When there is a death in the family it is an incredibly stressful time. Not only are you coping with your own grief but there are also many things that must be done before a funeral can take place. At Harding’s we will look after the details. We can organize the celebrant, flowers, newspaper notices, catering, service sheets, audio-visual presentation, webcasting and more.
We make the process simple. We will take you through the funeral process one step at a time. We explain things as we go and answer each one of your questions. Our philosophy is “nothing is too much trouble”, so tell us what you want, and we will do everything to make it happen.
We make the process simple. We will take you through the funeral process one step at a time. We explain things as we go and answer each one of your questions. Our philosophy is “nothing is too much trouble”, so tell us what you want, and we will do everything to make it happen.
We are a family business
The Harding family established and ran the funeral business for three generations spanning a long standing 107 years. Selling to Kelly and Shaun Judkins has meant that Hardings Funerals continues to be family owned and locally operated by people who do things the Hardings way. This means putting you and your family first. You simply tell us the type of funeral you want, and we will do everything in our power to deliver it.
Our home is your home. Where you have a funeral is completely up to you. You might want a small private service at home, or our place where we have a small chapel for up to 50 people with live stream capability. You may want a farewell on the beach, the family farm, at a place special to you, or you may want a huge celebration. You choose a place and we will make it happen. We have good relationships with several venues in the South Taranaki District, and can help you create an event for a funeral that is appropriate to your needs.
Our home is your home. Where you have a funeral is completely up to you. You might want a small private service at home, or our place where we have a small chapel for up to 50 people with live stream capability. You may want a farewell on the beach, the family farm, at a place special to you, or you may want a huge celebration. You choose a place and we will make it happen. We have good relationships with several venues in the South Taranaki District, and can help you create an event for a funeral that is appropriate to your needs.
Kelly Judkins
Diploma in Funeral Service
Kelly begun her journey into Funeral Service in 1992, and has over time become a pillar in the community she calls home; South Taranaki. With over 30 years of caring for families in both funeral directing and embalming; which she gained qualifications for in 2016 and 1996.
Kelly is an expert at providing care to those who need it and is able to answer all those tricky questions you never thought to ask. Kelly’s history with South Taranaki and its people has been enriched with her involvement in organisations for the benefit of the community; like Victim Support, being a member of the local council, a Justice of the Peace, and a Celebrant for both weddings and funerals.
Her other qualifying attributes include previously serving as an executive of the New Zealand Embalmers Association, and holding office on the editorial board for the industry magazine. Connection and community has always been the force that drives Kelly to achieve the best for the families that come through our doors, assimilating into any role needed to provide the reassurance and support to those who choose us to honour their loved ones. Having such a deep connection to the roots of South Taranaki allows Kelly to dig deep in her celebrant work, being able to uncover detail and share stories that make a person who they are, adding more enriched layers to a service for families to look back on.
In June of 2019, Kelly and her husband Shaun, made the decision to purchase Hardings Funerals from Malcom Harding and began their own legacy of caring for the community whilst also still upholding the previous ideals Malcolm had built; cultivating a funeral home fit for the times, but also keeping to the same level of care and tradition of devotion, respect, and dignity for all. When she isn’t in the office, you can find Kelly catching up with friends at local cafes, at community events, or spending quality time with her family and little pooch Henry. To this day, Kelly is proud to be keeping Hardings Funerals true to its original values; being locally owned an operated.
Kelly is an expert at providing care to those who need it and is able to answer all those tricky questions you never thought to ask. Kelly’s history with South Taranaki and its people has been enriched with her involvement in organisations for the benefit of the community; like Victim Support, being a member of the local council, a Justice of the Peace, and a Celebrant for both weddings and funerals.
Her other qualifying attributes include previously serving as an executive of the New Zealand Embalmers Association, and holding office on the editorial board for the industry magazine. Connection and community has always been the force that drives Kelly to achieve the best for the families that come through our doors, assimilating into any role needed to provide the reassurance and support to those who choose us to honour their loved ones. Having such a deep connection to the roots of South Taranaki allows Kelly to dig deep in her celebrant work, being able to uncover detail and share stories that make a person who they are, adding more enriched layers to a service for families to look back on.
In June of 2019, Kelly and her husband Shaun, made the decision to purchase Hardings Funerals from Malcom Harding and began their own legacy of caring for the community whilst also still upholding the previous ideals Malcolm had built; cultivating a funeral home fit for the times, but also keeping to the same level of care and tradition of devotion, respect, and dignity for all. When she isn’t in the office, you can find Kelly catching up with friends at local cafes, at community events, or spending quality time with her family and little pooch Henry. To this day, Kelly is proud to be keeping Hardings Funerals true to its original values; being locally owned an operated.
