Can't be sheepish with this funeral

Jill Crampton-Eason was buried in a woollen coffin exported from the UK company Hainsworth which is endorsed by Prince Charles. Photo / Supplied

It might sound like a baa-rmy sendoff, but Jill Crampton-Eason has become the first New Zealander buried in a coffin made of wool.

The 84-year-old was laid to rest in Nelson in a $2800 oval casket made from three sheep fleeces.

It was lined with 100 per cent cotton, a woollen blanket and pillow but still strong enough to hold 400kg.

Golden Bay Motueka funeral director Bevan Hoult said the service wouldn't have been everyone's cup of tea.

"It's certainly at the upper end of the price range."

Despite the cost, Jill's daughter Janette Eason-Savage is satisfied she's not been fleeced.

Janette spent five years preparing for the death of her mother, who had severe dementia.

After Jill died peacefully at a Waikato rest home last month, she decided there was no time to be sheepish and worked out how to send mum off "in style".

The Waitomo resident said her mother wanted to buy a coffin years ago and use it to store keepsakes.

"Because it's such a big expense she thought it would be practical to use it as something and not waste it on just being a coffin.

"She would have loved this one."

Janette bought the coffin from Christchurch company Exquisite Blankets after owner Polly McGuckin imported it from the UK.

"Polly apologised that she only had one woollen coffin in New Zealand and that it was going to be launched at a funeral directors' exhibition," Janette said.

But her personal assistant wouldn't have the wool pulled over her eyes, and in two shakes of a lamb's tail convinced McGuckin to sell it to Janette.

The lightweight caskets are produced by UK company Hainsworth.

They have the support of eco-friendly Prince Charles, who displayed them at a garden party in London last year.

McGuckin said interest from the farming industry for the wool coffin had been overwhelming.

She's ordering dozens more of the coffins, which also come in chocolate brown.

Janette said the choice of coffin for her mum meant there were plenty of jokes at the funeral.

"There was more laughter when the six (pall-bearers) lifted her," said Janette.

"My partner Kim summed it up with, 'It's a lot lighter than I expected, we nearly flipped her over'."