Dunedin City’s only locally owned and operated funeral home

Elise Wolfgram, John Kirkpatrick, Lee Buckingham, Paolo Guglietta, Maree Johnson, Chester Hulme,...
Elise Wolfgram, John Kirkpatrick, Lee Buckingham, Paolo Guglietta, Maree Johnson, Chester Hulme, Keith Gillions, Elizabeth Goodyear, (absent: Haydie McNulty)
Gillions is one of only two locally owned and operated funeral homes in the greater Dunedin area – the other being Campbell and Sons in Mosgiel. Gillions is a third-generation company with connections that go back to the Victorian era. All of this history means we have some interesting archive material along with anecdotes and photos of days gone by. Our building, in Hillside Road, was originally the South Dunedin fire station. It was converted in 1962 into a funeral home and various alterations and improvements have been ongoing since those times. 

Thinking Ahead

Thinking about your funeral options is an important aspect of retirement planning but it is one that is often put in the “too hard basket”. We do understand – it is not an easy thing to think about, but it is worth making time for. To have the arrangements in place takes so much stress away at a time when the people you love are grieving, exhausted and sad.  

We have noticed in the last couple of years we are getting more people contacting us to discuss the options for funeral pre-planning. We think the annual Time to Talk campaign and general media awareness has had an impact.  Now that we no longer have the cars on Hillside Road with ‘For Sale’ signs, it is easy to get a park outside so more people are stopping by to pick up our funeral planning kits. Looking through that is a great place to start the planning process.  We can then meet with you, if you would like, discuss the options, give you pricing information and show you around.  We won’t pressure you or require you to make any decisions – that’s not how we work. 

What being part of Dunedin means to us -  Elizabeth Goodyear

Having been away from Dunedin for a few weeks, I’ve come back with a new appreciation of this interesting, supportive and beautiful little city we live in. Although the hustle and bustle of the larger cities is fun for a short while, it’s lovely to experience again the relaxed pace of Dunedin where it only takes minutes to get to work rather than hours. There’s something special about the people here too – they are friendly and helpful and come together to support each other through difficult times. Many others agree – there was a report in the ODT last week that CNN reckons Dunedin is New Zealand’s most underrated city.

That report got our team talking what it means to be part of the Dunedin community, and how important the people and the businesses that support us are so that we, in turn, can help families who have been bereaved. Every day our team help people get through one of life’s most difficult tasks - coping with the death of a loved one.  Many years of experience have shown us that our values of respect, kindness, guidance and support really matter to the families we look after.

Because we are proudly Dunedin born and bred and continue to be a family owned and operated company, giving back to our community is very important to us.

Wherever possible, we aim to support local businesses and we greatly appreciate the service that they provide to us.  A good example of this is our catering which comes from The Home of St Barnabas. We are also an active supporter of various community organisations and events ranging from bowls through to local parish support, social initiatives and artistic endeavours.

Although we often work collaboratively with other funeral companies both locally and nationally, we are an independent company owned and operated by the Gillions family.

You can contact the friendly team at Gillions Funeral Services anytime on 03 455 2128 or email us at support@gillions.co.nz

Pre-payment towards your funeral

If you are thinking about how you can make it easier for your family - we would recommend the FDANZ Funeral Trust pre-payment scheme. It is a secure way of pre-paying for your funeral and has many advantages; the funds are available once the funeral account is finalised, any funds remaining will be returned to the estate, the money is held in a secure trust, and if you are applying for residential care, a pre-paid funeral (up to $10,000) is excluded from asset testing. It is also worth knowing that the funds are fully transferable between members of the scheme so, although you join through your selected funeral firm, if you move to another area, or change your plans, the funds will still be available when the time comes.

Loss and Grief Week is 23 -29 July “Let’s Talk About it”

We’ve probably all experienced that sinking feeling of “what do I say to someone who has just lost a loved one?”. We don’t want to say the wrong thing or make it worse for them, so we often don’t say anything at all …. and then we feel bad and, in a worst-case scenario, we avoid the person who really does need our help.  In our experience most, bereaved people are glad if you can acknowledge their loss and  be there for them.  We can’t change what has happened but what we can do is help them with the little things –  some baking, delivering a meal, running errands, sending a card or flowers. We can also open conversations about loss and grief that can be very helpful for those who are grieving.

Skylight - the grief support organisation - has some useful tips for Loss and Grief week

  • Don’t be afraid to mention the name of the deceased.  If you knew them say how much you will miss them.
  • Don’t ask “How are you”?  but instead try “How are you feeling today? This acknowledges that they have suffered a loss.
  • Offer hope. A good thing to say may be something like “you will grieve for as long as you need to, but you are a strong person and will find your way through this”
  • Listen well instead of advising. Remember that often people work through their grief and trauma by telling their story over and over. 

