🕊️ Today’s Remembrances: Notices & Tributes 🕊️
View the latest Death Notices, In Memoriams, and Acknowledgements for the Southland region. Updated daily, Monday through Saturday.
🤝 A Free Service for Families We invite you to share your memories and thanks. Send your notices or acknowledgements to: 📧 [email protected]
BELLETT, Colin:
On March 26, 2026, in his 88th year. Dearly loved husband of Mary and loved and respected father and father-in-law of Paul and Fiona, Angela and John, David and Fiona, Tracy and Fred, Donna and Dennis. Treasured grandad of Jordon, Georgia, Jarrad, Oscar, Amber, Darcy, Ramon, Bella and great-grandad of Layton. Loved brother of Pat, Margaret, and Brian. A Requiem Mass will be celebrated in St Patrick's Catholic Church, 7 Hertford Street, Arrowtown, at 1.30pm, on Thursday, April 2. The service will be live-streamed at www.affinityfunerals.co.nz/live-stream/ Messages to: Rhodes on Cashmere, 5 Overdale Drive, Cashmere, Christchurch 8022.
GUISE, Graham Thomas (Gus):
Peacefully at Southland Hospital on Thursday 26 March 2026; aged 78 years. Dearly loved, and treasured husband of the late Peggy, much loved father and father-in-law of Barry* and Robyn*, Rachel, Carol and Nigel, Grant and Jane, loved and adored Grandad of Dayna, Ruby, James, Casey, Carlos, Tommy, Billie, Isabella, and Zach. A loved brother, brother-in-law, uncle and friend.
“Reunited with his beloved Peggy”
A service to celebrate Gus’ life will be held in the Riverton R.S.A, 141 Palmerston Street Riverton on Thursday 2 April at 1.00pm, interment to follow at the Riverton Cemetery. You are invited to join the service via livestream by going to the Avenal Park website, obituaries page and clicking on the link on Gus’ page Messages to 122 Rocks Highway Riverton 9822 (*Denotes Deceased).
JACKMAN, Elaine:
Peacefully at Strathallan Lifecare, Timaru, on Saturday, March 21, 2026, in her 88th year. Dearly loved wife of the late Roger, dearly loved mother and mother-in-law of Jo and Brian, Tom and Robyn, Kate and Dave. Dearly loved and adored Nana Merle of Matt, Rachel, Jamie and partners; Lani, Nicole, Leah and partners. Great-Nana to Fletcher, Stella, and Tommy. Friend to Sonjia, Dion and families; and Oscar. As per Merle's wishes, a private service has been held. Special thanks to Strathallan Lifecare for their love, compassion and care shown to Merle and her family during her stay there. Messages to the Jackman Family, c/- PO Box 772, Timaru, 7940.
KEMP, Elizabeth:
25.7.1958 – 13.3.2026
Passed away peacefully in Geraldton, WA, Australia; in her 68th year. Loved daughter of Bill* and Mary* Dennison (of Lower Shotover, Queenstown). Loved sister and sister-in-law of Daphne and Dave* Cotton, William and Elva*, Bev and Alister Hartley,
Murray and Wendy, Ray, and Avis*, Joan and Mait Mackley, Geoffery and Christene, Ken, Margie and Noddy Sinnamon.
Lizzy is sadly missed
A service and cremation has taken place in Geraldton. A memorial service will be held in Central Otago at a future date to be advised. Messages to the Dennison family c/- 8 Orchard Drive, Alexandra 9320. (*denotes deceased).
LESLIE, Ivan James:
On March 23, 2026 at Bupa Care, Parklands Christchurch; In his 90th year. Dearly loved husband of Betty, and the late Lorna. Loved father of Paul, Janita, and Charitee and a respected stepdad to Paul, and David. Treasured Grandad of all his grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
“The Lord is my Shepherd”
A service to celebrate Ivan's life will be held on Tuesday, March 31, at 1pm in the Owaka Presbyterian Church, Main Road, Owaka, the funeral then leaving for Owaka Cemetery. For those unable to attend, a livestream link will be available on Leishman's website Messages to 32 Carrick Road, RD1 Baclutha.
McKAY, Helen:
QSM
Passed away peacefully at Redwood Retirement Village, Blenheim, on March 26, 2026. Loved wife of the late Val. Much loved mother and mother-in-law of Peter and the late Sandra, the late Andrew and Helen, Donald, Kathryn and Mark, Brent and Susan, Elizabeth and Greg. Loved Nana of Amy, James, Vaughan, Lewis, Tom, Eddie, Oscar, Murdo, Mirrin, Gracie and Rowan. Loved Great-Nana of Lucy and Joey. Dearly loved and respected sister and sister-in-law of Raylene, Judy and Doreen and the wider McKay and Hughes families. Messages may be sent to the McKay family, c/- PO Box 9, Blenheim 7240, or www.cloudybayfunerals.co.nz.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the Cancer Society would be appreciated.
Join the McKay family for a celebration of Helen's life, in Tuatapere, on Saturday, May 16, details to follow.
