Necta Papanicolaou: Funeral service remembers beloved Dulwich Hill Gourmet Meats butcher

A popular inner west butcher tragically killed in a motorbike accident has been remembered as a loving family-man and “beautiful soul”, as family and friends said their final goodbye.

A well-known and much-loved Dulwich Hill butcher and father of two was laid to rest as family, friends and the community said a final goodbye at an emotional funeral service.

Nectarios ‘Necta’ Papanicolaou, 34, died in a motorcycle accident on April 16 and has been remembered as a loving family-man and “beautiful soul” at a service at All Saints Church in Belmore.

“It is hard to come to terms that Necta has left us,” the family said in an ecology, read out at the service.

“We are broken, we are numb.”

Attached to a wreath near Necta’s open casket were the words: “Always in our hearts”.

The butcher’s smiling face adorned the service sheet given to the almost 200 people who filled the Greek Orthodox Church to pay their respects. Not a seat was free as people spilt out onto the road outside.

The outside of All Saints Church in Belmore. People spilt onto the steps and street during Necta's funeral service.

Necta’s immediate family – parents George and Yiota, siblings Michael, Dion and Valando, wife Krissy – sat in the front row, in tears over the loss of a son, brother, husband and father.

Memories from his family, read out by Reverend Christos Triantafillou, remembered a beaming smile, mate to all and loving family man.

“One thing is for certain, in Necta’s 34 years he spread joy and made people smile,” Rev. Triantafillou, reading a statement from the family, said.

“We received hundreds of messages of people remembering ‘the world’s biggest smile’, ‘a beautiful soul’, and his positive energy.

“He was the true definition of a people person.”

Necta died after a motorbike accident on Wardell St, Marrickville, only 500m from his family’s Dulwich Hill Gourmet Meats butcher shop where he worked with his parents and brothers.

The investigation into the exact circumstances surrounding his death remains ongoing.

Necta worked at the popular inner west butcher run by his parents and was a mainstay and recognisable face of the shop.

“When it came to the family business, to Necta, there was no such thing as customers,” Rev. Triantafillou said. “He always called them mates, and people gravitated towards him.”

Necta with his wife Krissy and young children.

Necta could befriend anyone, but family always came first.

“Family was everything to Necta,” Rev. Triantafillou said. “He loved spending time with his mother Yiota, cooking with her, spending time at home or taking her out for meals.

“Love you mum, he would always say when he had to leave.”

Necta often said that he owed everything to his father George. He leaves behind his wife Krissy and two young children.

“The family will never forget the day when Necta came back from the hospital with his firstborn child,” Rev. Triantafillou said.

“He was overcome with joy – he loved his children unconditionally.”

Necta at Dulwich Hill Gourmet Meats. Picture: Craig Wilson

Necta loved his work and his customers. Picture: Craig Wilson

Although it was Easter weekend the fateful day Necta was killed, it was Greek Easter a week after, and the laughter and smiles so synonymous with Necta were – for the first time – missing.

“Last week, when the family were supposed to be celebrating Christ’s resurrection, friends gathered instead to show their support,” Rev. Triantafillou said. “Normally Necta would be there too – standing over the BBQ, laughing and telling jokes.

“Family gatherings will never be the same again.”

The family explained they thought they almost lost Necta 32 years ago, when as a two-year-old he fell from a second-floor balcony. When they rushed down, expecting the worst, Necta was smiling and unscathed.

“We are grateful that Necta wasn’t taken from us all those years ago,” the reverend said on behalf of the family.

“He gave us so much – we’re grateful for the times we had with him, his smile, his laughter, and all those special moments.

“We’re also grateful for his two beautiful children – who will forever be loved.”

Following Necta’s tragic death, family friend Lisa Pereira set up a GoFundMe for the distraught family, which has already raised more than $33,000 in three days.

The proceeds will go toward supporting Necta’s young family.

The Inner West Courier sends its sincere condolences and biggest wishes to the entire Papanicolaou family during this time.