Comedian Patton Oswalt remembers wife Michelle McNamara in touching essay

Comedian Patton Oswalt has authored a touching essay nearly two weeks after the unexpected death of his wife, crime writer Michelle McNamara.

In the essay posted on time.com, the 47-year-old Oswalt writes that McNamara's "family is devastated but can't help remember all of the times she made them laugh or comforted them."

He adds that by dying, his wife "hasn't left a void, she's left a blast crater."

Oswalt also relates a story about the couple's 7-year-old daughter, Alice.

He says five days after her mother's death he heard Alice saying: "When your mom dies you're the best memory of her. Everything you say and do is a memory of her."

McNamara died in her sleep on April 21, a week after her 46th birthday. No cause was given.