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We have been
inundated by tributes and eulogies following the untimely passing
away of Raffi Hagopian. They all share the shock, grief and pain,
This is a selection of the expressions of condolence.
I read your obituary of Raffi H. Hagopian yesterday - 6
years after the event, but still happy and then very sad to have
found some information about Raffi.
My name is Sarah Owen, i am English and aged 45. I grew up in
Strood Kent and met Raffi when he went to St. John Fisher’s Catholic
school- he was in the same class as my older brother and they became
firm friends. They both attended Oakwood Park college in Maidstone,
Kent after leaving school. My brother Alun was a very good guitarist
and Raffi used to come round our house a lot at that time. I was 5
years younger than Raffi and Alun and used to try and follow them
around as much as possible, thinking that they were both wonderful-
much to my brother’s embarrassment!
Raffi was always very kind to me! He treated me like
his little sister, even to the point of walking me home one evening
when he found me out in town at a time that he thought was
unsuitable ( i was not best pleased, but very flattered ).
I thought Raffi was possibly the most interesting and
exotic creature i had met at that time, but he was very much a man
and i was very much still a kid. Alun used to keep a passport photo
of me in his wallet and years later Alun told me that Raffi had seen
the photo and kept it. I was very proud.
As you get older you lose touch and move around but
knowing Raffi touched
me and also my brother Alun. He was very much, on one hand, a tough
guy, but, like you said, his heart was so gentle. He radiated love.
He was the first Armenian i met and i found his history very
interesting although i couldnt understand why he had been all over
the place at such a young age.
I understand now; my best friend here ( in NL where i
now live ) is also Armenian and whenever the family gets together
they talk about the history, which is why every now and again i look
for Raffi on the internet. Yesterday was such a family party full of
Armenian friends and family – some ended up in Germany some in NL –
all of them disjointed and exiled. This is why i found your obituary
last night; one girl said to check via the Armenian church and
community in Jerusalem.
I wanted to express my sadness that his family lost him
like this- in his prime and on the brink of a new life. Even if
there had been no photo by your obituary,
I would have recognised him from your description.
I will say a prayer for him and his family.
With warmest regards,
Sarah Owen
My dear brother Hagop, dear Hoppig,
dear Vicken, Taline and families and to all my brothers and sister
and families, to the Topjian clan and to all our relatives in
Jerusalem and abroad.
> The heavy tragic news of the
sudden and untimely death of our dear nephew Raffi yesterday night
struck me and my wife Anna like a thunderbolt from the sky; it
left us speechless and aghast with disbelief. Raffi, the young
handsome prince with the ever smiling face has left us for a far better
dominion than he has ever known.
May God bless your soul dear Raffi
and may you dwell in His everlasting, borderless heavens
and Paradise and rest assured, dear brother Hagop, wife Hoppig,
and
all our clans, that Almighty God of the Universe is ever merciful,
loving and tender and
denies none of His creations His Love and Mercy.
We share your grief and
sorrow and may God grant you the patience and forbearance
to carry on in life.
On behalf of Apkar and Anna Hagopian and our son Apo
and daughter Anoush
Shocked and devastated!
There are no
tears, nor words, nor any kind of expressions that I can show that
would express the sadness in my heart for the loss of a Prince that
I have always admired.
Raffi Hagopian was a Royalty among us that
has chosen to leave us because life sucks. He was all what his uncle
says and more.
It's around 7:00 am in the morning here and I feel
it's still dark and dismal. My heart goes to his father, my cousin Hagop and his ever smiling and beautiful wife
Hoppig and the rest of
the Hagopians, Kevorkians, Aprahamians and the rest of the Armenians
of Jerusalem.
At this moment in my life, I wish I can be with my
family and cousin Hagop. My wife and Sally have fond memories of how
charming, decent and loving was Raffi to them and they are in
complete shock. This couldn't have happened to a more beautiful
person than Raffi.
May he rest in peace and may God give
us all the peace we deserve to struggle on without the smiles and
tenderness of a rare human being.
Cousin Hagop and
Hoppig! My most
deepest and profound condolences to all of us for the loss of our
dear Raffi.
May he rest
in peace.
The last time I was in California
and I visited Hagop and Hoppig.
Raffi and I had a long talk. His conversation with me was about life.
He said to me life is beautiful. It is what people make out of it.
These words ring in my ears just as if he is sitting
here and talking
to me. At his home he hated to see people leave. He always wanted
every one to spend the night there, so he can sit and talk. and he
succeeded to get everyone's attention.
