It's a tough day for Angelenos and for Lakers fans ... and for Vanessa Bryant. As the young widow paid tribute to her late husband, basketball legend Kobe Bryan and their daughter Gianna who both died in a helicopter crash late last month, fans supported her at the packed Staples Center in Downtown L.A.

Vanessa told fans her nicknames for Kobe and his for her; she thanked fans for lifting her and her daughters up during this difficult time; and she talked of her love for her "baby girl."

Magic Johnson, Shaquille O'Neal, and more gave speeches and Beyonce performed "XO" with a band and choir whose lyrics read: "In the darkest night hour, I'll search through the crowd/Your face is all that I see; I'll give you everything."

It has been an emotional few hours and the Celebration of Life is just wrapping up now; perhaps this can bring some sense of closure to Vanessa and to the city of L.A. and to fans everywhere.

Meanwhile, Vanessa filed a lawsuit against the helicopter company Island Express who owned the aircraft and employed the pilot, George Zobayan. The suit seeks punitive damages for allowing the copter to fly in conditions for which it was not equipped.