Nicole Phillip’s husband, Matthew Stevens, passed away on March 11, 2025. She is still grieving heavily and is allowing that to guide her for now. Matt struggled with addiction, and while she grieves, she is helping others to understand addiction. Nicole has two sons, Grayson and Gunner (the youngest is Matt’s). As a widow, Nicole is finding support from family and friends.
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Matthew and Nicole were married in the courthouse. They couldn’t afford a honeymoon at the time, so they scrimped and saved for an “eventual honeymoon.” They finally had enough, and the plans were in place. Matt’s funeral was paid for with those vacation funds.
Hiking through Zion National Park was their honeymoon trip. Nicole needed the trip to work through her grief. They had planned to take the boys, but that would have been a tremendous undertaking for Nicole. Matt’s brother showed up to help carry Gunner, who isn’t old enough to walk the rugged terrain. Having the support is something the young widow appreciates.
Nicole moved into her parents’ home about a month and a half after Matt passed. Her father has stepped in to help the boys experience “boy things” so they don’t miss out. This additional avenue of support is helping the widow in ways she could never have imagined. Matt was a hands-on guy and was active with both boys, and they miss that. He was a loving father to his stepson, Grayson, and little Gunner.
As Nicole shares her story, it brings tears of both sadness and joy. She is working through the grieving widow phase and thankfully has the support of family and friends. There is no timeline for grief. You can follow her continuing journey on TikTok.
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