Ninness Team

Todd Wearne

Todd Wearne grew up on the Kapiti Coast where he was educated at Paraparamumu College. He commenced his career in funeral services at J. Ninness & Co in 1987 under the late Jack Ninness. Todd remained with the company until 1991 before moving his employment to a Kilbirnie based funeral home. He later became a shareholder and the Manager of The Wilson Funeral Home in Newtown. Todd is a qualified embalmer and funeral director. He is a member of the New Zealand Embalmers Association (NZEA) and is a registered funeral director with the Funeral Directors Association of New Zealand (FDANZ). In 2007 Todd returned to Porirua to take on the position as company director of Ninness Funeral Home. He has been active within the funeral industry and has served as an executive member of NZEA in the past.

Todd has two young children, Harrison and Matthew and lives with his partner Katrina in Mana. His interests include wind surfing at Plimmerton, keeping fit and supporting his family’s various interests.

Brenden Jacobsen

Brenden Jacobsen grew up in Pauatahanui and is the youngest child of John and Kaye (nee Death) Jacobsen. Brenden’s family has been involved in farming in the Pauatahanui community for the past 150 years. He was educated at Pauatahanui School and St Patrick’s College, Silverstream. Brenden commenced his career in funeral services in 2001 at a Porirua based funeral home. Brenden has completed his studies and qualifications in Embalming and Funeral Directing, and is a member of the New Zealand Embalmers Association (NZEA). He is also involved in the clinical supervision and training of new embalming students.

In 2007 Brenden took on the role as company director of Ninness Funeral Home. He is also involved in various organisations within the community, including being a member of the Tawa Lions Club and is a parishioner at St Theresa’s Catholic Church in Plimmerton. In 2002 Brenden completed his studies in Business at the Wellington Institute of Technology.

Brenden lives in Pauatahanui. His interests include watching rugby at the “Cake Tin” with friends, reading and spending weekends at his place in Riversdale.

Cheryl Amys

Cheryl Amys Cheryl returns with a wealth of experience and warmth to the Porirua community.

Cheryl commenced her career with the funeral industry in the Hutt Valley in 1995, then moved to Ninness Funeral Home in 1996. She has a Diploma in Funeral Services, is a member of the New Zealand Embalmers Association (NZEA) and is registered with the Funeral Directors Association of New Zealand (FDANZ).

She is currently the only full-time woman in the greater Wellington area to be qualified and practicing in both funeral directing and embalming.

Cheryl worked for 9 years with integrity and enthusiasm in Porirua as a funeral director . She moved to Wellington Public Hospital Mortuary for 3 years and qualified as a Mortuary Technician. This career move enhanced and broadened her skill base, and in 2007 she returned to the Ninness Funeral Home to continue her passion of caring for bereaved families.

Cheryl and her partner live in Paremata and have lived in the Porirua area since 1996. She has 3 children and 7 delightful grand daughters. Besides meeting with and enjoying a diversity of people, her interests include tramping and being in the great outdoors (especially around Porirua), travelling to interesting places abroad, handcrafts, vegetable gardening and reading.

Cheryl is concerned about environmentally friendly practices, and is exploring what this means for families looking at alternatives to the traditional funeral. Green Burials – Environmentally Friendly Farewells is a new venture that appears to have growing interest from the community.

Christine Angus

Christine is our Grief and Loss Support Person.

Originally from Christchurch, Christine and her family have lived in Whitby, Porirua for 23 years. Over these years she has been involved in many community and sporting groups through her own interests and those of her children. Christine has a career background in teaching and has taught in several Porirua schools for 15 years.

She was a Pastor at Whitby Lakeside Baptist Church for 3 years. Currently Christine is also working as a Work Place Support Person, which involves supporting people with personal and work place issues that may be affecting individual’s lives.

Christine has a strong interest in supporting people undergoing grief and loss, and has completed some study and papers in this particular area. Her personal experience of losing a husband at an early age, gave her some practical insight into the grief and loss process.

In her spare time Christine enjoys walking, reading and spending time with family and friends.

Sue Traveller JP

Sue is a funeral celebrant who has spent over 30 years working in her local community as a volunteer. The groups she has been involved with are many and varied: the NZ Police; Rimutaka Prison; Neighbourhood Support; Rotary; Girl Guides; Parents Centre; Tramping Club; Justices of the Peace Association, to name a few.

A trained secondary teacher (of English and languages) and a professional proofreader, Sue has also completed several years of law at Victoria University. She has 4 adult children and a 3 year old grandson – and loves nothing more than spending time with them all.

Her passion is people and helping others – and she sees her role as a vocation, where she can make a difference to other people’s lives. Being a celebrant encompasses all Sue’s skills: as a caring and empathetic listener, a mother with a wealth of life experiences, a writer and a teacher.

Sue currently lives in Porirua City and has a wide range of interests that include travel, reading, yoga/pilates, theatre, movies and simply enjoying a coffee with friends.