Collingwood Funeral Home

Charlie officially clocked off last night after a very big week.
Between greeting families, supervising the team, having lots of pats, and making sure everyone was okay, Charlie’s hard work finally caught up with him.
A full belly, sleepy, and doing what he does best - recovering from all that emotional support with not a single care in the world.

Choosing to pre-plan a funeral is a thoughtful way to ensure your wishes are known and honoured. It can also provide peace of mind for your loved ones, allowing them to focus on what matters most during a difficult time.

Pre-planning is not just about arrangements, it’s about making thoughtful decisions in advance so your family feels supported, understood, and free from unnecessary pressure while grieving.

Let’s be honest… if you’ve got strong opinions about the music, flowers, the catering afterwards or whether anyone is allowed to say “they wouldn’t have wanted a fuss” - write it down!

Why not take some time to jot down your wishes and ideas?

Learn more about pre-planning here:
https://www.collingwoodfuneralhome.co.nz/page/preplanning/

Jacob Jan Snyman
18 May 2004 – 9 May 2026
After a courageous battle, Jacob Passed away on Saturday surrounded by love.

Jacob was the kind of person who left a lasting impression on everyone fortunate enough to know him. He was intelligent beyond his years, emotionally wise, and carried himself with maturity, dignity, and grace.

But more than anything, Jacob will be remembered for his kindness.
He always chose to see the best in people. He was peace-loving, quick-witted, funny, and deeply thoughtful. He carried an attitude of gratitude in every season of life and treated everyone with respect and gentleness. To so many, Jacob was the definition of a true gentleman.

Jacob held himself to high standards, not because he wanted to impress others, but because he wanted to live with integrity and purpose. He was never one to simply follow the crowd. He wanted to lead by example, to be a role model, and to leave the world better than he found it.

Though his time with us was far too short, the impact of his life is immeasurable. His character, compassion, and quiet strength will continue to inspire all who knew and loved him.
As we say goodbye, may we carry forward the qualities Jacob embodied so naturally, the kindness, gratitude, humility, courage, and love for others.

Forever loved. Forever remembered.

The service to celebrate Jacob's life will be held at the Novotel Lakeside Rotorua on Saturday 16th May at 1pm.

Big day at Collingwood today as our very own Mike decided to expand his skill set… and his job title 😄
When a family he’s known for some time needed someone to officiate, it only felt right that Mike stepped up, not just as their funeral director, but as their celebrant too.
We’re not saying he’s collecting roles like Pokémon cards… but at this rate, we’re half expecting him to start directing traffic in the car park and pouring the tea afterwards as well!
Jokes aside, it was a privilege for Mike to support a family he knows personally and to help create a truly personal and meaningful farewell.
Nice work Mike, do we need to update your business cards?… 😉

Well, would you look at that… another week nearly done!

The team at Collingwood Funeral Home are officially on the home stretch and counting down to the weekend! The forecast’s looking like an absolute beauty, so if you’ve been waiting for a sign to get outside, this is it.

Fresh air, sunshine, maybe even a cheeky BBQ! We’ll be out there soaking it up too.

Have a cracker of a weekend, whatever you get up to!

Ok, last but definitely not least – Roy Filpp...

Roy has been part of the Collingwood team as an on-call funeral assistant for some time now, so it didn’t take Todd and Mike long to realise he wasn’t destined to remain “on-call” indefinitely… some people are simply too good (and far too reliable) to risk losing.

So, we’re proud, if not just a little pleased with ourselves to be welcoming Roy to the team full-time from mid-May.

After many years in the roofing industry, Roy brings with him a solid work ethic, a keen eye for detail, and a sort of practical know-how. As he steps into this new chapter, he complements those skills with natural "real" empathy and a genuine connection with people qualities that go a long way in the funeral profession.

Currently training as a funeral director, Roy supports the team across all aspects of daily operations. He approaches his work with quiet dedication, a strong sense of care, and a respect for doing things properly—no shortcuts, just consistent, thoughtful effort.

Outside of work, Roy is engaged to Kayla and is a proud dad to three awesome kids so “peace and quiet” tends to be more of an abstract concept than a lived experience. When he does manage to find a spare moment, you’ll likely find him in the garden or tinkering in the shed, keeping himself just busy enough to stay on the right side of trouble. And like Justin, he enjoys hitting the trails on his mountain bike when the opportunity arises whether for fitness, fresh air, or a bit of strategic escape remains open to interpretation.

Welcome aboard, Roy!

A touching dawn service at Ohinemutu this morning.
Lest we forget. 🌺

Todd oversees the team at Collingwood Funeral Home, bringing years of experience, calm professionalism, and an almost suspicious ability to keep a straight face in just about any situation.

Fully qualified and a registered funeral director, he could spend his days front-of-house but is more often found behind the scenes, quietly (and occasionally firmly) attempting to steer a well-meaning but sometimes chaotic team in roughly the right direction. Miraculously, it usually works.

In a profession not exactly known for its unpredictability (on paper, at least), Todd is known for his steady presence, sharp attention to detail, and the kind of quiet reassurance that helps people through moments they’d rather not be having.

His approach is simple: listen first, act thoughtfully, and make sure every farewell truly reflects the life it honours… while keeping everything running smoothly enough that no one notices the juggling act behind the curtain.
Equal parts calm professional and reluctant ringmaster, he believes even in this line of work there’s room for a bit of perspective, and that a well-timed raised eyebrow can carry more weight than a speech.

He’s proud of his team, the work they do, and considers it a genuine honour to lead them… even on the days that test everyone’s sense of humour.

STEELE, Norman Gregory (Greg) – 06/09/42-19/04/26 Greg passed away at home in Rotorua surrounded by his family.
Loved husband of Bridget and treasured dad of Ngaroma, Hakan and Joshua. Loved grandpa to his five glorious grandchildren.
The service to celebrate Greg’s life will be held at Collingwood Funeral Home Chapel, 1358 Eruera Street on Thursday 23rd April 2026 at 1pm. In lieu of flowers donations to a charity of your choice are welcome. All correspondence to Steele family C/o Collingwood 1358 Eruera Street, Rotorua 3010

LUKE, Shane Richard Alexander. 10 April 1979 – 16 April 2026. Peacefully passed away at home on Thursday 16 April surrounded by his loving family. A dearly loved husband, dad and son. Shane will be deeply missed by all who knew him. The service to celebrate Shane’s life will be held at the Mamaku Memorial Hall, 61 Mamaku Street on Monday 20th April at 1pm. All communications to the Luke family C/o Collingwood Funeral Home, 1358 Eruera St.

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