Kobe
farewell: Widow breaks down, regrets she will never witness daughter’s wedding
farewell: Widow breaks down, regrets she will never witness daughter’s wedding
Vanessa
Bryant remembered her husband and daughter in a very emotional tribute. The
widow eulogised the duo as lovers of life, saying that God knew and took them
home together.
Bryant remembered her husband and daughter in a very emotional tribute. The
widow eulogised the duo as lovers of life, saying that God knew and took them
home together.
She described Gianna as a sweet and gentle soul,
saying she regrets she will never witness her walking down the aisle.
saying she regrets she will never witness her walking down the aisle.
Vanessa held tears as she eulogised her
husband and daughter Gigi during their farewell service titled a Celebration of
Life.
husband and daughter Gigi during their farewell service titled a Celebration of
Life.
The farewell
ceremony took place on the night of Monday, February 24, at Staples Center in
Downtown Los Angeles.
ceremony took place on the night of Monday, February 24, at Staples Center in
Downtown Los Angeles.
Invited to
the stage by talk show host, Jimmy Kimmel, Vanessa in a very emotional speech
broke down in tears when she began to speak about her lovely daughter Gianna.
Addressing the huge crowd, the legend’s wife described Kobe’s magic arms and
his relationship with their daughter, Gigi, terming their loss as something she
did not understand.
the stage by talk show host, Jimmy Kimmel, Vanessa in a very emotional speech
broke down in tears when she began to speak about her lovely daughter Gianna.
Addressing the huge crowd, the legend’s wife described Kobe’s magic arms and
his relationship with their daughter, Gigi, terming their loss as something she
did not understand.
Eulogising
her husband, Venessa opened up about their love story revealing she was his
first love and confidant.
her husband, Venessa opened up about their love story revealing she was his
first love and confidant.
“Kobe
was mine. He was my everything. I was his first girlfriend, his first love, his
wife, his confidant and his protector,” she said.
was mine. He was my everything. I was his first girlfriend, his first love, his
wife, his confidant and his protector,” she said.
The mother
of three now described her late daughter and her husband as lovers of life
adding that God knew they couldn’t be on this earth without each other.
of three now described her late daughter and her husband as lovers of life
adding that God knew they couldn’t be on this earth without each other.
“God
knew they couldn’t be on this earth without each other he had to bring them
home together.”
knew they couldn’t be on this earth without each other he had to bring them
home together.”
She
described Gianna as an amazing and gentle soul who lit up everywhere she went
and every room she walked into.
described Gianna as an amazing and gentle soul who lit up everywhere she went
and every room she walked into.
According to
her, Kobe’s relationship with their daughters was the best girl-dad
relationship. The 41-year-old was also eulogised by former NBA Legends Michael
Jordan and O’Neal who also broke down into tears remembering their late friend.
The event which was attended by more than 20,000 fans also included sportsmen
who knew Kobe personally and professionally. The farewell ceremony featured a
musical performance by Beyonce, Alicia Keys and Christina Aguilera.
her, Kobe’s relationship with their daughters was the best girl-dad
relationship. The 41-year-old was also eulogised by former NBA Legends Michael
Jordan and O’Neal who also broke down into tears remembering their late friend.
The event which was attended by more than 20,000 fans also included sportsmen
who knew Kobe personally and professionally. The farewell ceremony featured a
musical performance by Beyonce, Alicia Keys and Christina Aguilera.
Beyonce lit
up the memorial as she performed the legend’s favourite song where she asked
the mourners to sing along with her. The widow chose February 24 as the date
for the memorial in honour of the pair’s uniform numbers.
up the memorial as she performed the legend’s favourite song where she asked
the mourners to sing along with her. The widow chose February 24 as the date
for the memorial in honour of the pair’s uniform numbers.
Kobe wore
number 24 for most of his career and Gianna wore number 2 on her youth
basketball teams.
number 24 for most of his career and Gianna wore number 2 on her youth
basketball teams.
The
basketball icon died in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California, on Sunday,
January 26. Bryant and his daughter, Gianna, was in his private helicopter with
seven other occupants at the time of the crash.
basketball icon died in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California, on Sunday,
January 26. Bryant and his daughter, Gianna, was in his private helicopter with
seven other occupants at the time of the crash.
Kobe enjoyed
a terrific basketball career with Los Angeles Lakers spanning to close to 20
years.
a terrific basketball career with Los Angeles Lakers spanning to close to 20
years.
During the
period, he won a couple of titles, including five NBA championships before
calling it quits in 2016.
period, he won a couple of titles, including five NBA championships before
calling it quits in 2016.
Father and
daughter were laid to rest on Friday, February 7, during a private family
service two weeks after their death in a helicopter crash.
daughter were laid to rest on Friday, February 7, during a private family
service two weeks after their death in a helicopter crash.