The wife of former Christchurch city councillor Mike Stevens was killed in a head-on crash on State Highway 1 near Waikuku last Friday.
Glenis Marie Stevens, 67, died at the scene when her car collided with another vehicle 500m south of the Ashley River.
Mr Stevens yesterday described his wife as "the most wonderful person''.
He met her when she was just 15-years-old at the Waimairi Surf Life Saving Club. The couple had been married for 46 years.
"She was my rock.''