Jeremy Cook. Photo / Supplied
The 58-year-old Civil Aviation Authority airworthiness inspector was one of seven people who lost their lives in the Air New Zealand crash off the coast of southern France.
He was farewelled at a memorial service yesterday at the Air Force Museum in Wigram, Christchurch.
Maggi Wride, Mr Cook's
sister, said the service was one of "celebration through the eyes of some of the many people whose lives he shared and touched".
"The sudden, traumatic circumstances surrounding Jeremy's death have been difficult for us to process and come to terms with.
"However, we will all take great comfort in knowing that he had a family who all adored him and who formed the centre of his universe."
Ms Wride said her brother was doing a job that he loved.
"He was living his dream."
Divers have now recovered the bodies of six of the seven people who died in the crash and hope to be able to identify them early in the New Year.
The Airbus A320 plunged into the sea near Perpignan on November 28, killing all seven on board - five New Zealanders and the two German pilots.
The A320 was undergoing its final assessment before being handed back to Air New Zealand after it had been leased to German airline XL Airways.
French authorities said the investigation into the crash would continue over Christmas. The extent of damage to the bodies was complicating the investigation.
The team of divers will continue to search the wreckage for the remaining body this week, assisted by an observation robot.
The French prosecutor expected to formally identify the bodies by mid-January.
French authorities said they intended to bring parts of the cockpit out of the water.
The plane's flight recorders had been sent to their manufacturer in the United States.
As well as Mr Cook, there were four Air New Zealand staff on board.
They were Captain Brian Horrell, 52, from Auckland; engineers Murray White, 37, from Auckland, Michael Gyles, 49, and Noel Marsh, 35, both from Christchurch.
- NZPA
