Peter Giddens

Peter has been involved in the Funeral Industry since 1980, born in Gisborne, he started his career initially part time in Gisborne, later working in Palmerston North and Hastings. Since 1997, he has, with his wife Jenny, served the Wairarapa Community at Richmond Funeral Home, Carterton.

Jenny Giddens

Born in Patea, South Taranaki, Jenny is one of nine children and a daughter of dairy farmers.

On leaving school, Jenny worked on the family farm, later working for Livestock Improvement. After marrying Peter in 1987, Jenny became a full time mother of three sons, and it was in 1997 when they moved to Carterton that Jenny became the Office Manager and Receptionist for Richmond Funeral Home. Jenny’s role with Richmond Funeral Home is varied from hosting after funeral receptions at the funeral home to advising people in pre-need enquiries and supporting through aftercare.

After family, home and work commitments (not always in that order), Jenny’s relaxation is spending time in her garden.

Blair Josephs

Originally from Rotorua, Blair joined the dedicated team at Richmond Funeral Home in February 2011. He has four wonderful children Star, Zenton, Koby and Liam and is supported by his partner Barbara.. Being a qualified funeral director and embalmer with over 15 years’ experience in the funeral industry, Blair has a strong desire to help and serve others. His previous occupations included working in mental health and as a senior consultant in the financial sector.

When not working, he enjoys relaxing, beach combing, camping and kayaking. He loves arts and crafts and is a bit of a movie buff. Blair’s sporting interests lay more towards the more extreme activities like hang gliding, sky diving, and white water rafting. He also likes motorcycling, although this is more of a spectator activity at present.

Blair enjoys meeting and being of service to the families in the Wairarapa and believes each person grieves in their own unique way and it is part of his role to help reassure and support them through such a time.

Sean Walton

Born and raised in rural South Taranaki, he has spent the past 22 years living in Auckland. , Sean joined the dedicated team at Richmond Funeral Home in December 2020. Being a qualified funeral director with 10 years in the funeral industry, . Sean has a strong aspiration to help, care and serve the families and community we are privileged to care for. Before joining the funeral industry, he was His previous industry experiences are 17 years in hospitality industry being a fully qualified chef and also business bank manager.

When not working, he is very involved in Toastmasters and, in 2016, Sean achieved the pinnacle in Toastmasters receiving his (DTM) Distinguished Toastmasters award. He also breeds and shows Lhasa Apso dogs and follows the Australian V8 Supercars. He also like motorcycling, camping and is very big on family.

Sean enjoys meeting and helping new people. He is here to help and assist you and your families though your time of grief and will support you as everyone sees and deals with grief in their own way.

Kerry Maher

Kerry has lived rurally in the Wairarapa with his family for over 25 years before settling in Greytown. The majority of his working life was spent in his family group tour business and he has led many groups of New Zealanders on tours to all parts of the world. After finishing his career in tourism, he was keen to make a contribution elsewhere so was delighted to be given the opportunity to join the Richmond Funeral Home team. He particularly enjoys the people contact and sees a similarity between his role as a tour leader supporting and caring for people whilst on tour and now supporting family and friends as they farewell their loved ones on their final journey. To him, it is a privilege to be part of the caring team that is there to help at an often difficult time for so many of us.

Paul Gadsby

Paul joins Richmond Funeral Home as a part-time funeral assistant. Paul has been in the funeral industry for over nine years. He brings many varied talents that come from his eclectic career background. He has been a landscape designer, regular force soldier, display artist and volunteer firefighter.

Paul was born in Christchurch, New Zealand. He is a solo dad with the joys of raising a teenage son.

In Paul’s spare time when a chance offers, he paints, working predominantly in the medium of oil painting, mainly large-scale work. Paul is recognised as a successful Wairarapa artist, and much of his work is on environmental issues.