Amanda Kloots honored her late husband Nick Cordero with an intimate memorial on Saturday, days after the Broadway actor died due to complications from coronavirus.
“We had a small memorial yesterday with close family and friends,” Kloots posted Sunday 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 she and loved ones listened to “I’m Here” from “The Color Purple,” noting some of the song’s lyrics “hit [her] hard.”
“Nick and I saw this show on Broadway years ago and we left the theater in tears, speechless,” Kloots shared. “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.”
Kloots added that while she has a “long journey ahead,” she knows Cordero wants her to “LIVE this new life,” and to be “the best version” of herself for their 1-year-old son Elvis.
“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,'” Kloots said.
“This is a long journey ahead and a down road I never thought I’d be on,” she continued. “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.”
Kloots concluded her post with the lyrics from “I’m Here,” encouraging followers to listen to Cynthia Erivo’s performance.
“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,” Kloot shared.
Last Sunday, Kloots confirmed Cordero had died after a months-long struggle against COVID-19. He was 41 years old.
Following Cordero’s death, Hollywood and the Broadway community paid tribute to the Tony nominee, who previously appeared in “Waitress” and “Rock of Ages.”
On Tuesday, Kloots thanked fans for their continuous support, also sharing family photos she found on Cordero’s phone.