Serving Taranaki Families
for over 100 years
Losing someone you love is never easy. That’s why we’re here – to make sure you’re supported, informed, and cared for every step of the way.
As founding members of the New Zealand Independent Funeral Homes Industry Association (NZIFH), you can be assured of our high standards and commitment to our local community.
Founded in 1924 by Willie Abraham, our funeral home has grown to become one of the most trusted in the region. Still proudly family-owned, Abrahams has cared for thousands of local families over the past century.
We are proud founding members of the New Zealand Independent Funeral Homes Association (NZIFH), upholding the highest standards of ethics, transparency, and community care.
Willie was a joiner and cabinetmaker. Willie Abraham purchased an established joinery factory. Through manufacturing caskets, he became involved in providing funeral services.
Willie rode his push-bike from Stratford to New Plymouth in 1924 to make the necessary arrangements for his first funeral service, he set a standard of excellence that we continue today.
Willie came to Matau, Taranaki from Christchurch with his family in 1891 when he was 11 years old.
He married his wife Lily in 1908 in Stratford, they had four daughters. Unfortunately, his wife died at the young age of 43 in 1930, leaving Willie to raise four daughters on his own.
Willie built Abraham’s first Chapel on Eliot Street – complete with a pipe organ.
Barrie Head joins his Grandfather Willie in the industry. Barrie developed a passion for caring and helping families when they need him the most. Barrie and his wife Gail have two daughters, Bronwyn and Megan, both of whom have followed their father and work at Abraham’s.
After many years of serving Taranaki, and having arranged more than 6,000 funerals, Willie retired in the early 60’s.
A fire destroyed the rear joinery shop at 27 Eliot Street. But rather than seeing the fire as a catastrophe Barrie saw it as a chance to focus on the funeral side of the business so Abraham’s stopped making caskets in 1970.
The decision to stop was partly because of economic viability and partly because of the fire that destroyed the workshop. Like his grandfather before him, Barrie Head is a man of vision and perseverance. He recognised that times were changing in the funeral business and the company needed to keep up with all of these changes.
Willie died aged 95 years. There are numerous accounts of Willie Abraham’s generosity throughout his life. An example of this is during the depression he often wouldn’t charge for his services.
Another example was when Willie went to a house where a baby had died and saw there were no windows. Willie directed the funeral and afterwards he delivered an entire house lot of window frames out of the kindness of his heart.
Barrie decided that we needed our own Chapel, a place where people could hold services saying goodbye in their own way. Along with this he also planned for an office building which would contain arrangement and viewing rooms in which people can come and talk with us in peace and quiet and spend time with their loved one.
In 1993 Bronwyn Macey (Willie’s Great Granddaughter – Barrie’s daughter) started working at Abraham’s.
The Chapel of W. Abraham’s on Devon Street opens.
In 1994 Megan Baker (Willie’s Great Granddaughter – Barrie’s daughter) started working at Abraham’s.
Our vintage hearse “Lilie” arrives from America and restoration work begins.
Mark Baker (Barrie’s son in law – Megan’s husband) started working at Abraham’s as a Funeral Director and Embalmer.
Mark was a soldier and was considering joining the police force when he met his future wife Megan Head. After some thought and discussion they decided that Mark joining the Abraham’s team was a good idea. Initially he was unsure how he would handle it but discovered that he really enjoyed caring for people in their time of need.
Lilie enters service and joins us at many funerals, and is still available for use today.
Barrie begins stepping back after decades of service.
Abraham’s were one of the Founding Members of NZIFH (New Zealand Independent Funeral Homes)
Office building in Devon Street is opened.
The Remembrance Chapel and Crematorium is opened
Abraham’s celebrated 90 years in business
Our 2015 Ford Icon hearse arrives from America
Our 2019 Cadillac Echelon hearse arrives from America
We celebrate 100 years of service to the Taranaki Community.