Mike Savage, Marriage Celebrant & Funeral Director Tauranga
It is always my privilege to care for you
Mike Savage
Mike is now a fully licensed marriage celebrant and can now conduct weddings as well as funerals.
A compassionate ear
In times of grief when a loved one has died, would you know who to call?
With 30 years of experience as a funeral director/celebrant, Mike Savage has the compassion, empathy and professional skill, combined with God-given talents, to assist you and your family to prepare a service to celebrate your loved one’s life.
Mike is a well-known identity within the Tauranga community. He serves as a member of the Salvation Army, a JP, a Rotarian, a volunteer tutor with remedial reading at a Tauranga College, a volunteer for Riding for the Disabled former rugby player, rugby referee and amateur athlete in Tauranga. And he still likes to keep himself physically fit.
Mike believes it is an honour and privilege to minister to families who are experiencing grief, where he feels he has added strength to be a funeral celebrant and director.
The Tauranga community and its people is where he has been called to serve, however, there is no provincial boundary where he cannot go and minister.
The mark of a good celebrant is someone who is willing to work closely with you, following your instructions whilst bringing your own ideas to create the right funeral service for you and your loved one. The celebrant’s role combines three qualities: a good listener, a good writer and a good performer.
Mike provides these qualities with compassion, empathy and professional skill, combined with 29 years as a funeral director and celebrant.
For Mike it is an honour and privilege to work alongside you and your family to create and officiate a unique service to celebrate your loved one’s life.
If you would like to chat with Mike or for more information, call him on: 022 155 7204, email: [email protected] or visit: www.mikesavagecelebrant.com
“Courtesy of the Weekend Sun”
Although Mike is based in Tauranga he is more than happy to travel throughout the Bay of Plenty and Rotorua areas in order to assist grieving families, his skill, knowledge and training work alongside his natural empathy for people who need his help. See the Services that Mike Provides. Mike works with all Funeral Homes and handles both Burials and Cremations and is available 24 hours a day.
With his wife Dorothy behind him Mike has a tremendous amount of Mana and he does not worry about what race or culture you belong to as in times of grief he will be there for everyone.
Mike married Dorothy in 1975 and are very much involved in the Tauranga Community. They have two adult daughters, Erana, who lives in Hamilton is a Police Officer. Taina lives in Tauranga and is a NZ qualified embalmer. Mike and Dorothy are delighted to have five grand children who enjoy their company as often as they can. Dorothy is an integral part of the business and supports Mike with her administration expertise. This also involves her speaking with people that she meets with regards to funeral arrangement enquiries.
After more than 30 years in the industry, Mike Savage has seen his fair share of change in the way funerals are held – from children now attending services, the clothes people wear, to technology changes and more.
Mike got into the funeral service line of work in 1991 and became a fulltime funeral director in 1999.
Although this calling has always meant more to him than just “work,” he says.
“I enjoy what I do. I love what I do. I believe I was created to do what I do,” says Mike.
Kids welcomed
When Mike was a child in the 1960s, he says it was not commonplace for children to attend funerals. Mike was aged 12 when his own mother passed away.
“When my mum died in 1966 – she was 35 – my brothers and I were taken by our father to the pictures on the day of the funeral. So we didn’t go to my mum’s funeral because that’s not what you did.”
He says it wasn’t until 26 years later that he saw his mum’s grave.
“So that aspect has changed, where children are now encouraged to go to the funeral services.
“It’s healthy you know? I remember one time when a family came in to see their loved one and they had a little boy with him. I greeted them at the door and I said: ‘Hello. What’s your name?’ He told me his name. I said: ‘Have you come to see granddad?’ He said: ‘No – he’s dead.’
“But he went in and saw him [his granddad], said: ‘Hello’ and it was fine you know – it took away the mystery.”
Casual clothing
During his three decades-plus in the funeral world, Mike has also noticed a shift in the attire of funeral attendees.
“Once upon a time men always wore suits, or if it wasn’t a suit – it was a jacket with a tie.
“Now the only person that does is maybe the funeral director or a family that say: ‘Hey we’ve got to respect papa. Let’s get dressed up’.” People are now often opting for shorts, jeans and wear hats, says Mike.
“It still does upset me when families don’t dress for their loved one.”
Photo and article supplied by the Sun Live
OFhttps://sunlive.co.nz/news/351118-how-funerals-have-changed-over-time.html
Mike got into the funeral service line of work in 1991 and became a fulltime funeral director in 1999.
Although this calling has always meant more to him than just “work,” he says.
“I enjoy what I do. I love what I do. I believe I was created to do what I do,” says Mike.
Kids welcomed
When Mike was a child in the 1960s, he says it was not commonplace for children to attend funerals. Mike was aged 12 when his own mother passed away.
“When my mum died in 1966 – she was 35 – my brothers and I were taken by our father to the pictures on the day of the funeral. So we didn’t go to my mum’s funeral because that’s not what you did.”
He says it wasn’t until 26 years later that he saw his mum’s grave.
“So that aspect has changed, where children are now encouraged to go to the funeral services.
“It’s healthy you know? I remember one time when a family came in to see their loved one and they had a little boy with him. I greeted them at the door and I said: ‘Hello. What’s your name?’ He told me his name. I said: ‘Have you come to see granddad?’ He said: ‘No – he’s dead.’
“But he went in and saw him [his granddad], said: ‘Hello’ and it was fine you know – it took away the mystery.”
Casual clothing
During his three decades-plus in the funeral world, Mike has also noticed a shift in the attire of funeral attendees.
“Once upon a time men always wore suits, or if it wasn’t a suit – it was a jacket with a tie.
“Now the only person that does is maybe the funeral director or a family that say: ‘Hey we’ve got to respect papa. Let’s get dressed up’.” People are now often opting for shorts, jeans and wear hats, says Mike.
“It still does upset me when families don’t dress for their loved one.”
Photo and article supplied by the Sun Live
OFhttps://sunlive.co.nz/news/351118-how-funerals-have-changed-over-time.html