Our story

Patrick Maurice Day (1855-1947)

The history of the Day family in Nelson began with the 1850 arrival of two O’Dea brothers from Ireland. An immigration officer wrongly spelled their name and they became known from then on as the Day brothers, one settling in the North Island and the other, John, bringing his wife and large family to Nelson. This set the scene for the establishment in Nelson of the Day family funeral business. 

John’s youngest son, Patrick (for whom Paddy’s Knob was named after he tried to follow his mum as a toddler on her way to work and became lost. He was found curled up asleep at the top of the hill at the spot now known as Paddy’s Knob) had a son, Francis (Paddy) Day. Paddy married Hilda in 1919 and they owned a service station and taxi business at the corner of Vanguard Street. At the end of the 1920s the McPherson funeral and florist firm moved into Nelson from Wakefield with its horse-drawn hearse. Mr McPherson chose not to modernise the transport part of the business but rather contracted Days’ taxis for mourning cars. This arrangement soon developed into a business partnership.

Gradually Paddy Day, with his son Patrick and daughter Norma, took over more of the funeral directing work while Hilda single-handedly managed the taxi business. For a while she was also a competitor of the Day funeral firm, owning a 50 percent share with a Mrs Campion, in the funeral firm that now trades as Shone & Shirley. So for a while the Day family had the Nelson monopoly on the funeral business. 

In 1942 Mr McPherson retired from the business and Patrick (Pat) Day left Nelson College and joined his father, Paddy, as a full partner in the business of Day and Son. 

Paddy Day died suddenly in 1947 leaving 22-year-old Pat to take charge of the firm, which then became known as P Day and Son Ltd, later trading as Eventide Funeral Services. Pat married Dorothy who quickly became an indispensable part of the firm while also raising their nine children.

Pat, Stephen and Francis Day in the Vanguard St workshop

Bevan and Bridget Hoult (nee Day)

Francis and Stephen, the first two sons, grew up in Nelson and gradually took on responsibilities within the family business. Francis, Stephen and their respective wives, Patricia (Paddy) and Lynda, led the funeral business for many years. Creating an umbrella of funeral businesses to serve the Nelson Tasman region including Marsden House Funeral Services, Waimea Richmond Funeral Services, Golden Bay Mouteka Funeral Services, Nelson Tasman Cremations Direct, Hope Gardens of Rememberance and Crematorium.

More recently, Francis passed the reins to his daughter Bridget and her husband Bevan, ensuring the family legacy continues. Bridget and Bevan's daughters, Alice and Laura, and nephew, Chris are also part of the business.

Built in 1922 as a church house for the Diocesan offices, Marsden House holds a rich history on the site known as Town Acre 438. The land was originally established in 1843 by Thomas Marsden, who built a cottage where his children were born, giving rise to the Marsden name that continues today. On January 22, 1973, ownership of the historic Marsden House was transferred by the Diocesan Trust Board to Patrick Day and his two sons, Francis and Stephen, ensuring the legacy of the site would live on.

In 1974, the Day family relocated their firm to its new headquarters, thoughtfully reconditioned to meet the needs of their funeral services and reinforced for earthquake safety. Since then, the Day family has been proudly serving the Nelson Tasman community from this cherished historic home, continuing their tradition of care and compassion.

The original site of Marsden House