Can we help find homes for these ashes?

[minniehaha]

From tonight's Seven Sharp programme:

Below is a list of the cremation dates & surnames attributed to the 23 ashes currently unclaimed in Porirua. If you think these ashes could belong to a member of your family, get in touch with Porirua City Council: 04-237 5089.

Hawison – cremated Porirua on 24/1/85
Lear – cremated Porirua 4/3/86
Martin – cremated Porirua 20/11/87
Aplin – cremated Porirua 16/6/89
Clapson – cremated Porirua 16/7/93
Williamson – cremated Sth Auck 8/6/95
Lanceley – cremated Porirua 10/6/96
McFarlane – cremated Porirua 15/4/97
Fuller – cremated Porirua 4/8/98
Moore – cremated Porirua 4/10/99
Keber – cremated Porirua 22/10/99
Cocher – cremated Porirua 24/8/00
Barratt – cremated Porirua 2/10/00
Stevens – cremated Porirua 13/6/03
Ewright (could be misspelled, could be Wright) – cremated Porirua 8/12-03
Stevens – cremated Porirua 2/2/05
Tangariro – cremated Porirua 26/11/05
Strathern – cremated Porirua 31/12/06
McCarthy – cremated Porirua 5/8/96
Harrison – cremated unknown 18/4/01
Jones – cremated Wellington 22/9/87
Bridge – cremated Wellington unknown date


Minniehaha.

[TwiggyTree]

Thanks minniehaha.

I was disappointed that the online article I read this afternoon didn't have any detailed list in it, but I didn't have the wherewithal to go chasing it up.

[Janette]

I checked the Seven Sharp list against the Porirua cemetery database,some names were not on the database and quite a few said "taken by FD" and others had the day and month correct but the year was wrong and one had the ashes taken by the FD a couple of days before cremation.

With records like that it is no wonder they have ashes sitting on their shelves families may not be aware that their loved ones are sitting there and not with the FD

Cheers Janette

The database:https://poriruacity.govt.nz/services/cemeteries/cemetery-search/

[Tgapitbull]

I have started researching the names on the Porirua City Council (PCC) list to see if I can locate NOK.
For a majority of those on the list the Angus Family Funeral Directors where the Funeral Director (google the name for background stories)
I note that the Angus Family Funeral Directors Funeral Registers have been donated to the Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington.

On the PCC list is the name Tetekira Haora WILLIAMSON who was cremated on 8 June 1995, Funeral Director unknown.
I have checked the Dept of Internal Affairs Death Index for a registration under this name but have not found a registration.
I have also tried Electoral Rolls and FamilySearch and been unsuccessful.
My usual finding aid, Archway, has not shown anything relevant
It is possible that this person's death has not been registered.  Several other names also do not appear on the Dept of Internal Affairs (DIA) Death Index.
I asked Internal Affairs if they had a death registration for another name on the PCC list which did not appear in the Index and received a very unhelpful response - basically they advised that I would need to apply for a Death Certificate or Death Registration printout to find out whether the death had been registered or not.  A simple "yes" or "no" would have sufficed.  I have normally found DIA very helpful in the past.

Moving on - any suggestions welcome as I have hit a brick wall!

WNW

[Tgapitbull]

An update:
Porirua City Council advise that the following ashes have been collected (see names in original posting:
APLIN
LANCELEY
TANGARIRO

CLAPSON, Mabel Willard - some ashes are in a niche in the Waikane cemetery.  Remaining held by Whenua Tapu cemetery .

I have located NOK/family members for the following and they are following up with PCC:
KEBER, Andrew William
MOORE, James Bernard

Other enquires:
BARRATT, Donovan Ewart.  Identified 3 children, one child Christopher deceased 2014.  Message sent to Funeral Director - awaiting a response.

BURRELL, Nellie May - identified son, Harvey Norman Burrell in Sydney, NSW who died 2013.  Message sent to possible family member - awaiting response?

COCKER, Kenneth Morrice (died 2000) - parents Ethel and Richard Hugh Cocker.  Identified one other son, Patrick Murdoch Cocker died 1998.  Message sent to Funeral Director and waiting for a response.  Not able to identify other direct family members.  May need to look at siblings of parents?

HARRISON, Janet Lindsay - identified a possible son.  Death notices appeared in the Dom Post and BOP Times on 21 April 2001 - still to be checked out.

HOWISON, Lettice Edith (name does not appear on DIA Death Index?) - identified possible child and likely to be living. Memorial in Awa Tapu cemetery, Kapiti Coast to Lettice, her husband and granddaughter Justine Marie Powell who died in 1996.  Message sent to Funeral Home. Interim response received.

MCFARLANE, Rowena Minnie - married twice (1) John Anderson RENNIE - div c1963? died 1995, cremated, Karori cemetery (2) Patrick Bruce McFarlane c 1972 and div 1981 (Archway) died 1995, Makara cemetery.  Following her divorce she ran a boarding house at 33 Brougham street, Mt Victoria, Wellington.  Further reqearch required.

Any additional information/suggestions welcome.

WNW

[minniehaha]

Hello Wendy. Good on you for giving it a go. 

Possibly not on NZ BDM index because:

"The historic data available for you to search is limited-
•   Deaths that occurred at least 50 years ago or the deceased's date of birth was at least 80 years ago."

Williamson – cremated Sth Auck 8/6/95

A death notice may have appeared in 'The New Zealand Herald' and/or Wellington newspaper?


Minniehaha.

[TwiggyTree]

Ok so this is a bit far fetched but also a bit too coincidental....

From BDMH
1995/39703   Wilkinson   Tetekira Haora CKA Rex   29 June 1927

Burial record for Tetekira Haora Wilkinson from Auckland Cemeteries database:

Occupation
Retd

Date of death
5 June 1995

Age at death
67 years

Gender
Not recorded

Region
South

Cemetery name
Manukau Memorial Gardens

Remains type
Ash

Date of cremation
8 June 1995

Funeral director
Silver Dawn Funeral Services

http://www.rootschat.com/links/01ney/

[TwiggyTree]

HOWISON, Lettice Edith

from BDMH
1985/30374   Howison   Lettice Edith   6 March 1912

[Tgapitbull]

Further update:

HOWISON, Lettice Edith - family members/NOK notified.
COCKER, Kenneth Morrice - not able to identify family members.  Not continuing to search for family members.
BARRATT, Donovan Ewart - family members/NOK notified

Can anybody suggest avenues for searching:
WILKINSON, Tetekira Haora cka Rex Wilkinson - Auckland City Council - Manakau Memorial Gardens advise that their records suggest that his ashes were retained and sent to the Funeral Director and were not scattered or buried.
The Funeral Director was Silver Dawn Funeral Services (they were marae based and apparently no longer exist.  From the Companies Records Manakau Urban Maori Authority (MUMA) were a major shareholder.  I phoned them and was advised that the FD records are held by the Manakau Urban Maori Authority.  I have contacted them with further information via Facebook and email but received no response.
Alternatively could some kind person follow up with them?

There is a deadline of 1 March to claim ashes.  Also I will have to put this to one side as I am about to start some academic study.

WNW