The airy, light interiors have been painted a crisp white and the floors recarpeted in new Axminster wool carpet in fresh forest tones. New curtains consist of coarse sheers with a light gold hue, lined with blackout fabric to allow photographic slide shows and videos to be shown as part of a funeral service.
Along with new wooden venetian blinds and seating which provides bench, single and double seating options, the refreshed look is both comfortable and contemporary.
Exterior painting of the chapels is planned and work is about to begin on new roofing.
With thousands of people each year using the chapels the refurbishment is part of the Purewa Cemetery Trust Board’s ongoing maintenance and improvement plan.
Purewa General Manager Alastair Crombie says being the premium cemetery in Auckland means constantly striving to provide families and visitors with the best facilities and experience possible.
“In the past four years since I came into the role, Purewa has completed some major construction and development to better serve the community,” he says.
“This includes building the St John’s Lounge accommodating up to 250 guests for after-funeral catering. This was opened in 2017 and has proved very popular for larger funerals. The Lounge of Remembrance, which was Purewa’s original reception lounge, has been rebuilt with a pitched roof and much more natural light added as well as an internal makeover, making it ideal for funerals of up to 100 people.
The Administration Office was completely replaced with a stunning new building in 2019 giving families and visitors more space and privacy,” he says. A special feature of the design is the inclusion of a separate family room where grieving relations can sit while arrangements are being made. This is particularly helpful for families of news and still born babies.
The 55-hectare (20-acre) cemetery was established by the Anglican Church in 1889, when a more central cemetery was needed for the fast-growing Auckland than Waikumete in the West. Since then more than 55,000 men, women, children and babies have been laid to rest in Purewa’s beautiful grounds and gardens.