Brittany Corlett
Funeral Director/Embalmer
Brittany came to Hardings Funerals in 2017, having always had an interest in the Funeral Industry, even reaching out to funeral directors from other companies for insight and advice on the job, but was held back by the assumption funeral homes were a strictly family run business. She quickly found a familial bond with Malcolm Harding who owned the business prior to Kelly, and her love and devotion for looking after families blossomed her into the kind and thoughtful funeral director she is today.
Brittany takes immense pride in the clinical care of the deceased, and being able to give families their loved ones back in a way that provides comfort and invokes pleasant memories for them as they move forward in their grief journey. Brittany became a qualified Funeral Director in December of 2024, using her skills and learnings to be able to seamlessly create a funeral full of love and care, and will be working towards a qualification in Embalming in the future. When it comes time for a FDANZ conference, Brittany is all too happy to immerse herself in a world of different perspectives, upskill her myriad of crafted skills, and foster connections with other Funeral Directors and Embalmers, strengthening her place in the industry.
Outside of work Brittany enjoys spending quality time with her partner, Jason, her beloved nieces and nephews, and enriching her life with family time to reset after a busy week at the office. Along with watching her favourite shows, Brittany has developed a love for small scale gardening; tending to her herbs with the same care and respect she brings to work.
Brittany takes immense pride in the clinical care of the deceased, and being able to give families their loved ones back in a way that provides comfort and invokes pleasant memories for them as they move forward in their grief journey. Brittany became a qualified Funeral Director in December of 2024, using her skills and learnings to be able to seamlessly create a funeral full of love and care, and will be working towards a qualification in Embalming in the future. When it comes time for a FDANZ conference, Brittany is all too happy to immerse herself in a world of different perspectives, upskill her myriad of crafted skills, and foster connections with other Funeral Directors and Embalmers, strengthening her place in the industry.
Outside of work Brittany enjoys spending quality time with her partner, Jason, her beloved nieces and nephews, and enriching her life with family time to reset after a busy week at the office. Along with watching her favourite shows, Brittany has developed a love for small scale gardening; tending to her herbs with the same care and respect she brings to work.
Shani Boyack
Trainee Embalmer and Funeral Director
Shani started her journey at Hardings Funerals in early 2023; helping with memorial books and looking after a baby Henry while the big kids went out to their funerals. This environment sparked an interest into Funeral Service that has since snowballed into where she is now; completing her Diploma in Funeral Service, and looking after the deceased with clinical care, dignity, and respect.
Spending a stint in Wellington to take part in a Makeup Artistry course has certainly given her the tools to make sure your loved one looks their best. Shani’s creative side allows her to complete personalised and unique service sheets, memorial books, and displays of your loved ones most treasured items so their service can be specialised to them.
As a self proclaimed ‘nana’, outside of work Shani enjoys crocheting, reading the literary classics, watching her favourite shows, and hanging out with her three cats; Percy, Rigby, and Arwen. In the future, Shani’s goal is to achieve qualifications in both disciplines of Funeral Service and Embalming.
Spending a stint in Wellington to take part in a Makeup Artistry course has certainly given her the tools to make sure your loved one looks their best. Shani’s creative side allows her to complete personalised and unique service sheets, memorial books, and displays of your loved ones most treasured items so their service can be specialised to them.
As a self proclaimed ‘nana’, outside of work Shani enjoys crocheting, reading the literary classics, watching her favourite shows, and hanging out with her three cats; Percy, Rigby, and Arwen. In the future, Shani’s goal is to achieve qualifications in both disciplines of Funeral Service and Embalming.
Henry
Chief Comfort Officer
You may have seen this scruffy face waltzing about town with Kelly, Brittany, or Shani, or plastered over the Hardings Facebook page. This is Henry. Henry joined the team 2 weeks after Shani started her part time work in 2022, and has since become a solid member of the Hardings pack, with daily tasks such as greeting people at the front door, sitting with families during arrangements, and lending a helping paw during a viewing or service in our Chapel.
As he has grown from yappy puppy to dignified dog, Henry is happy to provide comfort and support wherever it is needed, as stated on his very own business card. Outside of his very strenuous work days, Henry loves getting an ice cream from Mr Whippy on Thursday nights, running around on Kelly and Shaun’s back lawn, and stealing hearts wherever he goes.
Pop into Hardings Funerals on Regent Street to say hi and meet the team, and don’t forget to give Henry a pat on your way out!
As he has grown from yappy puppy to dignified dog, Henry is happy to provide comfort and support wherever it is needed, as stated on his very own business card. Outside of his very strenuous work days, Henry loves getting an ice cream from Mr Whippy on Thursday nights, running around on Kelly and Shaun’s back lawn, and stealing hearts wherever he goes.
Pop into Hardings Funerals on Regent Street to say hi and meet the team, and don’t forget to give Henry a pat on your way out!