Our Team
While families will experience the individual attention of their funeral director, the professional team at Richmond Funeral Home are committed to supporting each other in providing a service that meets both the wants and needs of the families and individuals they care for.
Peter & Jenny Giddens
Peter and Jenny Giddens live in Carterton and have a family of three sons Adam, Daniel, and Brandon. Having completed their chosen tertiary education all three have pursued a career in the Agricultural/farming sector.
The Giddens family moved from Hastings in 1997 to purchase the Funeral business of D & N Chew Funeral Directors. Their children attended St Mary’s Primary School Carterton and Wairarapa College. Carterton and the Wairarapa has been a wonderful place to bring up their family and the various communities have been very supportive of them as a family.
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, Hastings and since 1997 owning and operating Richmond Funeral Home, Carterton with his wife Jenny. A qualified Funeral Director, Peter has always had the desire to “Care for people” and being a Funeral Director in an area where often you know the people you are caring for, is very special.
Jenny Giddens
Born in Patea South Taranaki, Jenny is one of nine children her parents 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 and it was in 1997 when they purchased D & N Chew Funeral Directors that Jenny became the Office manager and Receptionist for Richmond Funeral Home.
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 these are all more off 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, the past 22 years living in Auckland, Sean joined the dedicated team at Richmond Funeral Home in December 2020. Being a 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. His previous industry experiences are 17 years in hospitality industry being a fully qualified chef, Business banking 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 and is looking forward to the new rural country lifestyle. 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.
Bruce White
Bruce White joined the team at Richmond Funeral Home in October 2012 and after almost 7 years or caring for bereaved families in the wider Wairarapa Communities, Bruce retired in August 2019.
His retirement represents approximately 60 years in the work force and 23 years in Funeral Service.
Jenny and Peter thank Bruce for his loyalty and commitment to the team and wish him and Lyn all the very best for their future.
Kerry Maher
Kerry has lived rurally in the Wairarapa with his family for 25 years before settling in Greytown. The majority of his working life was spent in his family group tour business and he has lead many groups of New Zealanders on tours to all parts of the world. After finishing with the business 2 years ago, he was keen to make a contribution elsewhere so was delighted to be given the opportunity to join the Richmond Team in a support role. 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..
