Invercargill Funeral Notices
🕊️ 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]
Local Legends We Lost in 2025
Here we are at the end of 2025 — a time to pause, reflect, and remember some local legends who didn’t make it through to Christmas or the New Year. In no particular order, we honour them here. Bruce Chilton QSM
Firstly, a man of music. Bruce Chilton QSM passed
Malcolm Gayfer
FERRIS, Heather Margaret, (nee McKenzie):
of Invercargill. Passed peacefully after a short illness on Friday, 2nd January 2026, aged 83 years. Dearly loved wife of the late Raymond. Eldest daughter of Lance* and Phyllis* McKenzie, daughter-in-law of Jack* and Meta* Ferris. Sister and sister-in-law of Morrell* McKenzie, Bill* and Flora* Carson; Brian and Shamima Ferris. Treasured Aunty of Trev, Rob, Sue, Tame, Karma, Zahra; and great-aunty of Jessie, Harry, George, Amelia, Tayla, Shanna-Beth, Josh, Eva, Austin, Heidi, and Tommy. A memorial service to celebrate Heather's life will be held in Southland Crematorium Chapel, 111 Rockdale Road, Invercargill on Wednesday 7th January at 2:30pm followed by ash interment at Eastern Cemetery. Messages can be sent to 55 Minerva Road, RD6, Invercargill 9876, or to Heather's tribute page at frasersfunerals.co.nz/tributes where a stream of the service will be available.
HUNT, Peter Anthony:
Peter passed away on Friday 2 January 2026. Loved husband of Linda. Loved father and father-in-law and Popples of Paula, Tristan, Hannah, Benji, and Lucas Dawson, Mel, James, Thomas, Ella, and Sam Collinson. Loved brother of Raymond, Kevin*, and Neville*. A celebration of Peter’s life will be held in the Avenal Park Chapel, 75 Fox Street, Invercargill, on Tuesday 5 January at 1.00pm. If you wish to view Peters’s service via livestream, please visit the Avenal Park Funeral Home obituaries page and click on the link on Peter’s page.
MCGREGOR, Althea ‘Alma’ (nee Dempster):
Peacefully passed away on Friday January 2, 2026, at Bupa Windsor Park Care Home, aged 96 years. Loved wife of Bill*, dearly loved mum of Carol and Nigel Buckingham (Gore); Billy* and Jud (Australia); David*; and Karen McGregor (Auckland). Special Grandma and Nana to all her Grandchildren and Great-Grandchildren. (* denotes deceased). A service to celebrate the life of Alma will be held on Thursday January 8, 2026, at 2.00pm, at the Southland Crematorium Chapel, Invercargill. Messages to 92 Broughton Street, Gore 9710.
McKERCHAR, Isabella:
Passed away at Strathallan Lifecare Timaru , on Saturday, 3 January, 2026. Dearly loved wife of the late Alister. Loved mother and mother-in-law of Eoin and Leeanne, Alison and Jim Hargest, Graeme and Heather, Neil and Bronwyn, and Helen and Allan Baird. A loved grandma to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. In accordance with Ella's wishes, a private family service will be held.
McMILLAN, John Wesley (Wes):
After a 12 year battle with cancer, Wes passed in the compassionate care of Ascot Care Home Invercargill, on 1st January 2026, 3 weeks short of his 89th Birthday. Loved and loving Partner of Helen Scammell for 44 years. Loved Dad of Paul, Tony, and Geoff. Loved Grandad of Christopher, Ashleigh, and Laura. Loved Great Grandad of Lexie, Jacob, Lilly, and Oliver. Loved “Wes” of Julie, and Ricky Scammell and their families. As per his wishes, a private cremation has taken place. A memorial service will be held at a later date. Messages to 159 George Street, Windsor, Invercargill 9810.
SMITH, Ross James:
Peacefully, passed away at Clare House surrounded by his family, on Saturday 3 January, aged 77 years. Loved husband of Denise. Loved father and father-in-law of Nathan and Sandy, Vicky and Mark. Loved Poppa of Shaun, and Zoe; Thomas, Finlay, Madeline, and Stella. Loved brother and brother-in-law of Peter and Mary-Anne Smith, Karen and Doug* Sinclair, Jen* and Max Ffitch, Liz and Tom* Hartman, Ted and Bev Boult. A service to celebrate Ross’ life will be held in the Avenal Park Chapel, 75 Fox Street, Invercargill, on Thursday 8 January, at 1.30pm. The service will conclude with the Interment at the Eastern Cemetery. Messages to [email protected]
Acknowledgements and Memoriam's: