Funeral held for Christina Mauser three weeks after the basketball coach was killed in the Kobe Bryant crash
Christina Mauser, 38, a renowned basketball coach who died in the helicopter crash that killed NBA legend Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna along with six others was laid to rest at a low-key funeral on Sunday, CNN reports.
The funeral service for the mother-of-three — who coached 13-year-old Gianna's girls' team at Bryant's Mamba Sports Academy — was held in the gymnasium of the California high school that she attended.
"Kobe didn't pick my wife because she was average. She was exceptional," Mauser's devastated husband Matthew said in an interview with ABC shortly after the crash, adding how "loved what she did."
"My wife had a brilliant, brilliant eye for coaching," he continued. "I just want people to know how amazing my wife was. I want everybody to know not only about my wife, but about the other people on that helicopter that were amazing people. Including Gianna and KB. It was a helicopter full of incredibly talented, hardworking sweet, kind, fantastic people."
Among others who died in the crash were baseball coach John Altobelli, 56, his wife Keri and daughter Alyssa. Their family was honored at a public memorial held last week on Monday. The event, held at a stadium in Anaheim, California, was attended by several thousand people who came to honor Altobelli. The award-winning coach of Orange Coast College baseball was known for leading his team to four state titles as well as for grooming young players to grow and develop both on and off the field.
Meanwhile, NBA star Bryant and his daughter Gianna were laid to rest on February 7 in a private family service at Pacific View Memorial Park in Corona del Mar, California. Photographers were not allowed at the event.
Nonetheless, a public memorial event for the father-daughter duo is scheduled to be held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on February 24.