FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED FUNERAL HOMES SINCE 1881
| Matthias Albrecht Behling |
| January 4, 1943 - November 9, 2019 |
|
ContactsFuneral Home - Wetzel and Son Funeral Home - 501 Easton Road, Willow Grove, PA 19090 - 215-659-0911 - Map |
The following story was composed by Matt’s family.
This remembrance is written for my beloved husband Matthias Albrecht Behling of Chalfont, Pennsylvania (1943 - 2019). It is a moving portrayal of a life well-lived, his compassionate heart for all living things, his wisdom, creativity, humor & loving kindness despite the many trials & tribulations that life placed in his path.
Matt and his twin brother, Ulrich came into the world in January of 1943 during a bombing raid over the city of Berlin. He was raised in post WWII Germany & their childhood can only be described as a hellish, poverty-ridden nightmare where their shelter was one bombed out building after another. As he was miraculously pulled onto the last train exiting Berlin in 1945, Matt's new life began. Together with his twin, they honed their survival skills navigating a war-torn & stigmatized country. Matt experienced many childhood depravations & understood at an early age that his time on this earth is limited so he seized every opportunity to live life fully.
With his family in 1954, he emigrated to the United States, residing in Mount Holly, New Jersey. He attended Rancocas New Jersey Regional Valley High School, graduating in 1961. He attained his B.A. in Economics in 1965 at Rutgers University & his MBA at the University of Rhode Island & Temple University in 1967.
Matt balanced a responsible lifestyle with the joy of living. He was self-reliant, a man of his word & had faith is his God-given instincts. He was an excellent judge of character and viewed interactions with animals as a window into a person's soul. His character was built from the inside out & his compassionate heart fueled a deep spiritual appreciation for the natural beauty in the world. He never lost his intense compassion for animals, especially his dogs. He faithfully fed wildlife every day of his long life, which were in abundance near his home overlooking Peace Valley Park where he formed a St. Francis of Assisi-like bond with all creatures. "There is beauty in the pathless woods" (Byron) a partial quotation from Matt's favorite poem which encapsulated his approach to life. Matt found beauty in the challenges of life and relied on his faith over fear as he endeavored as a self-taught artisan, skilled carpenter, successful restauranteur, creative woodworker & aspiring biographical writer. Choosing the path less followed, he remained successfully self-employed for many years. Matt was also a master story teller with a evolved sense of humor & was never at a loss to tell just one more story from his vast cache of exciting life experiences.
Matt had an encompassing compassion for life that fueled his desire to help others & will be remembered for profoundly impacting the lives of many. He had a penetrating sense of kindness & empathy for those less fortunate in life. The full impact of his life is measured by the passing of time & those whose lives he touched will reap the benefits of his wisdom & kindness for years to come. Part of his legacy can be gauged by his guidance of young wayward souls who assisted him in renovating dilapidated structures into successful restaurants, apartment buildings & converting old Bucks County, PA stone barns into creative living spaces.
Taking in the gifts of nature, Matt enjoyed months long motorcycle trips, countless windsurfing adventures in his motorhome, extended treks through Europe & enjoying his daily cup of coffee watching the sun rise over Lake Galena with his wife, Rene and his dogs by his side.
Having a deep love & respect for his Mother, Matt maintained a close bond with her throughout her life. His heart was heavy for her as he intuitively understood the years of suffering she endured living through 2 World Wars, raising her own 4 children as well as 3 of her sister's orphaned children. He was a loyal, loving, compassionate son who spent countless hours later in life listening long into the night to his Mother's purging her soul of so much pain & sadness.
Matt was also blessed to share his life with Rene (Irene) for almost 40 years. They forged a bond that withstood the many trials & tribulations that life could offer. He faithfully and lovingly stood by her side as she endured debilitating chemotherapy treatment for cancer. Matt never left Rene's side & they emerged from this life challenge, an even stronger committed couple. Rene finds comfort in knowing that Matt was the truest person she had ever known.
Matt was keenly aware of his own mortality and in his extensive journals recounted thirteen times he faced death & survived. He was spiritually, intellectually & athletically gifted & continued to pursue challenging physical workouts throughout his life. On November 3, 2019, even though he had successfully & methodically felled many large ash trees on his property, he tragically suffered intercranial hemorrhage when the felling of a 50' ash tree went horribly wrong. He left this world on November 9, 2019 "in peaceful resignation" like a bird on wings. There was a subtle, almost celestial smile on his face as he prepared to face the unchartered frontier of death. In his own words, Matt "lived a good, long life & had experienced the greatest gifts of life, the truest of love. He had seen the best and worst in life and had no regrets".
