NEWPORT BEACH, CA. (THECOUNT) — It’s the ones left behind.. Vanessa Bryant, wife of Kobe Bryant, who was killed in a Sunday helicopter crash along with the couple’s 13-year-old daughter, “can’t finish a sentence without crying,” according to a close family friend.

Vanessa Bryant, 37, is doing her best to deal with the sudden death of two bright stars of her immediate family with the shocking deaths of her husband and teenage daughter Gianna.

Advertisement

She’s “devastated,” but according to a source close to the family, she also knows that she now needs to be strong for her other three kids.

The sudden death of her husband and 13-year-old daughter left the mother with the difficult task of grieving over the tragedy, while also comforting the couple’s three other children: Natalia, 17, Bianka, 3, and 7-month-old Capri, reports DailyNews.

“She can hardly keep it together,” the source told the magazine. “She can’t finish a sentence without crying. But she is working very hard to pull it together for the other girls. She now has to be the strong one.”

“Of course, you can never be prepared for this,” the source added. “Despite their ups and downs, [Vanessa and Kobe] were soulmates. She thought of him as her partner for life.”

DEVELOPING::

Geo quick facts: Newport Beach, a coastal city in southern California, is known for its large, boat-filled harbor. Balboa Peninsula has 2 piers, Newport Beach Pier and Balboa Pier, plus the Balboa Fun Zone, an old-school amusement park with a Ferris wheel and ocean views. Local beaches include the Wedge, known for its big waves, and Corona del Mar State Beach. The Orange County Museum of Art exhibits modern and contemporary works – wikipedia.