Gone but certainly not forgotten. Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna Bryant were honored during a public memorial service after passing away in a tragic helicopter wreck last month.
The service celebrating the lives of Kobe and Gianna was held at Los Angeles’ Staples Center on Monday, February 24, where the NBA legend played during his 20-year career with the Lakers. The ceremony comes weeks after Us Weekly confirmed that the father-daughter pair were laid to rest in an intimate service held in Corona Del Mar, California, on February 7.
Kobe and Gianna passed away on January 26 in Calabasas, California, alongside seven others. The athlete’s private helicopter slammed into a hillside, causing it to instantly burst into flames. All victims of the wreck were identified by the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner on January 31.
Kobe shared Gianna with wife Vanessa Bryant, to whom he was married for nearly 20 years. The longtime loves also shared daughters Natalia, 17, Bianka, 3, and Capri, 8 months.
“We are completely devastated by the sudden loss of my adoring husband, Kobe — the amazing father of our children; and my beautiful, sweet Gianna — a loving, thoughtful, and wonderful daughter, and amazing sister to Natalia, Bianka, and Capri,” Vanessa, 37, wrote via Instagram on January 29, sharing a photo of the couple posing with their children. “We are also devastated for the families who lost their loved ones on Sunday, and we share in their grief intimately.”
Vanessa continued, “There aren’t enough words to describe our pain right now. I take comfort in knowing that Kobe and Gigi both knew that they were so deeply loved.”
Scroll down below to see photos from Kobe and Gianna’s public memorial at Staples Center.
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Booklets handed out to attendees featured a photo of Kobe kissing Gianna on her head.
Marjorie Hernandez
A woman addressed the crowd, while also paying tribute to the Altobelli families and others whose lives were taken in the wreck.
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Beyoncé took the stage to perform her song “XO.” Before starting over, she said to the audience: “I’m here because I love Kobe and this was one of his favorite songs.”
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A choir took centerstage to perform at the service with Beyoncé.
Marjorie Hernandez; Shutterstockfrom Celebrity News – Us Weekly https://ift.tt/2wGMmMd
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