Grimmie’s brother, Marcus Grimmie, was among speakers during the service, although he admitted to the audience he had little to say.
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Grimmie’s mother, Tina Grimmie, was one of several family members to speak at the service, held at Fellowship Alliance Chapel in Medford, New Jersey, and she remembered the last time she was with her daughter.
Christina Grimmie received moving tributes in a memorial service where her family told of their agony at losing the young singer.
The Voice album was celebrated in a sanctuary where a larger-than-life photo of the singer hung from a wall and a bounty of flowers were laid before across the altar to honour a life that shockingly ended while Christina signed autographs for fans last Friday at her concert in Orlando.
Grimmie’s brother immediately tackled Loibl, but the St. Petersburg, Florida native was able to fatally shoot himself during the chaos. Loibl died on the scene of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Authorities said Grimmie was gunned down by Kevin Loibl, who she had no personal connection to.
“The three things that keep me walking upright, otherwise I would just be a crumpled up mess in the corner, are that: I know I’m going to see her again… she’s way better off now, she’s more alive now than she’s ever been, she’s not going to be hurt anymore, and thirdly, and this is where I’m wrestling, is that God’s plan is better than my plan”, he added, as quoted by E! Her love and bond with her family is also shown.
At her concert in Miami on Saturday, the night after Grimmie’s death, Gomez broke down in tears onstage remembering her friend.
The 22-year-old singer and keyboard player also sang on Dancing with the Stars and The Ellen DeGeneres Show.
It comes a day after her private funeral in Evesham, where she grew up.
“We have been fans for years but we didn’t know how much we appreciated her until she passed”, Alissa said. “I could tell you about the memories of when she was a baby and she lah-la-lahed and when she was getting a bath I’d tell her to sing for Jesus (sic)”, she said through sobs. “But God has showed me that He’s way bigger than that hole”.
“I’ve been upset about this all day, mainly because I just never got to say what I wanted to say to her, and I feel like this song perfectly captures that”. An autopsy report has not been made available. “Thanks mum and dad, I know it’s going to be really tough for us to move forward”.
Her brother and their parents alternated as family greeters during the five hours as pictures celebrating Grimmie’s life flashed on two screens mounted above the stage. “That’s why we loved her”.
Church leader Ken Gardner said he promoted Grimmie to people within his Somerset congregation because of her positive message.
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“You can’t think about what could have, should have been”, he said, “even though you do”.
