Here's to Harry
On the passing of my uncle...
My oldest uncle died a few weeks ago. This is the eulogy I spoke at his funeral on Tuesday...
"Thank you all for being here today to honor the life of my uncle, Harpik. I want to share a few memories that show who my uncle was to me. As a young boy, he taught me how to kick a soccer ball and play chess—skills that seemed small at the time but laid the foundation for a deep connection between us. He also introduced me to Les Misérables by Victor Hugo. I didn’t understand its full meaning back then, but his passion for that story left a lasting impression on me. Through that book, he taught me about compassion, sacrifice, and the quiet struggles of the human spirit—values he carried in his own life.
My uncle was a man of quiet strength. He worked in one of the most prestigious hotels in Tehran, where dignitaries from around the world would stay, and it was said that he was 'a good man to know.' But despite his steady life in Iran, he sought more for his family and himself. In the late 70s, he made the courageous decision to leave everything behind and move to America. Here, he found love and built a new life with my aunt Pet. Together, they raised two wonderful children, Andre and Pierre, and were blessed with several grandchildren. His journey to America was not just one of physical relocation but a testament to his courage, his hope, and his desire to provide a better life for his family.
In America, my uncle Harpik found his calling in nursing. This role was a perfect fit for the man he was—selfless, compassionate, and dedicated to helping others. He cared for families and individuals in ways that went far beyond the medical aspect of his work. He became a source of comfort, support, and strength to those who needed it most. Through his nursing, he exemplified what it means to serve others with humility and grace. He healed not just through his hands but through his presence, offering solace to those in their darkest hours. His quiet but steady care touched countless lives, and it was his way of showing the world the depth of his compassion.
My uncle Harpik came from a family that shaped him into the man he was. His father, Setrak, and his mother, Emma, instilled in him the values of strength, kindness, and perseverance. He also had a younger brother, Armik, who has since passed, and his surviving sister, my mother, Nazik. Their bond as siblings was strong, and I know that Harpik carried their love with him throughout his life. Today, we not only honor him but also acknowledge the family who helped shape him, and who now carry his memory forward in our hearts.
My uncle never sought attention for his acts of kindness or the lives he touched. He lived through action, always offering care and love without asking for anything in return. His legacy is not one of grand gestures but of everyday moments filled with compassion, patience, and a deep sense of responsibility toward others. Whether in his work as a nurse, his role as a husband and father, or simply in the way he listened to those around him, he made the world a little better by simply being in it. His legacy will live on in the people whose lives he changed, whether through his gentle hands as a nurse or the quiet strength he gave to his family.
As we gather here today to say our final goodbyes, I am reminded of a line from Les Misérables, the book my uncle introduced me to many years ago: ‘To love another person is to see the face of God.’ My uncle Harpik lived his life through love—love for his family, for his work, and for the people whose paths crossed with his. In his quiet, unassuming way, he showed us all what it means to be truly selfless, to give without expectation, and to live with grace. And in doing so, I believe he saw the face of God in each of us, as we were fortunate enough to see it in him.
So as we part today, let us carry his memory forward. Let us live with the same quiet strength, the same kindness, the same love. Uncle Harpik may no longer be with us physically, but his spirit, his lessons, and his love will continue to guide us. May he rest in peace, knowing that his life made a lasting impact on all of us. He will never be forgotten."
Հոկեհանկիստական աղոթք.
«Քրիստոս, որդի Աստծո, հանգստություն տուր Քո ծառա Հարփիկի հոգուն սուրբերի և արդարների մեջ, հիշիր նրան, Տե՛ր, քո երկնային թագավորության մեջ և հավիտենական խաղաղություն շնորհիր նրան քո լուսավոր բնակավայրում, պահիր նրա հոգին. Քո ողորմության մեջ, ով Աստված, մխիթարիր նրանց, ովքեր սգում են, և թող նա հանգչի քո անսահման սիրո և շնորհի մեջ: