ABOUT THE COTTON FUNERALS TEAM

Honouring Loved Ones with Personalised, Compassionate Farewells.

We believe that in your time of need, providing professional care and compassion is essential in helping families say goodbye in a way that is personal and meaningful.

A group of seven people, six adults and one dog, posing together indoors. They are standing and sitting in front of a dark wall with large green potted plants on either side. The group appears to be dressed in business or semi-formal attire, and everyone is smiling at the camera.

One family, caring for four generations

Cotton Funeral Directors is the oldest family-owned funeral home in the Manawatū. From our homes in Palmerston North and Feilding, our family has walked beside local families through farewell after farewell, with professionalism, compassion and a deeply personal kind of care.

— OUR PEOPLE

“Being a funeral director isn't just a profession; it's a way of life that requires a special kind of person. That's why we carefully select individuals who share our care for people to serve our families. They understand the importance of compassion and empathy, just as we do.”

Hayden & Kylie Cotton - Owners

Group of six people in formal black suits, white shirts, and black shoes standing together in front of a modern black wall with potted plants on either side, and a small dog in a black coat sitting in front of them.

Our Commitment to Professional Standards.

As members of the Funeral Directors Association of New Zealand, we are required to uphold nationally recognised standards of:

  • We are mindful of what families are facing and act with genuine care and understanding. We use our experience and judgement to support and guide families in a way that improves their situation wherever reasonably possible.

  • We are honest, transparent, and authentic in our communication. Our words and actions align, allowing families to place their trust in us with confidence.

  • We treat every person with dignity and fairness. We honour different beliefs, traditions, and perspectives, ensuring these are respected in the services we provide.

A small dog with a gray and white coat sitting on a green upholstered armchair with nailhead trim, in front of a dark paneled wall.

Meet Our Dedicated Team of Funeral Directors.

  • Hayden Cotton funeral director and owner of Robert J. Cotton Funeral Directors.

    Hayden Cotton

    OWNER & FUNERAL DIRECTOR

    Hayden is one of the few fourth generation funeral directors in New Zealand, with more than 30 years of experience in the profession. He is fully qualified as both a funeral director and embalmer and owns Robert J. Cotton Funeral Directors.

    Families value Hayden’s professionalism and his ability to remain calm under pressure. When emotions are heightened or tensions arise, he provides steady guidance and clear direction, ensuring arrangements move forward respectfully and without unnecessary stress.

    With decades of experience, Hayden understands the responsibility families carry. He works carefully and methodically, creating a sense of stability at a time when it is most needed.

    Outside of work, Hayden enjoys mountain biking, travelling and spending time with his wife Kylie and their two daughters, Madison and Georgia.

    Email Hayden
  • Kylie Cotton business manager of Robert J. Cotton Funeral Directors

    Kylie Cotton

    OWNER & BUSINESS MANAGER

    Kylie leads the creative and brand direction of Robert J. Cotton Funeral Directors, overseeing funeral photography and the projects families see and remember, including the much loved Lola the Funeral Therapy Dog calendars.

    As Business Manager, she works behind the scenes to ensure arrangements are organised, prepared with care, and delivered to a consistently high standard. Kylie is focused on raising the bar, strengthening systems, and ensuring families experience professionalism at every touchpoint.

    Before joining the family firm in 2020, Kylie worked in corporate marketing. She brings strategic thinking, commercial awareness, and a commitment to continuous improvement to the business.

    Outside of work, Kylie is a rally co driver with a passion for motorsport, enjoys fashion and cooking, and values time with her husband and their two daughters, Madison and Georgia.

    Email Kylie
  • A man in a suit and striped tie standing outdoors in front of a large shrub with white flowers.

    Brent LeQuesne

    FUNERAL DIRECTOR

    Brent grew up in Rangiwahia and entered the funeral profession in September 2017.

    As a funeral director, Brent takes responsibility for ensuring each service is carefully planned and carried out exactly as intended. Families often comment on his thoroughness and the care he takes in managing every practical detail behind the scenes.

    He works alongside families from the initial arrangement meeting through to the day of the service, methodically guiding decisions and ensuring nothing is overlooked. Brent’s focus is on delivering a service that runs smoothly and reflects what has been discussed, without loose ends or last minute uncertainty.

    He takes pride in following through and getting the details right. Families value his reliability and his commitment to doing what he says he will do.

    Brent is married to Nadia and they have two daughters, Olive and Hattie. Outside of work, he is a bagpiper, a member of the local Scottish Society, and never far from a cup of coffee.

