I just returned from Germany where I attended Rainer Mader’s funeral. It was overwhelming to see how many people bade him their last farewell, and it gave me great comfort knowing he was liked by so many people.

Rainer’s family also would like to thank the people of Malta for their warm and caring words, which appeared in many Maltese newspapers.

Rainer was introduced to me by my friend – his sister Monika – when he was just seven years old. I clearly remember his famous big warm smile when I first entered the house. He always made me especially welcome whenever I visited my friend. I saw him growing up from a sweet young boy to a very nice young man.

When Monika visited me in 1999 for the second time, she was accompanied by Rainer, who immediately fell in love with Malta and promised he would visit again soon.

However, it took him five years to come back to Malta. But from then on, he would visit at least once a year, sometimes even two or three times. Rainer quickly made new friends when he joined the scale modelling club in Floriana. He felt right at home in Malta and he even thought about living here after retiring.

There is also a story behind Rainer’s second stay in Malta. At that time my husband was abroad attending a conference, and I asked myself how I would survive on my own with two small and very active children. Rainer was visiting Malta precisely at this time and spent most of his vacation with us.

For me it felt he was an angel sent from heaven. He spent a lot of time with my children, and I showed him all the beautiful places of our lovely islands.

He became our family’s best friend. We share so many nice memories with Rainer, and it is so hard for us to accept the fact that he is now gone.

His death is a huge loss for all of us. We loved his honesty, friendliness, dependability and humour. He will be greatly missed. We feel great sympathy for his family, especially for his mother, who lost her third child with Rainer.

May he rest in peace. We have lost our best friend.