Christine Chaplow
Some funerals are vibrant and colourful – and Christine Chaplow intended her one to be.
Christine Chaplow
So, at Seddon Park Funeral Home, Hamilton, last week, her farewell was attended by people mostly dressed in bright colours.
“It was very colourful with lots of flowers,” her eldest son, Craig Chaplow, said. “In her notebook she wrote that, rather than being mournful occasions about someone’s passing, funerals should celebrate their lives.
“People adhered to her wishes – even the celebrant wore red.”
The ceremony was attended by friends and family, including Christine’s three sons, Craig, Scott and Grant, her daughter Dale and their partners as well as her 13 grandchildren.
“It was a real tribute, telling the story of Mum’s life and contribution to her community,” said Craig.
Aged 82, Christine had led a full life. She was a King Country farmer, retailer, Waitomo District councillor, author and she even had 10 years as an aerobics instructor to her name.
Before being diagnosed with dementia four years ago, she had already endured seeing her husband Martin succumb to the devastating disease.
“Mum cared for Dad – she probably cared for him for a bit too long, but that just demonstrated her love for him.”
Her experience could help many others.
Christine Chaplow
“She was writing a book. Mostly, it was about what she learned while looking after Dad. After his passing in 2015, she toyed with throwing it away but then held on to it. We will look to get it published as it will help people, even if only by letting them know they’re not alone.”
If so, it will not be Christine’s first book. In 2003 she published ‘Who Planted the Tree?’
“Where they were living, near Te Kūiti, there were some trees, including a pōhutukawa, a holly tree and a magnolia, that seemed a bit out of place. It sparked Mum’s interest to find out more about who planted the trees and who else had lived there. Pretty much, it became a history of the King Country and its people,” Craig said.
“Because the book also highlights everyone’s shared history in New Zealand, I think her goal was to help unite the community.”
Later that same year Christine received a Queen’s Service Medal for service to her community.
Born in the midst of the Blitz, Christine – the daughter of a Kiwi flyer – moved with her parents to Hamilton soon after the Second World War.
After attending school, teaching became her first line of work. She married Martin in 1968 and together they worked on farms near Matamata, then Te Kūiti, from the late 1960s until the early 2000s.
After purchasing a portion of the farm on which they had been working, the couple retired from farming, but remained busy.
Christine opened Mama MC, a music and skate shop in Te Kūiti, worked as a literacy-numeracy tutor and served on Waitomo District Council from 2001 to 2007).
Primarily, she joined the council to improve opportunities for younger residents.
Christine was a driving force behind such projects as the Te Kūiti Skate Park, Millennium Pavilion and the Te Kuiti–Waitomo Caves Walkway to name a few.
During her second term on council, she worked alongside a new councillor at the time, future mayor Brian Hanna.
“She was always concerned about the impacts of change on families in our district,” Hanna said. “Christine had a passion for her local community and served with integrity and honesty.”
Her final role before moving to Hamilton in 2016 was as a road safety co-ordinator for the council, helping teenagers learn to drive and obtain licences.
After being diagnosed with dementia, Christine moved to Hamilton’s Roselea Dementia Care centre in 2021.
“She had a massive impact on the lives of people in the King Country, young people in particular,” said Craig. “She made a difference in the lives of so many and she will be remembered for that.”
Christine Chaplow