    Email Brent
  • A bald man in a gray suit with a brown tie standing in front of a flowering bush with white flowers and green leaves.

    Nate Mitchell

    FUNERAL DIRECTOR

    Nate joined Robert J. Cotton Funeral Directors in 2023. Families consistently speak of his warmth, kindness and the genuine care he brings to every interaction. Many have shared that his compassion and guidance brought them great comfort during an incredibly difficult time.

    Nate connects easily with people and has a natural ability to put families at ease. He takes the time to listen, understand what matters most, and support each family in creating a farewell that truly reflects their loved one. His encouraging and positive presence helps families feel supported from the first conversation through to the final farewell.

    In 2025, Nate donated a kidney to his brother, a decision that reflects the compassion and dedication he brings to his work with families.

    Nate and his wife Hannah live in Foxton with their two children, Atalia and Reuben. Family and community sit at the centre of everything he does. Outside of work, Nate enjoys time with his family, attending Christian Community Church in Palmerston North, fishing and planning for his first fishing kayak, music, fitness and time at the gym.

    Email Nate
  • A woman with glasses and a name tag, wearing a dark blazer and blouse, standing outdoors in front of green leafy shrubbery, smiling.

    Lou Beneteau

    FUNERAL DIRECTOR

    Lou joined the funeral profession with a clear sense of calling to support families during significant times in their lives. She values listening carefully, honouring personal stories, and ensuring each person is treated with dignity and respect.

    With qualifications in makeup artistry and veterinary nursing, Lou brings precision and attentive care to her role. Her background reflects a consistent pattern in her life, caring for others with patience and steadiness.

    Families appreciate Lou’s thoughtful nature and the reassurance she provides. She understands that details matter and approaches her work with consistency and quiet focus.

    Outside of the funeral home, Lou is an artist, crafter and seamstress. She is a member of the Eastman Rover Scout Crew and enjoys spending time with family and friends.

    While many assume she is American, she is in fact French, with an accent that keeps people guessing.

    Her favourite quote is, “Give a girl the right shoes, and she can conquer the world.” Marilyn Monroe.

    Email Lou
  • Older man in formal attire standing beside a vintage black car, giving a thumbs up. Background features trees and clear sky.

    Ross Carey

    FUNERAL DIRECTOR

    Ross has more than 30 years of experience as a fully qualified funeral director and embalmer. His experience provides reassurance to families who want their loved one cared for properly and with respect.

    Ross brings a calm and warm manner to his work. He is patient, attentive to detail and practical in his approach. For families who appreciate a touch of humour, his cheeky wit often helps ease tension at the right moment, without ever losing sight of the significance of the occasion.

    In 2025, Ross stepped into semi retirement and now works one day a week, continuing to support families who value his experience and guidance.

    Ross and his wife Raewyn live on a lifestyle property, where he enjoys gardening, spending time with family and planning their next travel adventure. He is also a long standing and active member of the Cross Roads church community.

    Email Ross
A small dog sitting on a toy car in front of a large, black brick wall with a sign for Robert J. Cotton Funeral Directors. The sign features dandelion imagery and the establishment year 1967. There is a white doghouse and a small dog with a purple collar and a pink tongue standing on the toy car. The toy car has a sign on the front saying, 'tell your dog I said hi'.

Lola is our beloved Funeral Therapy Dog - a 2018 Miniature Schnauzer with a gentle nature, keen intuition, and a remarkable ability to bring calm and comfort wherever she goes.

Originally intended to offer quiet companionship in the office, Lola had other ideas. In 2020, she began making her way downstairs to sit with families during funeral arrangements, choosing the people she sensed needed her most.

When families started requesting her presence at funerals, her mum Kylie knew it was time to make things official (and find the perfect outfit).

Lola the Funeral Therapy Dog.

These days, Lola is a local favourite. She rides in her Lexus, stars in her own TikTok videos, and even has her own calendar.

Lola helps families feel more at ease during difficult moments, especially children and those feeling overwhelmed.

Whether she’s greeting guests in the atrium before funerals start or offering a gentle nudge, her presence provides reassurance in a way only a dog can.

At home, Lola loves going for walks with George the cat and is a proud member of the Ashhurst/Palmerston North Schnauzer Walking Group.

