Whitmore Lake, MI – Matthew Peter Onelio died on May 9, 2022, just shy of his 35th birthday.  He was born on May 18, 1987 in Rochester, Michigan to Patricia and Peter Onelio.  A proud Michigan native, Matt grew up in Sterling Heights and spent his adult life in Ann Arbor and Whitmore Lake with his two beloved cats, Gandalf and Goose. 

Matt always had his own way of doing things - his own signature style, even as a kid.  With ginger hair and round glasses, he rocked the Harry Potter look long before J.K. Rowling wrote her first novel.  He shared his opinions freely, convincing his family to make more trips to the Old Country Buffet than any of them would like to admit.  In addition to all-you-can-eat mashed potatoes and gravy, Matt had an endless appetite for playing video games (Halo) with his friends.  He did make it outside during family camping trips to KOA, where he cruised the campground on a banana bike by day and told jokes over hobo pies around the bonfire by night.  He spent many summers at his Grandma and Grandpa’s home in Canton - hanging out with garden gnomes, reading (Go Dogs Go), watching Nick at Night (Get Smart), waging nerf gun wars, and playing Hasty Patience.  He loved his two dogs, Lady and Babe, and his dearest cat Cocoa – almost as much as he loved Taco Bell. 

Matt earned an Associate’s Degree from Macomb Community College, where he studied psychology.  He was an astute observer of human behavior, noticing details and making connections that many overlook.  He often joked that he missed his calling as a comedian.  After moving to Ann Arbor, Matt worked in the service industry at several of AA’s favorite local venues, including at The Big House to fuel the University of Michigan Wolverines for victory on game days.  In his free time, he loved to cook (steak was his specialty), read (especially anything Orson Scott Card), play Xbox (Battlefield), and listen to True Crime podcasts.  Matt was a creative soul and expressed his artistic side in a variety of ways – through his clothes, paintings, new dishes, and lyrical delights improvised on the spot.  He was an entrepreneur at heart and dreamed of starting his own business one day.

Matt’s family and friends remember him for his intellectual curiosity, love of reading, passion for science (Neil deGrasse Tyson was his favorite scientist), and deep compassion for animals.  Matt had a wonderfully crude sense of humor, complete with a sly smirk and a one-of-a-kind laugh.  He was a fierce and loyal friend who always had your back.  Dealt far more than his fair share of hardship and suffering, he was one of the strongest, most resilient humans most of us will ever meet.  Living through so many ups and downs, Matt had a strong sense of who he was and the courage to openly share his beliefs and convictions with others.

Matt is preceded in death by his dad Pete, his Aunt Pam (Griffiths), his maternal grandfather David Griffiths, and his paternal grandparents Peter and Loveta “Ginger” Onelio.  He is survived by his mother Patricia Onelio and stepdad Blaise Molitoris, his sister Laura Onelio, his maternal grandmother Marie Griffiths, and the many friends who made up his chosen family, including Matthew Reese.

Matt will be buried next to his dad on Friday, June 3 at 2pm at White Chapel Memorial Park Cemetery located at 621 West Long Lake Road in Troy, Michigan.  All are welcome to attend. RSVP is encouraged, but not required.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Wild Heart Wildlife Rescue. Wild Heart Wildlife Rescue is run by Jess Sommers, a local certified and licensed Wildlife Rehabilitator. Visit Jess’ Facebook page to learn more about her amazing work. You can send donations via Paypal.

Please sign our online guestbook and share a favorite memory or photo of Matt.