Hope Family Funerals

‘We are a locally owned and operated funeral home, helping families in the Western Bay of Plenty and Tauranga navigate the funeral process during their time of loss. We offer a compassionate, family-led approach to funerals, prioritising the needs and wishes of families over industry traditions or norms.

Hope Family Funerals started about 40 years ago when Dorothy Hope’s dad passed away. He loved his garden, loved coffee and was happiest in his gardening clothes.  He always said, ‘When I die, just give me a cup of coffee and put me on the compost heap.’  Obviously this did not happen, but back then the funeral director talked the family into having him embalmed, dressed in a suit and laid out in a fancy coffin.  It just wasn’t him.  The whole experience was stressful and disheartening.  The family felt pressured into making quick decisions. Dorothy and her husband Richard thought there must be a better way. Individuals must be able to have the farewell they want, with their wishes respected.

Since then, the funeral home has helped many friends and family members in a dignified, compassionate way, and at an economical cost. Families really appreciate the care, respect, and dignity the Hope team provide.

The funeral home in Te Puna, formerly known as Charlemagne Lodge, is well known in the community as an iconic Victorian style building full of old-world charm, recycled kauri, rimu, leadlight windows and detailed fittings. Although it appears to be 100 years old, it was built in the late 1990’s by skilled craftspeople. It was previously known as an attractive wedding venue. We have a warm and relaxed service venue on-site ‘Totara, set amongst picturesque grounds, with mature trees, lovely gardens. To compliment the beautiful venue, we have a fleet of Jaguar hearses and an Indian Chief motorcycle hearse.