Gateway Funeral Services

18/07/2025

Stunning spray dropped off by meadow.club this morning.

16/07/2025

Instead of saying, "I know what it feels like", let's say
"I cannot imagine your heartbreak".

Instead of saying, "You're strong, you'll get through this, let's say " You'll hurt, and I'll be here.

Instead of saying, "You look like you're doing well, Let's say, "How are you holding up today?"

Instead of saying, "Healing takes time", let's say "Healing has no timeline".

Instead of saying, "Everything happens for a reason, let's say "This must feel so terribly senseless right now".

And when there are no words to say at all, you don't need to try and find some. Love speaks in silences too.

03/07/2025

“A funeral isn’t about closure. It’s about connection.
After thirty years in funeral service — from urban mid-America to rural, multicultural New Zealand — I’ve learned that every life is unique, and so every farewell should be too."

Read our latest blog post from Funeral Director Dean Weber: www.gatewayfuneral.co.nz/blog

13/06/2025

An urn serves as a beautiful vessel to honour the life of a loved one s a tangible and lasting tribute, preserving their memory in a meaningful way.

This beautiful wooden urn with its rich natural grain has been hand-crafted by a local craftsman. A fitting tribute for someone whose life was deeply connected to the natural world.

At Gateway Funeral Services, we offer a wide range of cremation urns that cater to different preferences and styles.

Have a look 👀 www.gatewayfuneral.co.nz/cremation-and-urns/

11/06/2025

Make sure you nominate a friend or family member to be in to win!

❄️ With winter just around the corner, we know how chilly it can get! At Gateway Funeral Services, we want to help someone stay extra cozy this winter. So we're giving away a fantastic Winter Warmup Prize valued at over $200!

This pack includes: a plush blanket, a heater, Comfy slipper socks, a soothing heat pad, and a luxurious dressing gown.

Do you know someone who could really use a little extra warmth and comfort this winter? Maybe they're going through a tough time, or simply deserve a special treat.
To nominate a friend or family member:

❄️ Like this post.
❄️ Tag the person you're nominating in the comments below and tell us why they deserve to win (keep it brief and heartfelt!).
❄️ Share this post to spread the warmth!

Let's brighten someone's winter! The lucky winner will be announced on June 20th, 2025.

10/06/2025

Introducing our newest casket on offer - handwoven from renewable seagrass. The Whatu Moenga biodegradable casket naturally decomposes, leaving no harmful residue and returning to the earth.

Crafted by skilled artisans, it features intricate weaving and a soft plant-based lining.

Get in touch to find out more or come and see it for yourself at Gateway Funeral Services.

01/06/2025

❄️ With winter just around the corner, we know how chilly it can get! At Gateway Funeral Services, we want to help someone stay extra cozy this winter. So we're giving away a fantastic Winter Warmup Prize valued at over $200!

This pack includes: a plush blanket, a heater, Comfy slipper socks, a soothing heat pad, and a luxurious dressing gown.

Do you know someone who could really use a little extra warmth and comfort this winter? Maybe they're going through a tough time, or simply deserve a special treat.
To nominate a friend or family member:

❄️ Like this post.
❄️ Tag the person you're nominating in the comments below and tell us why they deserve to win (keep it brief and heartfelt!).
❄️ Share this post to spread the warmth!

Let's brighten someone's winter! The lucky winner will be announced on June 20th, 2025.

14/05/2025

At Gateway Funeral Services, we were particularly interested in the findings of the new global study, "Across Borders, Across Traditions," released by the National Funeral Directors Association

This landmark research (across 20 countries with more than 4,000 consumer surveys) highlights a truth we witness every day: the universal importance of funerals in the healing process.

Regardless of culture or traditions, nearly 96% of respondents found funerals to be a healing experience.

This reinforces our commitment to providing meaningful and supportive services for families in our community. We understand that each farewell is unique, and we strive to create ceremonies that honour individual lives and aid in healing, no matter the chosen disposition method.

You can learn more about this fascinating global study and its insights at NFDA.org/Research.

10/05/2025

Happy Mother’s Day to all mothers. If you’ve lost a child, lost a mother, yearning to be a mother, are a stepmother, god mother, fur mother or any maternal role.

Motherhood looks differently to everyone and you’re a mother even if you’ve loved and lost or it looks different to how you imagined. We are thinking of you all today.

And today we are celebrating our own mothers. Who keep us on the right path and support us unconditionally.

03/05/2025

Last weekend Brad Shaw our Funeral Director emceed the Eastern Bay Community Hero’s event. What a fabulous evening celebrating some very special people who make a huge impact in our community. It was humbling to hear about all the nominees and the amount of work that they do for others. Congrats to all the winners of the evening and we look forward to being a part of the awards next year.

30/04/2025

We often witness this poignant phenomenon—people holding on, waiting, and then choosing to pass on a significant day: a birthday, Christmas, an anniversary. It’s something we quietly acknowledge in our work, especially around the Christmas/New Year period.

This recent Stuff article explores whether it's truly possible to choose the moment we die. While science hasn’t quite proven it, stories abound—from loved ones hanging on for one final goodbye, to those who let go only once their family has stepped out.

Hospice workers and palliative doctors alike have seen these moments—subtle, powerful, and unexplainable. Maybe it’s the last flicker of willpower, a final expression of love, or a moment of peace they were waiting for.

Whatever the reason, these stories remind us how deeply personal and mysterious the end of life can be.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/wellbeing/360670647/can-we-choose-moment-we-die-heres-what-experts-say

Is it really possible to choose our own moment of death?

17/04/2025

Another little hide and seek 👀 fun at Gateway Funeral Service - can you find Dean!?