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A peaceful, modern space to gather and remember
A modern and spacious venue constructed in 2003, featuring a beautiful fern garden with a waterfall background as a focal point at the front of the building, designed to offer peace and comfort.
The Rosewood venue comfortably seats 150 people. However, there is extra room in the foyer for larger numbers. There is a spacious adjoining reception lounge, with a fully equipped modern kitchen accessible for all your catering requirements.
Rosewood also offers advanced multimedia capabilities, including projector, speakers, and live streaming options, as well as a grand piano, allowing families to personalise their loved ones' farewell.
Maz and Paul Drysdale proudly own Rosewood, continuing the legacy of a family-owned funeral home after taking over from David and Lynette Dew in 2024. Maz, with over 12 years of funeral industry experience, joined Rosewood in 2019. Paul, originally from Eketahuna, brings a farming background and supports Rosewood while managing their lamb and beef farm north of Masterton.
Their daughters, Camryn and Ella, also help with catering and gardening. As a family, they love the outdoors and enjoy exploring the Wairarapa in their campervan.
Maz is a fully qualified Funeral Director. Entering the funeral industry in the Manawatu in 2013, she followed her career and moved to Lower Hutt and then to the Wairarapa to join the Rosewood team with David and Lynette Dew in 2017. A love of the outdoors and wide-open spaces secured her place here in the Wairarapa, then furthermore meeting Paul Drysdale. They married in the Rosewood Chapel in August 2024 and the purchase of Rosewood followed shortly after in December that year. Maz and Paul have a blended family consisting of Camryn, Ella and Amy, five working dogs, one cat and a rescue greyhound. When Maz is not at Rosewood you will often find her assisting Paul mustering or drenching sheep.
Born in Eketahuna and has spent his time farming across the Wairarapa. His farming focus is on lamb finishing alongside beef cattle. He has had various interests including the usual outdoors ones such as tramping and hunting but has also competed and coached motor cross and hockey. On his days off the farm, you will often find Paul assisting the team at Rosewood.
Originally from Wellington, Anna moved to the Wairarapa with her husband Mike in 2019 and joined the Rosewood team in early 2024. With a strong background in both embalming and funeral directing, she’s passionate about supporting families during difficult times. Anna and Mike, now parents to baby Charlie, love exploring the Wairarapa by bike or on foot - often with their two rescue Greyhounds in tow. Above all, Anna treasures her role as a mum.
Stacey is an animal lover and moved to the Wairarapa with her husband Gordie and their three children in 2018, settling on a lifestyle block near Carterton. She began her funeral industry career 21 years ago as a trainee embalmer and has since worked across several Wellington funeral homes, mainly in mortuary care. Stacey joined the Rosewood team part-time in December 2024. Outside of work, she enjoys riding her horses and all things dogs, as her and her husband are DogsNZ registered breeders.
David and Lynette Dew established Rosewood Funerals (formerly David Dew Funeral Services) in 1996. With a career starting in 1987, David is a qualified embalmer and funeral director, and also spent years tutoring future professionals in the industry. Now semi-retired, David remains part of the Rosewood team and enjoys cycling, gardening, and time with loved ones.
At Rosewood, our front-facing team—Maz, Anna, and Stacey—is backed by a deeply supportive extended family. Pictured here are Pam and Wally Drysdale, Vicki McLeod, Paul’s sister Ella Drysdale, his daughter, and former owner David Dew. Each plays a valuable role behind the scenes, helping ensure everything at Rosewood runs with care and dignity.Together, we’re here to surround your family with compassion, support, and genuine care when you need it most.
Our journey of supporting families
Rosewood Funerals was originally known as Rosewood Funeral Home (2014 to 2024) and prior to was known as David Dew Funeral Services, which was started by David and Lynette Dew in 1996. In 2003 the neighbouring properties to Rosewood were purchased, and the Rosewood Venue and reception lounge was constructed.
Rosewood was initially brought as a character villa, which was transformed into an office premises. With some alterations along the way, including a recently refurbished new Mortuary, it has allowed Rosewood to provide a warm welcoming, professional space for families and their loved ones.
It is our aim to support and guide you and your family to enable you to arrange a fitting farewell that will suit the needs of those grieving and honour the life of the person who has died.
Rosewood will spend time with the family and together discuss the arrangements that best meet the needs and wishes of all concerned.
For those not arranging a funeral now, but wishing to prepare for the future, either for themselves or a family member, we have Funeral Planning and Pre-Paid Funeral leaflets available.
Proudly supporting our community
