SIMPLICITY BEREAVEMENT SERVICES - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Administrator
- Funeral Director
Delano is a fourth-generation funeral director and has grown up in the funeral industry, working alongside his grandfather, mother, and family members in the funeral industry. The Murray family has been involved in the funeral industry for over 50 years, using their knowledge and experience to pursue funeral solutions for whānau. He is proud of the legacy and experience that the Murray family bring. Delano brings a wealth of knowledge to his role. He attributes his passion for the funeral industry to his grandfather, Tom Murray Jr, who started in the funeral industry in the 1970s in Auckland and led the path for Māori to enter the funeral industry.
Having been raised in Hawkes Bay, Delano is a devoted partner and father to his newborn daughter and enjoys solving puzzles, chess and outdoor pursuits.
Job Titles:
- Funeral Director / Embalmer
Job Titles:
- Funeral Consultant / Funeral Director / Embalmer
Having been raised in the funeral industry, I began working actively in the funeral industry from 14 years of age. From my experiences, I have sought solutions to tangihanga and provided in-depth knowledge and understanding of the industry, and the challenges families face. I attribute my passion for the industry to my father, Tom Murray Jnr. He is recognised as the first Māori to work in the funeral industry and first Māori to own and operate a funeral home in New Zealand.
Job Titles:
- Administrator
- Funeral Director
Having been raised in the funeral industry, Sandra has learnt from her parents at a young age that it is a privilege and an honour to be able to assist families during a most difficult time. As a third-generation funeral director in a fourth-generation family, she is proud of the heritage and the funeral experience that her family brings. Our experience has given us a clear view of the changing climate of the funeral industry, and this has enabled us to focus on how we can better offer our services in our funeral homes through innovation, programs and focusing on the needs and expectations of our client families. Sandra has a Master of Business Administration from the University of Waikato and is passionate about women in business and developing and empowering young women that show interest in this field.
Tom Murray was the first Māori to enter the funeral industry and own and operate a funeral home in New Zealand, as a descendant of Ngāti Kuri Iwi, who is the kaitiaki of Te Rerenga Wairua (the leaping place of spirits) at Cape Reinga. Tom always felt a calling to care for tupapaku, as he would often say to his whānau, "We were born to do this, as kaitiaki tupapaku runs deep in our veins."
Tom began his industry training with one of the largest funeral homes, J Weir & Sons, in Ponsonby, Auckland. Tom's role was to collect money for funeral accounts from the Māori and Pacifica families that the company had cared for, and he saw the effects of high funeral costs and its impacts on those families. With a desire to help his community, Tom started Murray & Shepherd, funeral directors South Auckland in Otahuhu, as he knew there was a better way for families to access funeral services without excessive debt, while still providing high-quality funeral services.
Over the last 50 years, Tom and his whānau have collaborated in working alongside community groups, Tainui Iwi, Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi and many other grassroots collectives in providing their members high-quality funeral services at a reduced cost.