Matthew Farrell

Matthew Little Matt' Farrell, 29, passed away suddenly and unexpectedly in the early morning hours of June 12, 2016 at Carle Foundation Hospital from a single gun shot wound to the chest, delivered by the hands of his own father. Matt was born on August 3rd, 1986 at Carle Foundation Hospital to Mary Ellen and David G Farrell of Urbana. He is survived by his sister DeDe Farrell and her partner Katy Meehan of Seattle, Wa., his uncle Matt Mangas of Cape Coral Fl., his Aunt Sally Strand of Hampton Bays Ny., his uncle and aunt Jeff and Carrie Farrell of Carlsbad Ca., and a small handful of cousins. He is preceded in death by three grandparents and his mother, Mary Ellen Mel'Farrell, who tragically passed away from brain cancer just 9 months ago, at the age of 64. Born, raised, and taken from the same house on Oregon Street, Matt made fast and strong friends with many. He made more than a handful of best friends while attending Leal Elementary School, Urbana Middle and High Schools. He received an Associates in Arts from Parkland College, studying fine and graphic arts. He then went on to work as a graphic designer for McKenzie Wagner Inc., before striking out on his own. Matthew Farrell Creative was the name of his personal business, housed in the Colab in Urbana. He had started his company only a month or so before his mother fell ill last year. Recently his business was booming and he was finally coming in to his own and enjoying his successes. No one can dispute the irony that Matt was shot in his very best asset, his heart. Matt's reach in this community was just as far as his mother, Mel's. They were two peas in a pod, committed to being an integral part of the Champaign-Urbana scene, something they both seem to have accomplished given the overwhelming outpouring of support for both. Irony stacked on irony was the posthumous discovery of a nearly entirely blocked coronary artery in his heart. This will shock most who knew him because Matt was also known for his fitness: riding his bike for transportation, skate boarding around town and at parks, running marathons, snowboarding, lifting weights, boating, you name it. This information is incongruous to his outward appearance and is really of no consolation, because it does not change the fact that he was forcefully removed from this Earth. Positive adjectives abound when people describe Matt's sensibilities, personality, and character. Matt was a charming, handsome, charismatic, creative, passionate, caring soul and a fun-loving extrovert. However, many have also seen another side of Matt that was emotional and sensitive, with a tender spirit. So now we must ALL carry a part of Matt in our own hearts to keep that spirit alive and coursing. Please express your thoughts, and share your stories on his Facebook page, or at the Sipyard memorial wall next to his Colab office space in downtown Urbana. At a later date, Matt and his mother will be remembered with a memorial, and have their ashes sealed, together, in a place in CU that people may come to pay their respects. Sunset Funeral Home Champaign-Urbana Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.