Purewa Cemetery and Crematorium — Local services in Ōrākei

Today we cremated our beloved 91-year old mother at the indescribably beautiful Purewa Cemetery. A small group of family members attended what is referred to as "The Loading of the Charge"...the loading and the insertion of the simple casket holding our mother into the furnace. This task, this sacred role, was performed by a solitary Purewa staff member. When I first saw him standing there next to the furnace, I could not help but think of Vasudeva, the ferryman, in Herman Hesse's novel Siddhartha. Vasudeva was a kind man, positioned between the ordinary world and enlightenment, whose job was to help people cross the "river", which represents the obstacle between the ordinary world and enlightenment, who guides Siddhartha across the river and becomes his mentor. Eventually, Siddhartha becomes the ferryman himself. It was with these thoughts in my mind that I experienced the love and compassion he projected to our grieving family. He may not even have been aware of the impact that he was having on us as it was beyond words. We felt like we were in the presence of a very unique, evolved person, someone who had somehow be given, or taken, the sacred role of releasing our mother from her body, transforming it into light, into potential. So this this message is for that special man, "The Loader of the Charge" "The Ferryman" On behalf of our mother, our family, our loved-ones, and our friends we deeply thank you for being there to perform that sacred task on behalf of us all. We thank you with great love, gratitude and respect....

Very quite and beautiful.. In 1886 the Synod of the Diocese of Auckland, requested the St Johns College Trust Board to set apart portion of the College land for a Church of England cemetery. The cemetery was opened for burials on 1st January 1889 and the first burial was on 7th January 1889 The cemetery covers an area of approximately 24 hectares Control of the cemetery remained with St Johns College until the early 1930's when the Purewa Cemetery Trust Board was established. In 1957 a chapel and crematorium complex was built. A second chapel was built in 1982. By 1998 there have been 43,000 burials, and 69,000 cremations. Since the 1940's all new burial plots have been in a Lawn Cemetery setting, with memorials limited to a standard size cast bronze plaque set flush with the ground. There are several Ash Lawns where ashes can be buried and a small bronze plaque placed as a memorial and also` a Headstone Ash Lawn, Memorial Walls and Books of Remembrance. The gates are open from 7.00am to 7.00pm every day The Administration Office situated in Parsons Road is open between 8.00am and 4.00pm. Monday to Friday. MAP LEAFLETS ARE AVAILABLE FROM ADMINISTRATION OFFICE LARGE DETAIL LOCATION...

I was unable to attend a funeral in person so watched on line. I was so very impressed by the standard of audio visual technology I did not feel like I was so far away or disadvantaged. I could hear everything so well at the volume of my choice. The video link provided me the choice of the front view of the casket and special belongings set up near by - framed by a lovely big window. The private garden and water feature thru the window were very soothibg and honored the love for nature of our friend we were farewelling. What I really also appreciated was the view of the farewellers- which I could swtich to at my control. I was able to see my friend the son of the departed and support from a far. Seeing he was doing well in the quality send off he had planned with so much love. Also the camera provided an outside view when mourners left the space.

Having not attended a funeral in this way before I wanted to compliment the Purewa team on how positive it was. I can reccomend the team's efforts and attitude that shone thru from...