Robert J. Cotton Funeral Directors

Robert J. Cotton Funeral Directors Palmerston North's longest family owned & operated Funeral Home.

I N L O V I N G M E M O R YIn loving memory of Jeanette Nancy Boddy, 4 September 1956 to 30 July 2025.Jeanette, the de...
03/02/2026

I N L O V I N G M E M O R Y

In loving memory of Jeanette Nancy Boddy, 4 September 1956 to 30 July 2025.

Jeanette, the dearly loved wife of Rev. Ian Boddy, was farewelled at the Wesley Methodist Broadway Church, a place she loved, surrounded by family and friends she cherished.

What was especially meaningful to capture was the Tongan ngatu (tapa cloth), which was presented as a gift. Ngatu is traditionally made from the inner bark of the paper mulberry tree, which is softened, beaten, and joined to form a cloth, before being decorated with hand-painted designs and motifs. It symbolises honour, generosity, and respect, particularly at funerals.

The Whatu Moenga Rattan casket by Windsor Industries was a natural and thoughtful choice. Made from a highly renewable material and lined with plant-based fibres, it reflected simplicity and care for the environment. Paired with the Tongan ngatu presented as a gift, the combination was simply beautiful and dignified.

The funeral service commenced with the casket open, allowing family and guests the opportunity to pay their respects to Jeanette before the lid was placed on the casket.

Set beneath the church’s warm, angled timber ceilings, the farewell felt calm, gentle, and beautiful. A service we will never forget.

Funeral Director: Hayden Cotton
Funeral Venue: Wesley Broadway Methodist Church
Funeral Photography: Kylie Cotton

S C H O O L V I S I TBack in October, Sage, a student from Glen Oroua School, got in touch to ask if she could intervie...
26/01/2026

S C H O O L V I S I T

Back in October, Sage, a student from Glen Oroua School, got in touch to ask if she could interview our funeral director, Lou, for a magazine she was creating as her chosen class project.

In December, before the school holidays began, we visited Glen Oroua School near Rongotea, around 20 minutes west of Palmerston North. Sage did an amazing job, confidently presenting what she had put together to Lou in front of her class.

Lola, our Funeral Therapy Dog, hadn’t been to school before and was also keen to join in on the class visit. She quickly became the centre of attention at lunchtime, with students gathering to watch her drive around the tennis court in her Lexus.

We had a lot of fun and truly appreciated the opportunity to visit and connect with the students. Thank you to Ms Crawford for having us, and well done, Sage, on an informative and thoughtful magazine project!

F U N E R A L F A S H I O N And today’s Funeral Fashion award goes to Nicky, who was effortlessly cool and chic.I could...
23/01/2026

F U N E R A L F A S H I O N

And today’s Funeral Fashion award goes to Nicky, who was effortlessly cool and chic.

I couldn't help notice her bag as she walked past reception. Running after her in my heels, I said, “Excuse me, could I take a photo of your outfit for my Funeral Fashion segment? I love your bag!”

Her husband was in disbelief that funeral fashion was even a thing! 😂 But before our eyes, she ran with it, and it was such a cool moment.

Funeral Fashion is a segment I created to celebrate the care and thought people put into paying respect to someone they love. What we wear can be a quiet expression of connection, memory, and meaning, and I believe those details deserve to be noticed. 🖤

22/01/2026

I N L O V I N G M E M O R Y

A farewell as unique as the life it honours.

For Max Weber, that meant one final journey on a Western Star truck.

This is what personalisation can look like. ❤️

21/01/2026

P E R S O N A L I S A T I O N

A farewell as unique as the life it honours.

For Max Weber, that meant one final journey on a Western Star truck.

This is what personalisation can look like. ❤️

3 0 Y E A R S S E R V I C E A W A R DThis week, we’re incredibly proud to celebrate Hayden Cotton’s 30 Years of Servi...
04/11/2025

3 0 Y E A R S S E R V I C E A W A R D

This week, we’re incredibly proud to celebrate Hayden Cotton’s 30 Years of Service Award, presented by the Funeral Directors Association of New Zealand (FDANZ).

