Cricketing great Martin Crowe has been farewelled today.
Hundreds of friends, family, team mates and former opposition gathered at Parnell’s Holy Trinity Cathedral for his funeral. He died last Thursday after a battle with cancer, aged 53.
The Dean of the cathedral, Jo Kelly-Moore told the NZ Herald that Martin and his wife, Lorraine Downes, had chosen together to have his send-off at the cathedral.
His casket, painted bright orange, was adorned with the things that meant most to him: the dates of daughter Emma’s birth, his wedding to Lorraine, and the silver fern.
Lorraine, who married Martin on Valentine’s Day in 2009, was among the speakers to pay tribute to her husband.
“My grief is huge, as was my love for Marty,” she said.
“From the beginning of our relationship, I nicknamed Marty ‘my beautiful man’ – and that’s what he was to me.
“He could be passionate and romantic…and he could be cheeky as hell.
“He was everything I could dream of in a partner.”
Prior to the service, Lorraine posted an emotional tribute to her late husband on Facebook.
“Marty, you truly loved me well. Forever grateful to you, my beautiful man. It all will never be forgotten. Until we meet again.”
Martin’s brother Jeff, and former teammate Ian Smith also spoke during the service.
Smith shared stories about Martin’s dedication and talent to his sport, and gave an insight into his private persona.
“He would talk a lot about his family,” Smith said. “Lorraine you made him so happy. You were a beautiful couple. Emma, dad was a hero. Remember that.”
He even joked about the master batsman’s love of cousin Russell Crowe’s films while away on tour. The film star was also in attendance, and acted as a pallbearer.
Martin Crowe’s cousin, Russell Crowe.
Current Black Caps, Martin Guptill and Ross Taylor, shared their own memories of working and learning from the man Kiwi cricket fans called “Hogan”, via video from India, where the team are preparing for the ICC World Twenty20 tournament.
An emotional Guptill spoke of the honour the pair felt as being regarded as “the sons Martin never had”.
Martin was initially diagnosed with cancer in 2012, but went into remission a year later. In September 2014, it returned and he faced his illness courageously for a year and half.
Crowe, who is regarded as one of New Zealand’s finest cricketers, is survived by wife Lorraine, daughter Emma and step-children Hilton and Jasmine.
