Nick Cordero’s wife Amanda Kloots opens up about ‘beautiful and perfect’ memorial: ‘His spirit was definitely there’

Clémence Michallon
·4 min read
Nick Cordero and Amanda Kloots on 30 March 2017 in New York City: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images
Nick Cordero and Amanda Kloots on 30 March 2017 in New York City: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images

Amanda Kloots says she and a few loved ones paid tribute to her late husband Nick Cordero during a “beautiful”, intimate memorial.

Kloots shared a few details from the gathering in an Instagram post on Sunday.

Cordero died aged 41 of Covid-19 complications on 5 July.

“We had a small memorial yesterday with close family and friends,” Kloots wrote on Instagram.

“I said, ‘Nick would have wanted this to be a celebration. Let’s try to laugh, share great stories and sing for him and to his memory.’

“He would have loved it. It was beautiful and perfect. His spirit was definitely there.”

Kloots said the song “I’m Here” from the Broadway production of The Color Purple played during the memorial. She recounted that she and Cordero saw the musical together “years ago”, leaving the theater “speechless” and “in tears”.

“Truly, I am scared. Scared of my new normal, of the pain, the loss and being strong enough to get through it,” she added.

“But, I know Nick is up above rooting for me, believing in me and hoping for me. He wants me to LIVE this new life and he wants me to be the best version of myself for our son. I promised him in the hospital that I would try to do that.”

Kloots, a former Broadway dancer who now works as a trainer, pledged to use the song as a “motto” to get through the challenges ahead.

View this post on Instagram

We had a small memorial yesterday with close family and friends. I said, “Nick would have wanted this to be a celebration. Let’s try to laugh, share great stories and sing for him and to his memory.” He would have loved it. It was beautiful and perfect. His spirit was definitely there. We listened to the song, I’m Here, from The Color Purple. Nick and I saw this show on Broadway years ago and we left the theater in tears, speechless. As it was being played last night the lyrics in the second half of the song hit me hard. Truly, I am scared. Scared of my new normal, of the pain, the loss and being strong enough to get through it. But, I know Nick is up above routing for me, believing in me and hoping for me. He wants me to LIVE this new life and he wants me to be the best version of myself for our son. I promised him in the hospital that I would try to do that. So, when I heard these lyrics yesterday I thought, “Ok. When I’m doubting if I can get through this, I’m playing this song. It will be my motto.” This is a long journey ahead and a down road I never thought I’d be on. No one can tell me how to do it, I have to do it. I may do things right, I may do them wrong. There isn’t a perfect way. One day, one step at a time. I have faith that God is leading the way and that Nick is our angel. In case you don’t know this song and are also in need of a motto, here are the lyrics. Do yourself a favor by listening to @cynthiaerivo sing it. “I'm gonna take a deep breath. Gonna hold my head up. Gonna put my shoulders back, And look you straight in the eye. I'm gonna flirt with somebody When they walk by. I'm gonna sing out . . . Sing out. I believe I have inside of me Everything that I need to live a bountiful life. With all the love alive in me I'll stand as tall as the tallest tree. And i'm Thankful for everyday that i'm given, Both the easy and hard ones i'm livin'. But most of all I'm thankful for Loving who I really am. I'm beautiful. Yes, I’m beautiful, And I’m here.”

A post shared by AK! ⭐️ (@amandakloots) on Jul 12, 2020 at 7:17am PDT

“This is a long journey ahead and a down road I never thought I’d be on. No one can tell me how to do it, I have to do it. I may do things right, I may do them wrong. There isn’t a perfect way. One day, one step at a time. I have faith that God is leading the way and that Nick is our angel,” she wrote.

Kloots, who has a one-year-old son with Cordero, shared updates regarding Cordero’s health throughout his treatment.

The Tony nominee’s illness and death have prompted a wave of support across the entertainment industry. A Go Fund Me page created for the family has raised more than $1m.

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