From a young age, Hayden knew he wanted to be a funeral director, just like his dad and grandad. While classmates laughed, Hayden stayed true to that calling. In 1995, he began working alongside his father in Palmerston North, often heading to the funeral home straight after finishing his courier job. Thirty years on, he represents the fourth generation of the Cotton family to serve this community, with roots tracing back to William Cotton in Feilding.

Among his team, Hayden is known as “Maximiser” a reflection of his talent for refining processes and striving for excellence. His top strength, consistency, means he treats everyone with the same fairness and respect, while his harmony allows him to stay calm under pressure, showing patience and kindness when families need it most.

For Hayden, his “why” is simple: to make things easier for families. His greatest pride comes from feedback that a loved one looked better than they had in their final days, a sign of the care and dignity he pours into his work.

Together with his wife, Kylie and their outstanding team, he is proud to continue the Robert J. Cotton legacy in Palmerston North, blending tradition with modern approaches to ensure families receive the very best in funeral care.

We’re so proud of this achievement and grateful for the dedication Hayden brings to our team every single day.

P R O B U S C L U B T A L K On Thursday, Hayden and Kylie were invited to speak at the Terrace End Probus Club, held a...
29/10/2025

P R O B U S C L U B T A L K

On Thursday, Hayden and Kylie were invited to speak at the Terrace End Probus Club, held at the Palmerston North Community Leisure Centre on Ferguson Street. Around 70 guests joined us for an open and engaging conversation about the funeral process and how our team is helping shape positive change in the industry.

What we love most about these occasions is hearing the questions people ask — we find it fascinating to know what people are thinking and what they want to understand more about, so we can guide and support them as best we can.

There was a lot of interest in natural burial options, and it was great to see that most attendees already had a will in place. It’s encouraging to know people are thinking about the future and the choices that feel right for them.

Opportunities like this also help put faces to the names in our business, building the trust and connection that mean so much to the families we’ve served for three generations.

And of course, no event is complete without Lola the Funeral Therapy Dog, who enjoyed mingling with guests and helping the ladies in the kitchen clean up a few crumbs! 🐾

We really value being part of a community that isn’t afraid to talk about the important stuff.

If your group or organisation would like us to host a similar session, we’d love to hear from you.

M A N A W A T U B U S I N E S S C H A M B E RLast night, as proud members of the Manawatū Business Chamber, we had the...
10/09/2025

M A N A W A T U B U S I N E S S C H A M B E R

Last night, as proud members of the Manawatū Business Chamber, we had the pleasure of hosting their BA5 (Business After 5) event.

It was wonderful to welcome our local business community into our premises, including Palmerston North City Councillor Cr Rachel Bowen, who shared an update on the provision of a natural burial area at Ashhurst Cemetery – such an important step for families seeking sustainable end-of-life choices. 🌿

The evening was a relaxed opportunity to introduce our team, share our brand story and the special work our small family owned third-generation business does, and no event could be without Lola the Funeral Therapy Dog making her debut, complete with her Lexus! 🐾

Thank you to everyone who joined us – it was a privilege to open our doors, answer questions, and connect with so many of you. ❤️

Flowers: Floralcollaborative
Catering: Cafe Brie Licensed Restaurant.
Photography: Kylie Cotton
Photo credit of Lola in her Lexus: Benson & Co Security

F A T H E R ' S D A Y💙 This Father’s Day, we honour the Dads on our team. 💙Ask any funeral director and they'll tell yo...
07/09/2025

F A T H E R ' S D A Y

💙 This Father’s Day, we honour the Dads on our team. 💙

Ask any funeral director and they'll tell you, being a funeral director isn’t just a job; it’s a way of life that asks the whole family to make sacrifices.

It’s the weekends or nights when the answer to, “Where’s Dad?” is, “He’s at work.” It’s the school holidays and weekends that we must stay close to home because Dad’s on call. It’s teaching your kids, from a young age, that when the phone goes everyone needs to be quiet, because when a family needs help, Dad has to be there. It’s the Christmases where there’s just enough time to open presents or share a meal before heading back out the door, because Dad’s working.

I remember when our eldest daughter, Madison, was only a couple of months old. I had to go into hospital, and Hayden had funerals that day. There I was, going under anaesthetic with baby Maddy asleep in her pram beside me. Luckily she slept! That’s the part most people don’t see: how much the families of funeral directors quietly give up so others can be looked after. I'm sure there'll be many other funeral directors reading this post, and you too will have your own stories.