Matt is survived by his wife & life partner of 40 years, Irene Behling of Chalfont, PA; Ulrich Hans Behling of Fairview, NC; Helmut Behling of Andover, MA; Julie Susanne Kimball of Asheville, NC; and many friends, nephews & nieces. It was Matt's wish to be cremated and have his ashes spread in the waters off Long Beach Island, New Jersey.
www.wetzelandson.com
This remembrance is written for my beloved husband Matthias Albrecht Behling of Chalfont, Pennsylvania (1943 - 2019). It is a moving portrayal of a life well-lived, his compassionate heart for all living things, his wisdom, creativity, humor & loving kindness despite the many trials & tribulations that life placed in his path.
Matt and his twin brother, Ulrich came into the world in January of 1943 during a bombing raid over the city of Berlin. He was raised in post WWII Germany & their childhood can only be described as a hellish, poverty-ridden nightmare where their shelter was one bombed out building after another. As he was miraculously pulled onto the last train exiting Berlin in 1945, Matt's new life began. Together with his twin, they honed their survival skills navigating a war-torn & stigmatized country. Matt experienced many childhood depravations & understood at an early age that his time on this earth is limited so he seized every opportunity to live life fully.
With his family in 1954, he emigrated to the United States, residing in Mount Holly, New Jersey. He attended Rancocas New Jersey Regional Valley High School, graduating in 1961. He attained his B.A. in Economics in 1965 at Rutgers University & his MBA at the University of Rhode Island & Temple University in 1967.
Matt balanced a responsible lifestyle with the joy of living. He was self-reliant, a man of his word & had faith is his God-given instincts. He was an excellent judge of character and viewed interactions with animals as a window into a person's soul. His character was built from the inside out & his compassionate heart fueled a deep spiritual appreciation for the natural beauty in the world. He never lost his intense compassion for animals, especially his dogs. He faithfully fed wildlife every day of his long life, which were in abundance near his home overlooking Peace Valley Park where he formed a St. Francis of Assisi-like bond with all creatures. "There is beauty in the pathless woods" (Byron) a partial quotation from Matt's favorite poem which encapsulated his approach to life. Matt found beauty in the challenges of life and relied on his faith over fear as he endeavored as a self-taught artisan, skilled carpenter, successful restauranteur, creative woodworker & aspiring biographical writer. Choosing the path less followed, he remained successfully self-employed for many years. Matt was also a master story teller with a evolved sense of humor & was never at a loss to tell just one more story from his vast cache of exciting life experiences.
Matt had an encompassing compassion for life that fueled his desire to help others & will be remembered for profoundly impacting the lives of many. He had a penetrating sense of kindness & empathy for those less fortunate in life. The full impact of his life is measured by the passing of time & those whose lives he touched will reap the benefits of his wisdom & kindness for years to come. Part of his legacy can be gauged by his guidance of young wayward souls who assisted him in renovating dilapidated structures into successful restaurants, apartment buildings & converting old Bucks County, PA stone barns into creative living spaces.
Taking in the gifts of nature, Matt enjoyed months long motorcycle trips, countless windsurfing adventures in his motorhome, extended treks through Europe & enjoying his daily cup of coffee watching the sun rise over Lake Galena with his wife, Rene and his dogs by his side.
Having a deep love & respect for his Mother, Matt maintained a close bond with her throughout her life. His heart was heavy for her as he intuitively understood the years of suffering she endured living through 2 World Wars, raising her own 4 children as well as 3 of her sister's orphaned children. He was a loyal, loving, compassionate son who spent countless hours later in life listening long into the night to his Mother's purging her soul of so much pain & sadness.
Matt was also blessed to share his life with Rene (Irene) for almost 40 years. They forged a bond that withstood the many trials & tribulations that life could offer. He faithfully and lovingly stood by her side as she endured debilitating chemotherapy treatment for cancer. Matt never left Rene's side & they emerged from this life challenge, an even stronger committed couple. Rene finds comfort in knowing that Matt was the truest person she had ever known.
Matt was keenly aware of his own mortality and in his extensive journals recounted thirteen times he faced death & survived. He was spiritually, intellectually & athletically gifted & continued to pursue challenging physical workouts throughout his life. On November 3, 2019, even though he had successfully & methodically felled many large ash trees on his property, he tragically suffered intercranial hemorrhage when the felling of a 50' ash tree went horribly wrong. He left this world on November 9, 2019 "in peaceful resignation" like a bird on wings. There was a subtle, almost celestial smile on his face as he prepared to face the unchartered frontier of death. In his own words, Matt "lived a good, long life & had experienced the greatest gifts of life, the truest of love. He had seen the best and worst in life and had no regrets".
Matt is survived by his wife & life partner of 40 years, Irene Behling of Chalfont, PA; Ulrich Hans Behling of Fairview, NC; Helmut Behling of Andover, MA; Julie Susanne Kimball of Asheville, NC; and many friends, nephews & nieces. It was Matt's wish to be cremated and have his ashes spread in the waters off Long Beach Island, New Jersey.
www.wetzelandson.com
Copyright Wetzel and Son, Inc. All Rights Reserved.