Follow Lola on TikTok
Man in a suit standing next to a vintage black car parked on the street, with foliage in the foreground.
A group of people dressed in formal attire exiting a building, carrying a coffin with flowers, likely at a funeral.
A man in a suit and a woman in a black dress standing next to a vintage black car with a license plate that reads COTNS, in a cemetery with headstones and trees in the background.
A man in a business suit with a name tag is talking to an older man with white hair, who is facing away from the camera. The suited man is holding some papers and appears to be engaged in a conversation.
Elderly man dressed in a black suit leaning into the back of a vintage white funeral hearse, with a woman in black standing nearby outside on a sunny day.
Smiling man in a tuxedo sitting in a hearse with a woman behind him, a casket with a floral arrangement of red roses in the background.
A dog wearing a black vest with the name "Lola" embroidered on it stands at the entrance of a room, with a group of people seated at a table in the background.
An elderly man in a black suit and patterned tie placing sand into a pink wooden casket labeled 'BUILDR' inside a hearse.
Two people, a man and a woman, dressed in formal attire, standing near the open trunk of a beige vehicle in a parking lot, with trees, parked cars, and a building in the background.
Older man in a black suit and patterned tie standing outside near a vehicle with beige curtains, talking to two people whose backs are to the camera.

— Our history

One family, two beginnings, now reunited.

The Cotton story begins in 1930, when William and Rachel Cotton founded William Cotton & Sons in Feilding. William, a funeral director, French polisher and cabinetmaker, had emigrated from Cookstown in Northern Ireland, and built caskets alongside the family's furniture workshop. Some in Feilding still remember it: "Mr Cotton made my foot stool."

As the years passed, the family gave itself fully to caring for the community. William and Rachel's sons, Norman and Walter, became the firm's funeral directors, slowly setting the furniture trade aside to focus on the families who needed them.

In 1967, William's son Robert James Cotton carried the family name to Palmerston North, founding Robert J. Cotton & Sons. His son Trevor followed him into the profession, and Trevor's son Hayden became one of only a handful of fourth-generation funeral directors in New Zealand.

For decades the two branches served their towns side by side. Today they are one again: Hayden and Kylie Cotton have brought William Cotton & Sons back into the family fold, uniting Feilding and Palmerston North under a single name and close to a century of unbroken care.

Contact Us
  • Black and white photo of a woman and a man sitting together, the woman wearing a hat and floral dress, and the man wearing a suit and tie, both smiling.

    1930 Feilding

    William and Rachel Cotton establish William Cotton & Sons, building caskets alongside the family furniture and cabinetmaking workshop on Beattie Street.

  • The decades that followed Feilding

    Sons Norman and Walter become the firm's funeral directors. Norman's wife Jeanette joins in administration and in time becomes a funeral director herself, and their son Shane joins the business in 1992 — three generations serving the Manawatū and Rangitīkei.

  • 1967 Palmerston North

    William's son, Robert James Cotton, founds Robert J. Cotton & Sons in Palmerston North, becoming a cornerstone of the community.

  • A man stands next to a black vintage car parked on the street outside a funeral home in black and white. The funeral home sign is partially visible.

    A second generation in the city Palmerston North

    Robert's son Trevor Cotton continues the family's work, and Trevor's son Hayden grows up in the profession, qualifying as both funeral director and embalmer.

  • Today One family, two homes

    Hayden and Kylie Cotton lead the fourth generation. With the purchase of William Cotton & Sons, both branches of the Cotton family are reunited, caring for Palmerston North and Feilding as one.

A man and a girl sitting on a blanket in a park, holding hands, with trees in the background.

Our advice to any family choosing a Funeral Director: ensure they are certified and a member of the Funeral Directors Association of New Zealand for peace of mind when it matters most.

Why FDANZ Membership Matters

In recent years, some negative media coverage relating to funeral services has involved businesses that are not members of the Funeral Directors Association of New Zealand (FDANZ). This often surprises people, as many are unaware that the funeral industry in New Zealand is not formally regulated.

In fact, anyone can describe themselves as a funeral director and begin operating without mandatory qualifications, training, or external oversight.

This raises an important question. How do families know who is professionally accountable?

FDANZ member firms, including Robert J. Cotton Funeral Directors, voluntarily commit to meeting recognised professional standards. Members undergo regular inspections and are required to uphold strict expectations around training, ethics, transparency, and the care provided to families.

Choosing an FDANZ member means choosing reassurance. It reflects a commitment to professionalism, experience, and independent accountability at a time when trust matters most.

Six people in formal attire standing in a row behind a vintage armchair with a dog sitting on it, in front of a large black barn door and corrugated metal wall.

Here when you need us

Whenever you're ready, we're here.

Day or night, in Palmerston North or Feilding — one call is all it takes to begin.

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Get in Touch

Palmerston North & Feilding

(06) 355 2529