So today, on Father’s Day, we simply want to say thank you. Thank you to the dads on our team who give so much of themselves. And thank you to the families who share them with us, who give up precious moments so others don’t have to face loss on their own.

Because of you, we can make the biggest difference for families when they need it most.

Happy Father’s Day. 💙

I N L O V I N G M E M O R YIn loving memory of David Edward Moreland, 26 June 1955 - 15 July 2025.This has to be one o...
22/08/2025

I N L O V I N G M E M O R Y

In loving memory of David Edward Moreland, 26 June 1955 - 15 July 2025.

This has to be one of the most special farewells I’ve had the privilege of capturing. As I touched on in my previous post, it’s the act of people coming together to create space for grief that matters most. A farewell doesn’t need to be big or elaborate; it’s simply about doing something.

This customer journey began with a call from the daughter. She hadn’t planned a funeral before and was searching online for guidance. What drew her to us was seeing that we had Lola, our Funeral Therapy Dog. That was enough for her to know we were the right fit, and when I answered the phone, the next sign for her was the fact that we both shared the same name – Kylie.

When considering what service felt right, the family chose a car park committal, with plans for a more formal memorial service later in Nelson. For those unfamiliar with a car park committal, this is when family and friends gather at the back of the funeral vehicle to share tributes, memories, and goodbyes. Sometimes it follows a formal funeral service, sometimes it takes the place of one, or, as in David’s case, it was something the family could do to provide closure for now until the memorial service could be held in Nelson. While simple, it gives families something tangible - a chance to gather, to speak, and to remember together. Grief needs somewhere to go, and the act of “doing something,” big or small, makes all the difference.

From the very beginning, it was clear that Lola needed to be part of her dad’s farewell. David loved dogs, and having her there would have meant the world to him. On the day, Lola curled up on the daughter’s lap for the ride in the funeral vehicle, as close family and friends followed from our premises to the Kelvin Grove Cemetery.

At the cemetery, it was a low-key but heartfelt gathering - a lovely occasion where family and friends stood together, sharing stories and saying what they needed to for now, until the upcoming service in Nelson. Lola, as always, brought quiet comfort. At one point, she was scooped up into the arms of a guest, and for a moment, we weren’t sure we’d get her back!

Thank you, Kylie and family, for allowing me the opportunity to capture some of these moments. You were such a lovely family to support, and it was an honour for our team to support you. 🌿

Funeral Director: Hayden Cotton
Funeral Photography: Kylie Cotton

T H E I M P O R T A N C E O F A F U N E R A LWe often hear families say, "Mum didn’t want a funeral." It is usually ...
19/08/2025

T H E I M P O R T A N C E O F A F U N E R A L

We often hear families say, "Mum didn’t want a funeral." It is usually said out of love, not wanting to cause a fuss or be a burden. But when there is no funeral, it can leave families and friends with nowhere for their grief to go.

A few months ago, a husband lost his wife suddenly. Along with the shock of her passing, he carried the weight of her wishes as he told one of our funeral directors, ‘She didn’t want a funeral.’ That was heartbreaking in that moment, because our funeral director could see what it meant. No chance to say goodbye, no gathering with loved ones, no space for grief to be shared.

That is the difficult part. Families want to respect wishes, yet those left behind, family, friends, colleagues and neighbours, still need something to help them through.

Funerals do not have to be large or formal. Sometimes, even something as simple as following to the cemetery or gathering afterwards for a cup of tea is enough. Just because people might not have kept in touch often does not mean they did not care. Life is busy, and a funeral gives us the chance to pause, reconnect and support one another. We see the beauty in familiar faces coming together, sharing memories and offering comfort.

And just as important, funerals play a cathartic role. They give us permission to grieve. The act of doing, of coming together, of speaking and listening, helps release what sits heavy inside. It is how we begin to process loss and take those first steps forward.

Grief has many layers. That is why we believe in funerals, because they give us all a way to honour, remember, and begin the healing process.

We would love to hear your perspective. Was there a funeral you attended that helped you in ways you didn’t expect? Or have you ever known a situation where there was no funeral, and how did that feel for those left behind?

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697 Main Street
Palmerston North
4414

Telephone

063552529

Website

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