Mourning Young Father: 'My Sweet Angel Took His Last Breath'

AQUEBOGUE, NY — A heartbroken community is mourning Matthew Rolle, a young Aquebogue father diagnosed in 2018 with cancer who never lost his optimistic spirit and bright smile.

"My sweet angel took his last breath early this morning, with me by his side and surrounded by family," Matt's wife Haley wrote on Facebook Monday. "He went peacefully and is no longer suffering. It eases my pain to know that he is no longer in pain. To say this has been an emotional ride the past few years is an understatement."

Haley said she has no words to explain all of the ups and downs and battles she and Matt faced.

"I am thankful for my time with Matt, the beautiful children we’ve created that will carry on his spirit, and to our amazing families that have always been there for us," she said. "We are forever grateful for the entire community for the outpouring of love, support, and prayers."

Her husband, she said, leaves a legacy laced with love. "Everyone that knew Matt knew what a gentle giant he was, how selfless he was, and what a genuinely kind person he was. Why his time on this earth was cut short, I won’t ever understand, but he is now at peace."

Arrangements for Matthew Rolle will be as follows: Visitation will take place at the Coster Heppner Funeral Home, located at 32470 Main Road in Cutchogue, on Sunday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Monday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Funeral services will take place on Tuesday at 9:45 a.m. Burial will take place at Sacred Heart Cemetery, located at 3404 Depot Lane in Cutchogue.

Coronavirus restrictions will be in place, including a limited number of mourners, social distancing, masks, hand sanitizer, and temperature taking, with no hugging allowed. Due to COVID restrictions, not everyone will be allowed into the church. Those who would like to join in the burial at the cemetery can meet at the cemetery around noon on Tuesday.

Burial services will be at Sacred Heart Cemetery. 3494 Depot Ln. Cutchogue, NY 11935

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation.

Friends remembered Matthew's heart and spirit. "To the man who sets the standard for a husband, son, father, brother, and friend," Kelsey McGayhey wrote. "Thank you for making my best friend the happiest woman in the world, treating me like family, and giving life to two of the most amazing children. The world lost someone whose heart has impacted and touched the lives of countless people with his good nature. Rest in peace, Matthew Rolle, I was the lucky one to watch you and your family grow. A life gone way too soon."

And, said Michael Mundy: "Today we lost a great father, brother, son, and a great friend. I will always cherish the great times that we had together...You were the older brother that I wish I always had. You always put your family and friends first above anything else. I will miss all those good times that we had together...The one time that sticks out in my mind, and probably everybody else's, is your wedding day. I remember standing there and watching Haley walk down the aisle and seeing tears run down your face. I think everybody who saw that also started crying. I know I did. And then seeing how happy you were when Clayton and Lylah were born. And the great uncle you were to Maverick. I just want to thank you for being a great friend , uncle, and brother to me. I will miss you, buddy."

Speaking to Patch in 2018, Matthew, who grew up in Mattituck and also lived in Cutchogue — he worked in maintenance, buildings, and grounds at the Riverhead Central School District and served for nine years as a volunteer firefighter with the Cutchogue Fire Department — spoke about the community that opened its arms with such love to support him and his family from the first.

"I'm overwhelmed," he said. "It's an amazing community we live in. An amazing network of people, of family, friends and firefighters — and people you don't even know."