About us
ABOUT SOUTHERN FUNERAL HOME
Southern Funeral Home is a locally operated funeral home and is proudly
managed by a team of dedicated professionals.
Services We Offer
Professional 24 hour care by qualified Funeral Directors and Embalmers ​
Members of the New Zealand Funeral Directors’ Association
Multi-media with full sound and projector to display those special photo-slideshow of memories​
​Modern chapel available accommodating up to 300 people​
Catering Lounge where you can enjoy a selection of fresh club sandwiches, mouth-watering savouries and a variety of cakes (Gluten free options are available on request)
​A casket showroom with a wide selection​
Refurbished lounges and viewing rooms available with after-hours access​
​In house Celebrant available
​Personalised service sheets
Pre-paid and pre-arranged funeral options
Our Committment To You
Our Funeral Directors are dedicated to setting the highest standard in funeral professionalism and supporting families through what may be the single most difficult time in their life. Our team will provide you and your family with guidance and support to ensure the funeral arrangements are carried out as smoothly and easily as possible, with care, respect and dignity.
Circa 1994. Original building in Gore before the chapel was built.
Graham & Heather Stephen in 2022 at the Gore Funeral Home.
Our History
In 1996, Heather and Graham Stephen bought a residential house at 106 Hokonui Drive, Gore, originally destined to form part of a motel complex. While this never went ahead, the house with a front office, was suitable to operate as a funeral home. Council approval was sought to open Stephen Funeral Home.
Within five years, they seized the opportunity to purchase two adjacent properties and planning began to demolish the existing houses and build a Chapel featuring a catering lounge and foyer, to host after service functions. Development completed end 2004 and was proudly opened to serve the needs of local families.
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In 2008, the Company purchased Hammond Funeral Services and rebranded the combined businesses.
Heather and Graham have lived in Southland all their lives, raising their family of four. Graham has followed in his father’s footsteps of funeral directing which initially came about when his grandfather operated a joinery factory in Edendale and made caskets.
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Southern Funeral Home is now part of the Propel Funeral Partners network, which encompasses a wide array of funeral homes, cremation facilities, and cemeteries. Propel Funeral Partners, is one of the largest providers of funeral related services within Australia and New Zealand and is publicly listed on the Australian Securities Exchange. Heather and Graham will continue to oversee operations as the General Managers.
Caring for families of Southland & Otago
Facilitating your farewell wishes, with compassion and care, in a warm and peaceful atmosphere