Our People

Francis Day (FBIE, Nat Dip FS)

Francis believes in bringing the highest standards of professionalism to his calling. He is mindful of the philosophy, values and tradition of serving Nelson, inherited by him down a continuous four-generation line. Francis aims to pass on those values and philosophy through his own family, with his wife Paddy, children Bridget and Patrick, who are all involved in the business – his youngest son Michael has a career in Accounting and Business Management. Francis qualified in 1966 in Australia as an embalmer and has since tutored for the embalming course for the Central Institute of Technology. He has served as president and examiner for the Embalmers Association and is a life member of that association. Francis is the long serving chairman of the Funeral Services Training Trust.

One of only four Nelsonians qualified with a NZQA Diploma in Funeral Service, and holds a Fellowship Degree of the British Institute of Embalmers, Francis strongly believes in providing a warm, professional and supportive atmosphere in which to farewell the deceased. He says funerals are for the living, where you pay your respects to the dead - remember them but also reaffirm your faith, creed or philosophy and give you assistance to cope with your loss.

Paddy Day

Married to Francis for over 40 years, Paddy Day has been involved in Marsden House filling a number of different roles . Paddy began her career as a nurse, and has assisted in the family business in many ways. Now predominantly managing the catering service at Marsden House, Paddy is also involved in supporting those recently bereaved.

Alistair Ferguson (Dip F.S.)

Alistair manages the Waimea Richmond Funeral Home. He holds the qualification Diploma of Funeral Services. Born in Upper Hutt, Alistair attended primary school there and also at St Andrew's College Prep School in Christchurch and Kelburn, completing his schooling at Wellington College. As well as following his interests of surfing and rugby he developed an early interest in funeral directing, working for a funeral home near Porirua in his school holidays. He was offered training at that time but as he was only about 15 thought he was not ready to commit himself to that career. Alistair trained as an auto electrician but eventually moved to Nelson where he started work on 2 June 1976 with Marsden House, initially manufacturing caskets and assisting with funerals. Alistair believes this time was important in gaining an insight to the industry as a whole.

He started training as a funeral director in 1980-81, and followed that with embalming training in 1983-84, also achieving the Certificate in Funeral Services that year. He was amongst the first of his profession to receive the Diploma in Funeral Services in November 2000.
Alistair was elected to the New Zealand Embalmers Association executive November 1993, to the treasurer's position in 1995-97 and was president in 1997-1999.

He and his wife Kathy live in Richmond where Kathy is a primary school teacher. They have two children, Blair and Abbie.

Bevan Hoult (Dip F.S.)

Bevan is married to Francis and Paddy’s daughter Bridget who also works with the company. They have three daughters - Alice, Laura and Emma. Bevan is a Nelsonian born and bred, with his family originating in the Wai-iti/Wakefield area. He was educated at St. Joseph's School and Nayland College and then moved to Auckland, working at Auckland Hospital for five years. He then studied for the ministry in Dunedin for several years before deciding this was not his vocation and returned to Nelson where he began working at Marsden House.

Bevan is one of the few people in Nelson fully qualified in Funeral Services. He gained a National Certificate of Embalming in 1997, a National Certificate in Funeral Directing in 1998 and completed the NZQA qualification Diploma of Funeral Services the following year.

Bridget Hoult (Dip F.S.)

Bridget is the daughter of Francis and Paddy Day. She is qualified with a Diploma in Funeral Services, fulfilling a lifelong ambition to continue the work of three previous generations of the Day family in caring for the bereaved.

To be sure this was the right career path, Bridget first tried something else in life: she left Nelson and travelled to the United Kingdom where she taught in a private school. Her nine years overseas served to cement her desire to be trained in the family industry and she returned to New Zealand where she met and married her husband Bevan, who also works in the family firm.

When not at work Bridget loves spending time with Bevan and their three young daughters. She also enjoys playing and listening to music, walking and sports.

Patrick Day (Nat Cert F.D.)

Patrick is the son of Francis and Paddy Day and, along with his sister Bridget, represents the fourth generation in the family funeral directing business.

A qualified computer programmer along with a National Certificate in Funeral Services, Patrick now manages the monumental masons G Miller and Sons and is a member of the New Zealand Monumental Masons Association Inc.

Patrick was apprenticed to his uncle, Joseph Day, in the monumental mason business and took over management of G Miller and Sons after Joe's sudden death in 1995. At that time the business was located in Vanguard Street but was transferred to its present premises in Salisbury Road in 1996. He also works closely with both Marsden House and Waimea Richmond Funeral Home and is rostered with both those firms to officiate as a funeral director.

Barry Holmwood (Nat Dip F.S.)

Barry began his funeral service career in 1985 in Nelson. In 1990, he returned to his trade as a qualified timber machinist.

During his 13 years back in the timber industry, Barry gained his advanced 2nd qualification. In 2003, an opportunity arose that enabled him to return to the funeral service industry at Marsden House Funeral Services, Nelson.

Graduating from the Weltec Embalmers Course in 2005, Barry obtained the Noel McNee award. He quickly followed this up with a Funeral Directors course in 2006 during which time he gained the National Diploma in Funeral Service. Since 2004, Barry has been a member of NZEA.

Barry is proud to be involved in the funeral service industry, both embalming and funeral directing as he feels they both play an important role in helping and assisting the needs of grieving families and people within the community. He and his wife, Evelyn live in Richmond with their two daughters and small dog Lou.

Dean Newman (Nat Dip Embalming)

Dean Newman has been with Marsden House since early 2008 offering valuable support across a wide range of the firm’s services. Dean is a qualified Embalmer - with a Diploma in Embalming, and is continuing on to attain his qualification as a Funeral Director. Born in Oxford, England, Dean has a passion for travel, especially in discovering the rest of New Zealand.

Lyndsay Pyers (Nat Dip F.D.)

Born in Nelson, Lyndsay has wanted to be involved in the funeral industry for as long as she can remember. Working for a time in Christchurch in Sales and Marketing, before returning to Nelson to raise a family. She currently is living in Stoke with her sons, Hadlee and Travis.

For six years Lyndsay worked as a team leader for Victim Support, before joining the team at Marsden House. Passionate and dedicated, Lyndsay prides herself in her genuine care for Client families.

Lyndsay is qualified with a National Diploma in Funeral Directing, and is one of only two female qualified Funeral Directors in the Nelson region.

Lois Plummer

Accounts

Linda Mitchell

Accounts Assistant

Pat Buchanan

Bereavement Support

Pat has worked for Marsden House since the mid-1990s, bringing with her knowledge and experience in grieving gained through her ongoing work as a registered nurse, specifically with the elderly. She also studied listening and bereavement skills through courses at Sally McCormick House and believes those combined qualifications help her to gain a balance between her two vocations. Pat is also a "mad, keen gardener".

Pat follows up with bereaved families, offering valued support during a trying time.

Lorna Croft

Receptionist and Secretary