Four Western Bay of Plenty organisations had extra reason to celebrate the opening of Legacy’s new funeral home at Papamoa.
At the official opening ceremony Legacy Trust gifted $25,000 to Waipuna Hospice; with Papamoa Surf Lifesaving Club, Mount Maunganui Lifeguard Service and Papamoa College each receiving $10,000.
The new venue, named Legacy Gardens, includes the Western Bay of Plenty’s first columbarium – a storage area for urns holding cremated remains. It functions as a respectful place, within the gardens, which loved ones can visit.
Sited on the corner of Ashley Place and Te Okuroa Drive, the Papamoa venue includes a memorial garden, a 200-seat funeral chapel plus smaller room options, and a catering lounge. The design has included a focus on beautiful places for reflection and remembrance.
Legacy director Kevin Wearne said Legacy Gardens was an asset for the community.
“We are delighted to be able to not only use Legacy profits for the good of the community, but also to invest in infrastructure, such as this, for the good of the community too,” he said.
Legacy Trust celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. Over those years $2.4 million has been gifted back to the local community, with a large and diverse number of community groups and organisations benefitting. Profits from Legacy Funerals are distributed back into the community by Legacy Trust.