The family of a Canadian killed fighting for Kurdish forces in Syria has launched an online campaign to bring his body home for a proper burial.

Nazzareno Tassone, 24, died Dec. 21 near Raqqa, Syria, according to a letter from the Kurdish People’s Protection Unit (YPG), which hailed him as a hero.

“The respected Tassone family lost their beloved son, and we The YPG lost our daring and courageous companion,” the letter to his family said.

The letter said his body is still in the hands of Daesh, also known as the Islamic State, ISIS or ISIL.

“I want him home because he’s Canadian,” his sister, Giustina Tassone, 21, said in a telephone interview from Niagara Falls, Ont. “He’s a Canadian citizen. Even though he’s dead, he deserves proper treatment. I don’t want to bury an empty coffin.”

Tassone’s family has launched a Facebook page called “Bring Nazzareno Tassone Home.”

Giustina Tassone said her mother has trouble talking to anyone now and she particularly needs to have her son’s remains close to her.

“She wants to have her son with the rest of the family,” Giustina Tassone said.

Tassone was born in Newmarket and raised in Keswick, Ont., and Niagara Falls before moving to Edmonton.

He worked as a parking officer there before he left for Syria. He told the family he was heading to Syria to teach English.

“He was a goofball,” she said. “He was a major goofball. He always made me and my friends smile. He knew how to make me laugh. He was a funny guy but he could also be serious.”

Among the Facebook posts is one that reads: “My brother was killed on December 21st by ISIS in Rojava Kurdistan. Please make this page go viral so the CANADIAN GOVERNMENT knows to bring my brother home now.”

“He died for something he stood for,” another post reads.

“Rest in peace nephew I was always proud of you,” wrote his uncle, Frank Tassone of Keswick.

His aunt, Marina Cocco Vazzana of Oshawa, wrote of her pride in her nephew.

“God Bless your soul brave hero!” she posted. “Thank you for your ultimate sacrifice! May you be returned soon to your proud family, and back to your Canadian home. We will be forever grateful.”

There’s also a photo of the YPG letter to his family, which notes four others were also killed alongside Tassone.

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The website also includes photos of Tassone mugging and joking with his family, long before he went to war.

His own posts include one from July 2, when he wrote: “Internet will cut out soon, so if I disappear again, don’t worry . . . just the Middle East.”

He attempted to calm nerves of his loved ones on July 9 when he posted: “Still alive.”

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