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About Us

For over 100 years Sibuns Funeral Directors & Advisors have built a reputation for offering excellent service and genuine, caring assistance to the families of Auckland.

With Sibuns, you are reassured to know that it will be a dignified and memorable service for your loved one. We are working quietly in the background to ensure everything is organised such as arranging a chapel or venue, supplying the casket and sorting out payment of cemetery or cremation fees. Usually there are a lot of decisions to be made and your funeral director can help with these too. People who are grieving can lose clarity and it's hard to be decisive about anything, which leads to added stress.

Our Team

At Sibuns, our funeral directors and support staff are very much part of the community
and are passionate about providing a professional and caring service.

BRIAN BARRET

MANAGER

I started my adult life has a Professional Cricketer and Coach for 10 years, playing County Cricket in England for Worcestershire and representing New Zealand in 80’s.

I then transitioned into the corporate world, ending up at Fletcher Building, where I held various Management roles across the companies Concrete Division.

With my Twin Daughters growing up, I decided to move into Real Estate and set up a business in Pukekohe, Waiuku and Clarks Beach, enjoying a wonderful 15 years, before selling to one of the larger Corporates.

In early 2023 decided on a complete change of direction and ended up in our very rewarding industry at Purewa Cemetry, and now in my role of Manager here at Sibuns.

I bring a wealth of experience across a variety of businesses and believe in the term “we are only as good as our people”. Therefore I put a strong emphasis on training and supporting our team.

I look forward to carrying on our wonderful traditions here at Sibuns and delivering “Great Funerals” for all our families.

Sibuns 2022 Staff Storm
STORM DEUSS
Assistant Manager & Funeral Director - on Maternity leave

STORM DEUSS

ASSISTANT MANAGER & FUNERAL DIRECTOR
Dip FD Reg. FD (FDANZ)

With a background in Care Home Administration, Storm uses these skills and her love of helping people in this exciting new challenge.

Storm feels privileged and honoured to be able to assist families at such a difficult time in their lives and she tries to go the extra mile to ensure that families wishes are accommodated wherever possible.

Storm and her husband spend their free time walking the Great Walks, camping and boating with friends and family and hanging out with Barry and DeeDee, their 2 pugs.

Sibuns 2022 Staff Rob
Rob Hitchin
FUNERAL DIRECTOR

ROB hitchin

FUNERAL DIRECTOR

A 40 year career with Qantas ended in 2013 with retirement and the proceeding 7 years spent volunteering with Auckland’s Mercy Hospice and as a “hands on” founding board member of the Race4Life Trust, a charity fulfilling the wishes of palliative care patients and their families throughout New Zealand. Rob joined the Sibuns team in 2020 and feels very fortunate to have had two careers that have been both rewarding and of service to others. “I see my funeral director’s role as requiring the strength to maintain composure in the face of loss and the softness and empathy to provide comfort and direction to those who are hurting. It is a huge privilege to do so.” A member of Auckland Thoroughbred Racing as both an owner and spectator, Rob is also involved with Targa New Zealand through Race4Life as Targa’s charity of choice.

Rob has three adult children and five grandchildren and lives locally in Greenlane.

Mel Madden
Melanie Madden
Funeral Director

Melanie Madden

FUNERAL DIRECTOR

Melanie has a background in client relations and event management.  Her skills and experience have proved invaluable with helping our families navigate their way through challenging times.  Melanie finds it an honor to help plan our family’s experience to be as unique and as special as their loved ones.

Melanie is the proud mother of three sons and their mischievous beagle Abby.  She enjoys reading, travel and spending time with her family.

Caty Harty
Caty Harty
funeral director

CATY HARTY

FUNERAL DIRECTOR

Caty is a dedicated and compassionate Funeral Director.

She brings her very gentle and calm approach to helping and supporting families during their most challenging time.

With her experience, Caty brings a deep understanding of the needs required when honouring one's life, and provides the guidance to ensure that each service is memorable and meaningful.

In addition to being a Funeral Director, she is a fitness instructor and personal trainer where she shares her passion for health and wellness with others. Her classes are well known for being engaging, motivational and fun, helping clients achieve their fitness goals while fostering a sense of belonging.

When Caty does have time to relax, she enjoys a good movie, reading non-fiction and exploring art and design in all mediums, and of course that precious family time.

Sibuns 2022 Staff Merle
Merle Abbot
Administrator

MERLE ABBOT

ADMINISTRATOR

Merle has spent the past seven years working in an administrative role at Auckland’s Holy Trinity Cathedral where she enjoyed interacting with all walks of life and overseeing some of life’s big events which included funerals, baptisms, and weddings. Generosity, compassion and positivity with a sprinkling of humour are the skills she brings to the Sibuns’ team.

Life is never dull as she navigates being the wife of an aviator and the mother of two gifted adult daughters who remain close despite the miles that separate them.

In her spare time, she is an acrylic artist who enjoys painting portraits of the many ethnicities that make up our world. The art of the documentary film is also of interest to her and a skill she is eager to accomplish.

OUR HISTORY

Sibuns was established in Wellington in 1899 by Mr Watney Sibun, before moving to Newmarket, Auckland in 1913. In 1989, after the purchase of C.H. Barker Funeral Home in Onehunga, Sibuns again moved, this time to Remuera. In 1996, the old established funeral firm of WH Tongue, originally situated at No.1 Mt Eden Road, joined with Watney Sibun.

Sibuns History John Sibun

John Sibun

Sibuns History Watney Sibun

Watney Sibun

About Mrs Watney Sibun

Mrs Watney Sibun

Sibuns History Hearse Fleet Left

Hearse Fleet 1930

Sibuns History Hearse Fleet Right

Hearse Fleet 1930

Sibuns History Sign

Original Sign

About Hearse 1

1950’s Packard Hearse

About Lady Parr

Funeral Ceremony, 1933

About Hearse Fleet

Funeral Procession, Victoria Avenue

FAMILY HERITAGE

The tradition of service set down by Watney Sibun continues today with his grandson, John, adding great value to the Sibuns team. Our dedicated team are passionate about providing support, understanding and professionalism to the families using our services.

Our founder’s legacy also lives on in the quality of our top of the range hearses – another tradition that he established.

The family values that characterise Sibuns Funeral Directors & Advisors and the trust relationship we have developed with our client families continue on under our parent company, InvoCare NZ Ltd, the largest provider of funeral services within New Zealand. In belonging to this comprehensive network of more than 20 funeral firms and associated businesses we are able to share professional development and industry knowledge, and set higher standards in the funeral profession nationwide.

About Us Quotes

I thought Sibuns were utterly professional, empathetic, communicative and frankly – in an age where ‘service’ is sometimes underwhelming, it was a privilege and pleasure to be looked after by the consummate professionals at Sibuns. Thank you all.

LYNN BARTRAM

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