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During the late musician’s celebration of life on Saturday, Nickell detailed the last conversation they had before his fatal helicopter crash. “I texted Oliver the day before he passed and asked how quitting smoking was going for him, as he promised he would give it up once he was on tour,” she recalled. 8 Oliver Tree’s mom, Christine Begin Nickell (pictured at the podium) said her son was “so happy and excited about life” one day before his tragic death. Oliver Tree/Youtube 8 Nickell detailed their last conversation during her emotional speech at Tree’s celebration of life ceremony on Saturday. Oliver Tree/Youtube Explore More Oliver Tree’s celebration of life features surprising display of coffins as friends and fans mourn the tragic death of the singer How Oliver Tree’s family is honoring late singer’s ‘final wish’ written into will before helicopter crash Oliver Tree’s mom breaks silence after late singer vowed not to share wealth with family “He Facetimed me immediately and let out a huge puff of cigarette smoke in my face,” she laughed. “But he was so happy and excited about life that day. “He told us he was taking a helicopter ride to a house on a mountain top the next day to make music and TikToks with his friends,” she recounted, beginning to get choked up. “He loved having epic days. Each one more memorable than the last.” 8 Nickell said that she Facetimed her son (pictured left) and he blew cigarette smoke in her face after telling her he would quit. Christine Begin Nickell/Facebook 8 “But he was so happy and excited about life that day,” she recalled. (Pictured: Tree with his parents earlier this year.) Christine Begin Nickell/Facebook Tree’s loved ones and fans celebrated his life Saturday with a quirky ceremony at the Quarry Amphitheater in Santa Cruz, California, the city where he was born and raised. In front of the stage, three mannequins dressed like the singer — sporting bright windbreakers, sunglasses, cowboy hats and blunt bowl cuts — lay in coffins in a bizarre display. Logan Paul and Diplo were among the other speakers during the ceremony. 8 Logan Paul (pictured here) and Diplo were among the other speakers during the quirky ceremony at the Quarry Amphitheater in Santa Cruz, California. Oliver Tree/Youtube 8 Tree’s loved ones and fans gathered to celebrate his life that was cut too short. Oliver Tree/Youtube The singer died in a helicopter crash in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, last month. He was just 32 years old. He was visiting South America at the time as part of his “The World’s First World Tour.” The “Miss You” songwriter was identified as one of six casualties in the tragic helicopter crash. The other victims include passengers Lucas Vignale, Gaspar Prim (also known as Argentinian YouTuber Gaspi), Lucas Brito Chaves, and pilots Alexandre Souza and Charles Marsillac. Two helicopters collided in the air while flying over an electric vehicle yard, CNN reported. At least 20 cars were set on fire from the collision after being hit at the crash site. 8 The singer (seen above in 2021) died in a helicopter crash in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, last month. He was just 32 years old. olivertree/Instagram 8 At the time, Tree (pictured at the 2021 iHeartRadio Z100 Jingle Ball) was visiting South America as part of his “The World’s First World Tour.” Getty Images for iHeartRadio After the singer’s death, Nickell shared in a heartbreaking Facebook post mourning his death, “Our dear son Oliver, you made this world a better place. We are so proud of you. RIP.” His family later announced they were honoring his “final wish” to start a foundation dedicated to helping up-and-coming artists. “Oliver is now back in California where he can finally rest,” their Instagram post read. “His legacy will live on through his foundation/endowment named ‘Dr. Oliver Tree’s Extremely Epic Grant For Baby Geniuses’ coming soon.” Filed under celebrity children celebrity deaths celebrity families celebrity moms Oliver Tree 7/27/26 Read Next Rarely-seen '80s star makes surprise appearance in selfie ... Conversation Your voice matters. 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Oliver Tree/Youtube Nickell detailed their last conversation during her emotional speech at Tree's celebration of life ceremony on Saturday. Oliver Tree/Youtube Nickell said that she Facetimed her son (pictured left) and he blew cigarette smoke in her face after telling her he would quit. Christine Begin Nickell/Facebook "But he was so happy and excited about life that day," she recalled. (Pictured: Tree with his parents earlier this year.) Christine Begin Nickell/Facebook Logan Paul (pictured here) and Diplo were among the other speakers during the quirky ceremony at the Quarry Amphitheater in Santa Cruz, California. Oliver Tree/Youtube Tree’s loved ones and fans gathered to celebrate his life that was cut too short. Oliver Tree/Youtube The singer (seen above in 2021) died in a helicopter crash in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, last month. He was just 32 years old. olivertree/Instagram At the time, Tree (pictured at the 2021 iHeartRadio Z100 Jingle Ball) was visiting South America as part of his “The World’s First World Tour.” Getty Images for iHeartRadio You are viewing 1 of 8 images Previous Image Next Image More Stories Page Six Usher boots fan off stage after her painfully awkward response to his seductive dance moves Decider Stream It Or Skip It: 'Elite Force' On Netflix, An Action Drama About France's GIGN Force And How One Man Gets Drawn Back In After An Attack NYPost Exclusive | Netflix exec goes ballistic after being fired for stunning 'trust exercise' confession at retreat: suit Facebook Twitter Instagram Email YouTube TikTok Snapchat Sections & Features Video Photos Newsletters & Podcasts Email Newsletters Podcasts Contact Us About Page Six Editorial Standards Tips Advertise/Media Kit Contact Licensing & Reprints Vulnerability Disclosure Program © 2026 NYP Holdings, Inc. 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