Edmonton man's body recovered from ISIS, says mother

OnMother's Day, Tina Martinofinally confirmed the news she was so desperate to hear the body of her sonNazzarenoTassone, who died battlingISIS militants, was coming home.

Tassone, 24, left Edmonton last June. He was killed on Dec. 21 in Raqqa, Syria, while fighting with the Kurdish People's Defense Units, also known as the YPG.

His body was reportedly seized by ISIS militants and Kurdish forces have been negotiating to get him back ever since, while his mother madeemotional pleas for his return.

On Saturday, Martinoreceived a message from a YPG soldier in Syria, tellingher they had retrieved her son's body.

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"I can honestly say that for the first time in a long time my chest is calm, the anxieties have subsided," she told CBC News Monday, describing the feeling as unbelievable.

The news came just a week before Tassone'sfamily planned to finallyhold a memorial. Martinohad originally agreed to it to give her family closure.

But with only his backpack and journal retrieved from the battlefield, Martino continued to put offsetting a date. Shefinally settled onMay 20, still holding out hope for the news she receivedSaturday, and confirmed with the Toronto Kurdish community a day later.

They'll now reschedule the memorial after Tassone is repatriated, likely sometime in the next two weeks, Martino has been told.

"It's going to be harder than the memorial service that I was having," said Martino. "But at least I'll know that I'll finally have closure."

It's been a difficult five months but Martino said the YPG and Kurdish community in Toronto have been with her every step of the way: breaking the news, checking in, rescuing his bodyand covering the costs of his return.

"I am just touched that they never gave up," said Martino. "The YPG fought and they believed They say it's an honour to do this and I should be honoured for them doing it."

She added: "I was told that, the Kurds, they don't know the words, 'I can't,' 'I won't' and 'no.' They don't use those words. They use the words, 'we will,' 'we can' and 'we know.' "

Martino said she still has questions she hopes will be answered in the coming days, including how they finally managed to get her son back.

Global Affairs Canada shared few details, citing privacy reasons, but said it is providingconsular assistance to the family.

Albertan Shaelynn Jabs, 20,is also in Syriafighting with the Kurdish forces.

andrea.huncar@cbc.ca @andreahuncar