Cleveland Funeral Home

07/09/2025

Funeral Notice for McArdle, (née Topp), Patricia Bethridge

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06/09/2025

To all our beautiful families who's precious dads, grandad's, and male roll models are no longer with us. Your love and guidance will always be with us. Happy Father's Day in heaven.

04/09/2025

Funeral Notice for Te Wekepiri (nee Hika), Bronwyn Arama

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04/09/2025

Funeral Notice for MITCHELL, Adele Holly (previously Wilson)

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04/09/2025

Funeral Notice for ANDERSON, Richard John

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04/09/2025

Funeral Notice for PALAMOUNTAIN, Dion Leslie

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03/09/2025

Funeral Notice for EYERS, William (Bill)

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25/08/2025

Funeral Notice for DONNITHORNE (nee Hickford, formally Aiken), Eileen Elizabeth

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25/08/2025

A lovely write up in last week's River City Press ❤️ It is an absolute honor to be able to provide an intimate facility for smaller groups. Our family home is now your families special space.

Burnblea - a small funeral chapel for the community

Did you know Whanganui has a small funeral chapel with separate a reception lounge for smaller private gatherings? Yes we do! It's called Burnblea and its located next to Cleveland Funeral home at 173 Ingestre Street.

Saying your final goodbye to a loved one has changed in the last few decades, with greater opportunities to create a more personalised farewell. Recently in New Zealand, there has also been a move towards more intimate funeral services, smaller gatherings, and private farewells.

Cleveland Funeral Home has been well ahead of the trend, recognising the need in the community and providing a specialised private Chapel (Lounge) at Burnblea (pronounced Burnlea), a lovingly restored Art Deco two-story house situated at 173 Ingestre St.

Burnblea is doubly unique because it is also the Cleveland family home. Laura and Craig Cleveland's, daughter Michelle Cleveland Scarrow explains, “It's our family home and as the kids flew the nest, mum and dad thought it would be nice to open our home to families who wished to gather with their loved ones to say goodbye in a homely environment, with a relaxed family feel. It's a beautiful space with so many special memories for our family, and we love sharing it.”

Burnblea Chapel (Lounge) is for small services, gatherings, or simply to come and say goodbye before a loved one travels to Aramoho. It is also ideal for small memorial gatherings.

The Lounge seats up to 25, is warm and comfortable. It offers all the same technology as the large chapel, with flexible seating so you may arrange the room to suit your needs.

The separate family room is available for families who wish to relax following their gathering, or service. It's a space to have refreshments and chat. There is also access to an outdoor patio for the warmer weather.

Laura Cleveland explains, “We have known for many years that not all families wish to have the same farewell as everyone else. Farewells are personal, and sometimes we wish them to be more private. This is why we opened our home up some years ago for this very purpose.”

The Cleveland family feel Burnblea offers a major difference. It gives you, and your family, a choice and the ability to choose the style, type and size of gathering you prefer.

“The character of the building is second only to the warmth and hope that we have; that you will experience a meaningful farewell and the love that the home encompasses,” adds Laura.

For a personal tour and bookings please phone Cleveland Funeral Home’s friendly team on 06 345 5522. Or pop into the office for a chat.

22/08/2025

Funeral Notice for GREENWELL, Marie Patricia (nee Hoskin)

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17/08/2025

Funeral Notice for ROWAN, John Grayson KC

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11/08/2025

Funeral Notice for FLANAGAN, Beveley Anne (nee Roache)

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