Matthew Gerard "Matt" Wilson

Matthew "Matt" Gerard Wilson, age 42, a resident of Eldorado Hills, CA, formerly of Chicago and lifetime Naperville resident, passed away on Friday, August 2, 2024, in Placerville, CA after an extended illness. He was born on December 12, 1981, in Hinsdale, IL.
Beloved spouse of Amber (nee Van Arnum) of Eldorado Hills, CA, loving father of Brady & Siena, cherished son of William J. and Kathleen (nee Hallagan) Wilson of Naperville, dear brother of William A. Wilson of Fort Myers, FL, loving nephew of Sharon O'Keefe of CA & Mary Lou Wilson of Palos Heights, beloved cousin and friend to many. Matt was preceded by his paternal grandparents William & Lucille (Heck) Wilson and maternal grandparents Arthur D. & Marion (Baker) Hallagan.
Matt grew up in Naperville, attended Maplebrook Elementary School and Lincoln Junior High School. He played in the band and was selected to play the trumpet at veteran events and to serve as a school crossing guard. Matt was a 2000 graduate of Naperville Central High School, played on the Varsity Golf team and was the proud winner of the 1999 Naperville Junior City Golf Championship at Naperbrook Golf Course in Naperville. He was also a member of the NCHS Varsity Tennis team and was a trumpet player in the NCHS band. During Matt's high school years, he volunteered at Loaves & Fishes in Naperville.
He is a proud graduate of Purdue's Krannert School of Management class of 2004. Matt was selected every year at Purdue to serve as an ambassador of the Krannert School of Management. Matt shared his time with several charities at Purdue all focused on helping children and providing food supplies to those in need. A favorite memory of Matt was receiving a signed football from Coach Joe Tiller his senior year at Purdue for being a super fan attending every home game and many away games. Matt loved Purdue sports.
Matt was a longtime employee of Cision and most recently served as National Account Director, prior to that position he was employed by Aramark Uniform Services.
Matt was longtime parishioner at St. Raphael Catholic Church in Naperville receiving all his sacraments there. Matt served as an active volunteer in the Teen Program, Retreats, and played trumpet at mass.
Matt will be fondly remembered as being a kind and gentle soul. He will be greatly missed by his wife Amber, who helped him walk his extraordinarily difficult and very painful journey. His two children were his world. Brady and he shared a tremendous interest in sports. He loved and was proud watching Brady play and succeed in whatever sport he was participating in a particular season. Siena, who has multiple musical talents was the " apple of his eye " in all her performances. He always smiled as he watched Brady and Siena with a smile despite his pain. Matt will forever be remembered by his lifelong friends from grade school through the present. I believe it is called very true friendship touched with God's love. Matthew was so very grateful for their kind, loving, and caring support during his illness. His friends, really like brothers, kept him pushing. We love them deeply for their extreme goodness.
In lieu of flowers, a lasting tribute may be made in Matthew's memory to:
Ronald McDonald House Charities, Inc., 26345 Network Place, Chicago, IL 60673-1263, https://rmhc.org/donate -OR- Catholic Masses -OR- Misericordia, 6300 N. Ridge Ave., Chicago IL 60660, https://www.misericordia.com/giving/donate-online/
A memorial visitation will be held on Friday, September 20, 2024, from 4:00-8:00 PM at Friedrich-Jones Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 44 S. Mill Street, Naperville.
A memorial mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Saturday, September 21, 2024 at 11:00 AM at St. Raphael Catholic Church 1215 Modaff Rd., Naperville IL 60540.
A private family inurnment will be held at a later date at Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Hillside, IL.