For most people grief does slowly become easier to handle. Some losses, however, can be particularly difficult to cope with and you may find you need extra support and help.   We have some great resources here at Gillions, so let us know if we can help you. Remember that grief is a natural response to loss and grieving takes time, patience and support.

What makes us different? by Elizabeth Goodyear

Every funeral home has its own way of doing things that works with the local culture of the community as well as the values and interests of the owners and staff.   Keith and I have several guiding principles and practices for our business: 

  • We value our staff and their ongoing professional development. Every day we get together as a team to plan our day, talk about our experiences and to support each other when things get tough.
  • We respect different cultures and beliefs. We continue to learn so much from seeing the special touches that different cultures bring to looking after their loved ones after death.
  • We offer guidance and support to the families  we look after while also ensuring we listen to their ideas and respect their wishes.
  • We recognise that it is a privilege to be working in our area and  to help families create a   personal and meaningful farewell for their loved one.
  • We have the resources and the experience to  organise anything from the simplest farewell  through to a large and complex funeral (and everything in between as well).
  • We are able to offer real choice as far as looking after loved ones go. There is “no size fits all” approach at Gillions. When we receive someone into our care, our funeral directors and mortuary team discuss the wishes of the family, the timeframes of the funeral and any issues likely to arise.  Our mortuary facilities include a large cool room and a fully equipped mortuary.  These facilities mean that we can offer the full spectrum of care ranging from refrigeration through eco embalming, full embalming and reconstruction.  Our team are highly trained and qualified
  • We have a range of options for services available –  while most families are happy for us to look after all the arrangements, others only need the most basic of help and they then go on to organise the funeral themselves.
  • We encourage families to be as involved with the arrangements as they feel comfortable with. For some having the opportunity to dress their loved one and provide that loving care for the very last time is very important, others enjoy producing service sheets or photo tributes.
  • We welcome the chance to spend time with those who are terminally ill to learn about their lives, and to help them with planning their funeral. It is truly humbling to see their courage and dignity and to meet their families.
  • We appreciate that for many family’s laughter can be an important way for releasing those big feelings and we often need to reassure people that it is ok to let those emotions out.
  • We do appreciate that funerals, especially when unexpected, can create financial pressure for families. That is why we discuss the options and advise on any help that is available.   Be assured that you will not be judged if the option you choose is a simple private one rather than a large traditional funeral.

We are not the biggest company around, but we think our team is just the right size to provide the level of personal support that our community appreciates.

Why have a funeral?

When we think about the big events in our life -  whether it be the birth of a baby, marriage or the death of a family member – it is usual to have some sort of ceremony. Sometimes this is very simple and for close family only, other times it can be a large public event.

For thousands of years funerals have helped us say goodbye, acknowledge the reality of loss, and to honour and remember the person who has died. Funerals surround us with the loving care of family and friends at a time when we may be shocked, grieving, confused and really need that extra support. A beautiful funeral can be a reflection of a life well lived but sometimes we need to remind ourselves that tears and sadness are ok as well. 

A funeral can be whatever you choose – there are many ways to say goodbye to the person you love. A simple farewell, a memorial gathering, a private service or a public funeral are all examples of the range of options available these days.

Families often ask us if they can do something special such as provide flowers from their garden, drive to the crematorium in a special vehicle, decorate the casket or farewell their loved one at their home or a significant venue. Our answer is that we will do our best to make it happen.  Why have a funeral?
When we think about the big events in our life -  whether it be the birth of a baby, marriage or the death of a family member – it is usual to have some sort of ceremony. Sometimes this is very simple and for close family only, other times it can be a large public event.

For thousands of years funerals have helped us say goodbye, acknowledge the reality of loss, and to honour and remember the person who has died. Funerals surround us with the loving care of family and friends at a time when we may be shocked, grieving, confused and really need that extra support. A beautiful funeral can be a reflection of a life well lived but sometimes we need to remind ourselves that tears and sadness are ok as well. 

A funeral can be whatever you choose – there are many ways to say goodbye to the person you love. A simple farewell, a memorial gathering, a private service or a public funeral are all examples of the range of options available these days.

Families often ask us if they can do something special such as provide flowers from their garden, drive to the crematorium in a special vehicle, decorate the casket or farewell their loved one at their home or a significant venue. Our answer is that we will do our best to make it happen.  

 

 

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