Funeral services Palmerston North

Compassionate Care in Every Farewell.

At Robert J. Cotton Funeral Directors, we understand that saying goodbye is a deeply personal journey. We’re here to provide compassionate, professional support tailored to honour your loved one’s unique life with dignity and respect.



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Personalised Services to Honour Every Life

We offer a range of funeral services, each meticulously planned to reflect the individuality of your loved one. From traditional ceremonies to contemporary celebrations of life, we are committed to ensuring every detail is handled with utmost care and respect.

 
 

Plan a Funeral

Embark on a journey of honouring your loved one with our comprehensive funeral planning services, where every detail is crafted with care, respect, and precision to create a memorable and meaningful farewell.

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Future Planning

Secure peace of mind for you and your loved ones with our future planning services, ensuring every wish is honored with meticulous care and attention to detail.

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Personalised

Craft a tribute as unique as the life it celebrates with our personalised services, tailored to reflect every cherished memory, value, and legacy of your loved one

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A Legacy of Trust

For over 56 years, our third-generation funeral home has woven a legacy of trust into the very fabric of our community. This legacy is not just about the number of years we've served but about the depth of compassion we've shown, the promises we've honoured, and the unwavering dedication we've provided. We've not merely been a service; we've been a pillar of support, standing firm in the most challenging of times. Such a legacy isn't built overnight but is cultivated through consistent care, understanding, and a commitment to the families we serve. Our enduring bond with the community is a testament to our resilience and our promise to remain a beacon of trust and comfort for generations to come.

 

OUR APPROACH

A Tradition of Care and Compassion

For generations, we have been entrusted with the honour of supporting families through their times of farewell. Our experienced team is dedicated to providing personalised care, guiding you through each step with empathy, understanding, and expertise.

 
 

“Cotton's took such amazing care of us when my grandfather received a terminal diagnosis. They handled everything so professionally and with such care, humour and love that it made such a huge difference. Small personalised touches everywhere helped us to feel like they really cared about us and our family.”

— BRITTANY HUNT

 

Funeral Pre-Planning

Ensuring Your Wishes are Honoured and Peace of Mind for your Loved Ones.

Plan ahead with our pre-planning services, designed to provide you and your family peace of mind. We’re here to navigate you through the process, ensuring your wishes and those of your loved ones are honoured with precision and care.


Our Approach

We maintain open and honest communication with families, ensuring that they understand all options, costs and details associated with the funeral arrangements so there are no hidden fees or surprises.


funeral preplanning

Download our Personal Wishes guide to help you document your wishes. This can be filed with your important documents or left with your chosen executor.

 

PROUD MEMBER OF THE FUNERAL DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION OF NEW ZEALAND

 
 
 

As a member of the Funeral Directors Association of New Zealand (FDANZ), we uphold the highest standards of professionalism, ethics, and compassionate service, ensuring every family receives quality care.

 

Your Journey, Our Privilege

During your moment of need, you can place your trust in us to be your compassionate companion. Our commitment is to assist families in crafting a heartfelt commemoration of their loved one's life and legacy.

A Compassionate and Experienced Funeral Team in Your Time of Need

  • We are the longest-standing family-owned and operated funeral home in Palmerston North.

    We value the family connections we have built over this time.

    Now in its third generation, Hayden Cotton and Ross Carey are both extensively trained funeral directors and skilled embalmers, each possessing over three decades of experience.

  • We believe that providing upfront and transparent pricing throughout the funeral process honours the grieving family's right to straightforward information during a challenging time.

    During the funeral planning phase, we prioritize discussing budgets and anticipated estimates. Our policy involves securing a minimum deposit of $2,000 for immediate expenses.

    We also respect that funeral expenses can sometimes be unforeseen. If this is the case, then there may be assistance available through the Work and Income Funeral Grant or the ACC Funeral Grant, we have application forms on-hand and we can assist with funeral documents needed.

    The Work and Income funeral grant has a maximum limit of $2,445.37.

    If a loved one passes away due to an injury covered by ACC, you might be eligible for financial assistance. ACC can contribute towards funeral or memorial expenses of up to $7,491.95.

  • As a member of the Funeral Directors Association, our families can find solace in the assurance of a deeply meaningful farewell experience.

    Our unwavering commitment extends to adhering to the highest industry standards and undergoing rigorous inspections to ensure their diligent enforcement.

  • If you've visited our Facebook page, you're likely already familiar with the exquisite funeral photography services we provide to our families.

    Funerals serve as occasions that unite families, making it particularly meaningful for funeral photography to capture those cherished moments spent with loved ones.

    We offer complimentary funeral photography, contingent upon obtaining consent from the family representative for its use in social media and marketing purposes. Be sure to explore our Facebook page to view the heartfelt moments artistically captured by Kylie Cotton.

  • We can have as much or as little involvement as families need, working with religious or community leaders to ensure that all rites, rituals and beliefs are performed correctly.

  • Navigating through legal and administrative tasks during this time can be daunting. We are here to ease this burden, assisting with all necessary paperwork, including death certificates, notifications, and permits, ensuring precision and timeliness.

  • Lola is our charming funeral therapy dog who brings comfort and warmth to our funeral services. Lola adores receiving affectionate pats, so please don’t hesitate to ask for her presence during the funeral arrangement or service.

    And if you have a special family pet that you want present during the funeral arrangement and or service, then we welcome this too!