San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle and his wife, Claire Kittle, were recently dealt a tragic blow. One of their close friends, Kari Pekar, had been dealing with a long battle with cancer. She and Claire first met at the University of Iowa, and have since been two of the best friends. Kari was also a regular at the Niners games to support George, highlighting how deep her friendship with Claire ran.

After her passing, Claire Kittle penned an emotional note for her on Instagram.

“We’ve dreaded this day. Our sweet, perfect girl Karbear went to Heaven,” Claire Kittle wrote on Instagram. “There is no one more caring, more loving, more genuine, or more kind than Kari. We didn’t deserve her, and God knew it. She gets to be home with Him now, finally pain-free. Now, an angel watching over her sweet baby girl, Ivy, and her incredible husband, Peter.”

Kari Pekar revealed that she was fighting her battle against stage 4 colorectal cancer in January with a social media post. As she got ready for this challenging time in her life, the Kittles ensured she got all the help required and even took to social media to raise support. Claire re-shared Kari’s post on her own story, asking her followers to send prayers and love to her friend, who she thought of as a sister.

When the news about her passing broke, Claire found support from her family, friends, and other followers, who poured in messages of support and empathy in the comment section of her post.

Messages of support pour in as George Kittle’s wife Claire’s close friend passed away

As Claire Kittle shared her emotional tribute to her friend, she found support from her friends and family. One of the first messages for Claire came from her husband, George Kittle, with the Niners tight end sharing a short yet emotional message for his wife.

“❤️‍🩹” George wrote. The TE also shared a great bond with Pekar, having turned up to visit her when she gave birth to her daughter. Claire had also shared a photo of her husband and the newborn, captioning it with “Best Friends Forever.”

“So sorry for your loss. Sending you all my love ❤️❤️❤️,” a friend wrote.

Claire’s friend and comedian Shannon Ford Middleton shared, “My heart breaks reading this. I’m so so sorry💔.”

” There will never be a kinder human to have walked this earth than Kari; she’s always been an angel. May she rest in peace,” Erin Alvey, another close friend of Claire’s, commented. She is a musician and is married to Filip Rosberg, who plays in the NHL.

“There is no one like Kari, and that is how I know heaven is for real. Thank you for loving her and sharing her memory. We will live in a way that makes her proud, until we meet again,’ yet another friend shared.

The outpouring of love and support in the comments reflects just how deeply Kari Pekar touched the lives of those around her. For Claire Kittle, losing her closest friend is a pain no words can fully capture. But the messages from George, family, and friends serve as a reminder that she does not have to carry that grief alone.