KARYDIS, Dionysios

Today we lay you to rest. I am utterly heartbroken, yet full of pride and gratitude for the gifts that you, with such deliberate purpose, bestowed upon me.
You taught me to work hard, so that I would never go hungry. You taught me how to think, so that I would be prepared for life. To be empathetic. To offer help, as you had done for so many, with quiet discretion and care, seeking neither fanfare nor accolades.
You showed me how to face my failings, to unconditionally own my mistakes and, more importantly, to atone for them.
My gratitude will endure until my final days, and my love for you will reach far beyond them. Your absence is profound.
Goodnight, O Captain! My Captain!
Sleep well in God’s embrace. You have earned it.
Your loving nephew,
Niko