Playboy Model Christa Speck Krofft Dies

Former Playboy model Christa Speck Krofft has died at the age of 70.

She passed away of natural causes in Los _Angeles on 22 March (13), according to CNN_.com.

A statement from her three daughters reads, "Mum had an uncanny ability to make everyone smile and touched so many people with her unique sense of humour. It's rare to find a human being that holds no judgement and sees the good in everyone. That was our mum. We will miss her terribly."

The beauty, who was born in Poland, was crowned Playmate of the Month in September, 1961 and Playmate of the Year in 1962. She also worked at the famous Playboy Club in Chicago, Illinois and lived at founder Hugh Hefner's Playboy Mansion.

Paying tribute to his pal on Twitter.com, Hefner writes in a post, "I'm saddened by the death of dear friend 1962 PMOY Christa Speck."