Russell’s ‘LEGOcy’ - A farewell built from love.

When Michelle’s Dad, Russell, passed away, she was faced with organising a farewell for someone who was anything but ordinary. A lifelong educator, a co-founder of a thriving Lego club, and a man with a booming voice and a joke for every occasion — Russell was a presence people remembered.

Michelle knew his funeral needed to reflect that energy — not just a standard service, but a celebration of colour, connection and creativity that represented Russell. That’s where Lego came in.

“Lego. That’s my Dad’s middle name.”

Russell had co-founded a Lego club more than a decade ago, BrisBricks, which has grown to have tens of thousands of members. His love for the brick-built world was well known, so when it came time to honour him, the community came together to uphold his “LEGOcy”.

“I reached out to the members of his club and asked if they could make and bring along Lego flowers to adorn the coffin… I just envisioned a couple of bunches here and there, but we were just blown away by the support and the volume of beautiful flowers… It just was so unique and it was so colourful, and he, I just know, would've been beaming with pride.”

But behind this beautiful moment was a process Michelle had never faced before. Planning a funeral, especially for someone so loved, can feel overwhelming. She turned to a friend who had used Bare, and made a call that changed everything.

“I just thought I'd reach out to this friend and she couldn't have recommended Bare higher.”

From that first conversation, Michelle felt something rare: ease.

“From the very first phone call that I made to Bronnie, it was like I had known her forever. I just knew everything was gonna be okay.”

Bare’s simple tools and thoughtful support helped her stay present in her grief, without the weight of uncertainty.

“The website that you have, the dashboard, it was just so easy. So any step of the day, I could see where Dad was... Those little details are really important when you are grieving.”

With music, readings, a warm celebrant and, of course, Lego flowers, Russell’s farewell was exactly what Michelle had hoped for.

“It just flowed so well. Everybody that we've spoken to still says it was just such a beautiful service... It was just really touching to know that he had a beautiful farewell, you know, he deserved it.”

At Bare, it’s our privilege to support families like Michelle’s — helping to create goodbyes that are as unique, thoughtful and full of love as the people they honour.

You can watch Michelle’s full video below.

To learn more about what Bare do, visit our Services page or call us on 1800 071 176.