsiblings Mike Jackson and his wife Tracey and their children Sean, Shane, Stone and Harmony, Brian Jackson and his wife Jennie and their daughter Reagan, Leslie Query and her husband Stephen and their children Tyler, Kylie and Ayden, aunt Karen Argo Allen her daughters Lindsey Allen and Heather Noble and her husband Josh, uncle Paul Argo, Jr. and his wife Denise and their children Macey Argo, Jodi Argo and Chase Waddell and his wife Laura, uncle William Friedel and his wife Elaine and their son Tim Friedel.

Services for Matthew Friedel will be at Georgia Memorial Park Funeral Home in Marietta. Visitation will be held Saturday February 27th from 6:00pm-9:00pm. Sunday February 28th visitation will be held from 12:00pm to 2:00pm. A Celebration of Life ceremony in honor of Matt will be held from 2:00pm to 2:30pm followed by a reception of celebration from 2:30pm to 5:00pm. Everyone is invited to continue the celebration at Winston’s Food & Spirits located at 1860 Sandy Plains Road in Marietta. Proceeds from Sunday night at Winston’s will go to Matt’s family.

Please no formal attire as we celebrate Matt, dress is casual. Flip flops are more than appropriate and encouraged.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make donations to the Go Fund Me page (https://www.gofundme.com/q8ggp9uc) that will be used to purchase a memorial for everyone to remember Matt