Matthew Karl Hoioos, born January 13, 1998 in Seattle, Washington to Thomas and Sharon Hoioos, passed away on June 24, 2026 surrounded by his loving family.

Matt could light up a room and the lives of all who knew him with his mischievous sense of humor and quick smile. Matt was the youngest of 4 children. His siblings Kate, Meg and Jake always took care of their brother and continually found ways to include him without limits.

Matt received his first service dog, Calder, from Canine Companions at age 8. From that point on he was rarely seen anywhere without his dog. Successor service dogs Shiloh and Dacey followed and Dacey was at his side when he died. The family wishes to thank Canine Companions for their tremendous support for Matt over the past 20 years. The Canine Companions Old Dominion Volunteer Chapter plans to raise $50,000 to sponsor a new dorm room at the Northeast Region Training Center in Matt’s name.

Matt joined Ainsley Angel’s, a running club for individuals with disabilities, in 2018. He completed multiple races over the next 8 years including 2 Marine Corps marathons, many half marathons, 5ks, and several sprint triathlons. He completed 3 half marathons with his mother, sister and brother-in-law creating very special memories. The family also wishes to thank Ainsley’s Angels for their tremendous support. Matt loved the wind in his hair and the roar of the crowd at the finish line.

Matt joined Emerging Stars, a club for disabled adults in 2020. Emerging Stars brought Matt together with other young adults in a spiritual environment to provide training, activities, recreation and socialization. He particularly loved bowling every Wednesday! Matt will be especially missed at Emerging Stars by his best friend Lindsey.

Matt attended school in Stafford County Virginia and was a proud graduate of Mountain View High School. When Stafford County Public Schools denied Matt’s right to have his service dog accompany him to school, Matt worked with his Virginia House of Delegates Representative and State Senator to amend Virginia law to ensure no future student would face the same discrimination.

Matt and family relocated to Lake Anna in 2022. Matt loved lake life; boat rides and floating in the lake with friends; sitting around an outdoor fire pit; and dressing for dinner in a party shirt.

Matt was preceded in death by his maternal grandfather, Walter Strobach; his paternal grandmother, Mary Ellen Hoioos; and his uncles, Jimmy Hoioos and Bill Dawson. He is survived by his parents, Tom and Sharon Hoioos of Bumpass, Virginia; sisters Kate Hoioos and Meg Wise (Charlie); brother Jake Hoioos; “Lake sister and brother” Lindsey and Jad Abbit; multiple aunts, uncles, cousins; and his service dog, Dacey.

A funeral mass will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 25, 2026 at St Jude Catholic Church, 1937 Davis Highway, Mineral, Virginia 23117. Attendees are asked to wear your favorite Hawaiian/Party shirt and baseball hat. Matt would want that.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Matt’s name to the Canine Companions Northeast Region Matt Hoioos Memorial Dorm Room at https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/ matt-hoioos-memorial-dorm-room; Ainsley’s Angels at https:// https://ainsleysangels.org/; or Emerging Stars at https://www.emstars.org/ Online guest book is available at covenantfuneralservice. com.