Our Team

We believe, in your time of need, that providing you and your family with professional care and compassion is essential in helping you say goodbye in such a way that is personal and meaningful.

At Eagars Funerals we can empathise with families because we have walked in those shoes; we know the importance of having family around you at funerals. When we say we care for loved ones, we care for them as if they were a member of our family.

 

We know that it eases the pain and grief by having the ritual of a funeral service and the importance of saying goodbye in a style that best suits the family. A funeral is about getting everything right, both big and small - our ultimate aim is to have families come and say Mum and Dad would have been proud of the service we have helped them to create.

Richard Martin

Richard Martin

Funeral Director

From broadcasting to sales to teaching to financial services, Richard has had a broad and varied career which provides a wealth of experience in business and people management.   Married to Casey since 2003, Richard officially joined the business in 2015, however he has been involved with Eagars Funerals since 2007.  As the business has continued to grow it presented an opportunity to be involved in a more active capacity.  Richard is loving the people contact and being in the privileged position of working closely with families as they create a special farewell for their loved one.   Outside of work Richard enjoys spending time with his children - but, with being teenagers, that's getting harder to do!  He's also a bit of a geek when it comes to technology...!

Kelsey Kearns

Kelsey Kearns

Assistant Manager

Kelsey cares! The obvious theme throughout her various roles which have included nail technician, care giver, mother and house renovator demonstrates her love of people.  Drawing on all these experiences convinced Kelsey that funeral service was a natural fit and since joining the funeral industry in 2016, hasn’t looked back.  She prides herself on the care and attention to detail in looking after others family members and Kelsey’s warm personality quickly puts everyone at ease. Kelsey is a proud mum of Tyler.  Exercise plays an important part in life outside work with running, netball and boxfit keeping her active. While she loves travel and experiencing new cultures, Kelsey still can’t bring herself to eat seafood! The diversity of the funeral industry, the people, the rituals and being part of telling the life story of those who have died are some of the many reasons Kelsey loves her role and is a valued member of the Eagar family.

Casey Martin

Casey Martin

Manager

As a third generation Funeral Director, Casey brings a wealth of experience to Eagars Funerals. Casey joined the business in 1992, helping her father, John, after she returned from training race horses in Japan. This temporary assistance grew into a full time role and Casey has been actively involved in the business ever since. Following John’s sudden death in 2004, Casey stepped up to run the business and has successfully managed the business along with a busy family life.   Married to Richard and mother to Isaac and Emerson, Casey places great value on family and applies that to Funeral Directing by ensuring families are supported, informed and cared for at a difficult time. Casey takes pride in the fact that Eagars Funerals works to provide individual, tailored services and has a reputation for being Taranaki’s caring professionals.   In 2015, husband Richard joined the business full time and has taken over much of the day-to-day operations, allowing Casey to focus more time on the community.  If you would like Casey to speak to your group or organisation please contact our office.

Aaron Thompson

Aaron Thompson

Funeral Director

Aaron was born and raised in Inglewood and is father to 2 grown sons, Liam and Cody.  Throughout Aaron’s life he has always shown care and compassion for others. This has been demonstrated through his previous role as a caregiver in the disability and aged care sectors. This care and compassion continues, as he has now returned to a profession he takes great pride in, a Funeral Director.  Being able to assist families in a time of need, along with the ability to help create a fitting farewell for loved one, is a privilege for Aaron. During his spare time, he will most likely be with his partner either gardening, fishing, spending time with family, or out with his sons hunting.

Leland Sawyer

Leland Sawyer

Funeral Director

With a passion for the outdoors, Leland has spent his life in various countries travelling with his snowboard until eventually settling in New Plymouth. After spending 7 years in the region as residential builder, he joined the Eagars team, putting to use his charisma and personable skills to serve the community. With a family history in the funeral directing business, the compassion and empathy required comes easily to him. Making hard times more bearable for everyone who comes through our doors is a service he feels privileged to provide. On his days off, he relishes being outside enjoying nature - you’ll find him in the outdoors surfing, spearfishing, hiking, biking  and occasionally abseiling down a cliff face.

Lisa Hoult

Lisa Hoult

Office Administrator & Graphic Designer

Caring for families started in Lisa’s teens when she worked in New Zealand and overseas as a nanny. Returning home to a creative role as a copywriter and then graphic designer, she gained invaluable knowledge and training in an industry where fast-changing technology was rolled out. With in-depth experience of the newspaper, real estate and hospitality industries, Lisa understands the pressures of deadline-driven situations which gives her the ability to make funeral planning as stress-free for families as possible. Creating personalised memories for a loved one’s farewell is a privilege and she loves hearing their stories. Outside of work, Lisa enjoys playing and watching sport, sewing, reading and trying out new recipes on her family.