Russell Crowe farewells his ‘dear old man’ at Nana Glen chapel

Alex Crowe was ‘fascinated’ by the chapel according to son Russell, who held a memorial for the much-loved local who died suddenly on board a flight from Sydney to Coffs.

The chapel on Russell Crowe's Nana Glen property in preparation for his father's memorial.

Russell Crowe held a memorial for his late father Alex at the chapel on his Nana Glen property on Saturday.

In the lead up to the service the 57-year-old actor tweeted photos of the chapel saying: ‘He was fascinated by it. Pretty sure he‘d be pleased’.

The much-loved local passed away after he collapsed during a flight from Sydney to Coffs Harbour in March and could not be revived.

He was well respected in the community and has been remembered as cheeky, down to earth, incredibly generous – just an all-round lovely guy.

The chapel has hosted weddings, string quartets, soloists, opera singers, meditation, prayer and even yoga.

Russell Crowe built it for his wedding to Danielle Spencer in 2003.

The chapel on Russell Crowe's property.

Along with a short video of the service he shared one of his father’s best quotes to his grand daughter:

“Don’t hang out with glass half full, glass half empty people … hang out with people who know the glass is always refillable.”

Best quote from the memorial for my father today, my dad to his grand daughter,
“ Don’t hang out with glass half full, glass half empty people... hang out with people who know the glass is always refillable “ pic.twitter.com/NuyA5fr85o

— Russell Crowe (@russellcrowe) June 5, 2021

Earlier in the week he shared a photo of his 85-year-old dad on Twitter, and suggested fans donate to the Charlie Teo Foundation in lieu of sending flowers.

Russell announced the sad news of his father‘s death in a series of Twitter posts in late March.

He wrote: ‘I arrived back in the bush last night. Today, although the sun is shining and the torrential rain has abated, this date will forever be tinged with sadness.

‘My dear old man, my beautiful dad, the most gentle of men, has passed away.

‘I’m posting this because I know there are people all over the world who’s heart he touched and who’s ribs he tickled with his sparkly eyes and his cheeky attitude to everyone, and everything, and this is probably as efficient a method as any to pass on the news.

‘John Alexander Crowe 13th March 1936 – 30th March 2021 Born in Christchurch, New Zealand. Passed away in Coffs Harbour, NSW, his home for the last 25 years. Rest In Peace.’

The Crowe family’s generosity in the region is legendary from supporting local businesses at every opportunity to founding the Nana Glen Heartstart program - even donating $200,000 for a pool at Nana Glen Public School after a drowning tragedy.