He was like a candle that glows among us with his
bright eyes and beautiful smile, and every once in a while he gives us a
high-five.
The light of this candle had stopped and Raffi is gone
from this world into a better world. He can look down on us and continue
talking to us as we remember him. He was very hospitable, he respected
everyone and extended his hand to help when
anyone called on him.
Raffi, we know you are in a better place tonight. We
know that God
had a place for you next to Him. We pray to God to bless your soul and
may you rest in Peace. You will be remembered forever and missed by all
of us.
My wife and I extend our deepest sympathy and sincere
condolences to
all the Hagopians in the United States and Jerusalem and Australia,
and especially to his father Hagop Hagopian and his lovely mother
Hoppig.
May God give them the strength to pull through this
difficult time and
the tragedy for the loss of their beloved son Raffi.
This is our final unforgotten bid to say farewell to a beloved
but remarkable spirit who has left without saying goodbye. We
have written a few words knowing he is still with us and whoever
reads moving challenging lines that shake us to the core is
supporting us & giving us strength.
We are indeed far
away but the World can never take away our love & thoughts of you. Our
hearts & souls are with you all in this tragic & horrific moment.
We feel how weak and fruitless any words
of ours may attempt to beguide you from the grief of a loss so
overwhelming. We cannot refrain from tendering to you the conciliation
that may be found in us all. We pray that our Heavenly father may sway
the anguish of your grief and leave you only the cherished memories
of the beloved and lost son who is now in a world we are unfamiliar
with but nevertheless believe in. A `solemn pride that must be yours to
have laid so costly a loss upon the alter of life.
We all find it so hard to comprehend the
truth, that our beloved Raffi has been taken away from us in a
manner no one can logically justify or understand. It is only the
experience of the support and comfort of loved ones around us that can
soften the loss and reduce some of the pain that will never heal.
We know, as the centuries have taught us and
foretold, that Raffi is in a glorious and better place. Although he
does not walk among us anymore, and find it difficult to accept his
loss, we are consoled by the thought that he has surrendered his soul to
paradise.
We can only
accept that he is living a new life now and walking new worlds. In
saying this we can only believe that our Father in heaven may have taken
him to watch over you and protect you and although we may think life is
so long it indeed is only a breath away until we see his lovely, such
beautiful spirit once more.
Raffi, you shall be missed, dearest
and beloved cousin, and no amount of tears can overcome the grief and no pain
can be greater than our loss.
Fare thee well.
On behalf of the Kaplanian family, Perth, Australia
If I knew the magic words that could comfort you, I would write
them today. But I know how little anything I can say can be of a
real help at a time like this.
The news of our dear cousin Raffi's death came as a
shock to all of us. We all loved him so much and we will miss him and
his jolly stories and good spirits.
My dearest cousin Raffi, I know you are in God's arms
today and I pray that you rest in peace.
God bless your soul. We will miss you ...
My dearest uncle Hagop, my beautiful Tantig Hoppig,
cousins Viken and Talin, I feel for you in your sorrow and extend my
sincere sympathy. May the Lord give you the strength to go through this
pain through the love of His Son Jesus. Please know that I will continue
to pray for you all asking God to give you hope love, peace and strength
throughout this time.
I pray that out of "His glorious riches he may strengthen you
with power through his spirit in your inner being." (Ephesians 3:16 NIV)
The tragic and unexpected news of the passing away of your beloved
son fell like a thunderbolt and stunned all those who remember Raffi. I remember him, when every year during the summer he
came with you, his parents, from Kuwait to spend the vacation here,
and I can see him now in my mind's eye playing with the children of
the Quarter brimming with vivacity and overflowing with energy.
I know words
are inadequate to alleviate your profound grief: this is a time when
much courage and prayers are needed.
His departure
in the prime of his life will be sorely felt; it is indeed an
irreparable loss, but his memory shall never fade but will remain
forever fresh in the minds and hearts of all who knew him.
My wife Anais,
and all your ex-colleagues at the Tarkmanchatz join me in
conveying to your our heartfelt condolences and profound sorrow on
your irretrievable bereavement.
May his soul
rest in peace in the eternal Kingdom of Heaven, and may the Almighty
grant you all His Heavenly consolation.
Fortunately
we Christians have the firm conviction and solace that death is not
the end, but that is by dying that we awaken to eternal life.
We all share
your grief.
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