McLELLAND, Marion June:
Peacefully, at Hospice Southland, on Thursday, 26 March 2026; aged 86 years. Dearly loved wife of the late Graham, loved mother and mother-in-law of Bruce and Hinemoa, Susan and Roger, Judith and Russell, loved and respected Grandmother of Moana, Aaron, Emma, and the late Reiha; Kate, Michael, and Andrew. A service for Marion will be held in J Fraser and Sons’ Chapel, cnr Esk and Doon Streets, at 10am on Monday, 30 March. Private cremation to follow. Messages to 35 Rosewood Drive, Rosewood, Invercargill 9810
NORTH, Russell Thomas:
Passed away on Saturday 21st March 2026. Aged 76 years. Survived by Christine, Jason and Natalie, Craig and Evarnah, and Milly. A Memorial Service will be held at the Invercargill Rowing Club, 89 Sandy Point Road, Oreti Beach on Wednesday 1st April at 2.00pm. Messages to Jason North C/- 52B Bourke Street, Windsor, Invercargill 9810 or to Russell’s tribute page at frasersfunerals.co.nz/tributes
SHARP-HINTON Nicola Anne (nee Sharp):
With deep sadness we announce the passing of Nicola in Christchurch Hospital on Thursday 26th March 2026, aged 59 years. Dearly loved wife and much better half of Geoff. Hugely admired and adored Mum of Hannah and Zoe. Much loved daughter of the late June and Jim Sharp, daughter in law of the late Hazel and Brian Hinton, dearly loved sister and sister in law of Paula and Troy Vasa (Dunedin), Tracy and Andy Yule (Invercargill), Wendy Hinton, Carol Hinton, Claire Hinton and William Hurley (Wellington). Nicola was a fun loving aunty to her nieces and nephews and will be sorely missed by, Isla and Millie, Lucy, Mitchell and Ella, Guy and Julia, and Georgia. Adored woofer Mum of Archie.
“Nicola will be deeply missed and forever remembered”
The family wish to acknowledge the staff at the Otago Southland Rescue Helicopter Trust, Ward 8C Dunedin Hospital, and Ward B6 and ICU Christchurch Hospital for their exceptional care and attention to Nicola in recent months.In lieu of flowers, donations can be left at Nicola’s service or made to the Bone Marrow Cancer Trust at bmct.org.nz.
A service for Nicola will be held on Wednesday 1st April 2026, 1.30pm in J Fraser and Sons Chapel, corner Esk and Doon Streets Invercargill, followed by a private interment at Eastern Cemetery. Messages to 43 Glenroy Park Drive, Invercargill or to Nicola’s tribute page at frasersfunerals.co.nz/tributes where her livestream link is available.
Acknowledgements and Memoriam's:
BEER, Leslie:
On behalf, the family would like to express our gratitude for all the support we have received after the passing of Les. Thanks to the staff of Albany House and Aurora Funeral Services for their caring support. Please accept this as a personal acknowledgement of thanks to you all.
COWAN, Neil:
Yvonne, Hannah, Megan and Isaac would like to thank everyone who visited, sent cards, flowers and baking after the passing of Neil.
Thanks to everyone who helped us arrange everything and spoke at his farewell. To everyone who came to his farewell thank you very much. Neil would have been thrilled. To the Mataura RSA thank you for having his farewell and the lovely afternoon tea. Please accept this as a personal acknowledgement of our thanks to you all.
GUTSELL, Peter:
Margaret, Lindsay and Karen, and Dave, express their heartfelt thanks to everyone who supported us before and after Peter's passing, from near and far. Sincere thanks to all who visited, brought food, and for the lovely flowers, cards, letters, kind messages and many phone calls. Thanks also to the medical and nursing personnel at the Otautau Medical Centre, Winton District Nurses, the Oncology Departments in Dunedin and Invercargill, Clare House, Bupa Longwood and Hospice Southland, you were all so supportive. Thank you also to Raewyn Black for guiding Pete's gathering. Special thanks to those who attended Pete's gathering and afternoon smoko, special mention to Liz and Shirley for their wonderful work ensuring smoko was ready at 3pm. Appreciation also goes to the Otautau RSA members for their attendance at the cemetery. Each of you has been very supportive during Pete's final journey and our time of need. As many addresses are unknown, please accept this as a personal acknowledgement with our sincere thanks.
MITCHELL, Hugh:
Thelma, Gavin, Stuart and families wish to express gratitude for the many acts of kindness and messages of sympathy, including the flowers, cards and baking we received following the recent loss of Hugh. Special thanks to Hospice Southland, RDNS and Macdonald & Weston for their care and attention to Hugh. Our thanks also go to the Wallacetown and Tuatapere Volunteer Fire Brigades for their tributes to a wonderful hardworking man who never lost his Scottish accent. Hugh was one of the group who helped build and start the Wallacetown VFB. Please accept this as a personal acknowledgement of the family's sincere thanks and appreciation.