'Gentle souls' leave behind grieving family - May 2015
MUCH LOVED: Zane and Jennifer Town, who were killed in a car crash on Saturday.
Jennifer and Zane Town were gentle souls with a deep love for all children.
That's how Michael Peck, Jennifer's brother and Zane's uncle, remembers his two family members who were killed in a car accident on Saturday.
Jennifer, 41, and Zane, 14, along with three other family members were travelling along SH3 north of Bulls, on their way back from Palmerston North, when the accident happened.
Judy Redfearn, 68, of Palmerston North, who was in another car, was also killed.
The three other family members - Jennifer's son Hayden, daughter Rachel and grandson Lucas - were injured in the crash. Mr Peck said they were recovering well, with the last one due to be discharged from Palmerston North Hospital this week.
But the whole family is grieving deeply, Mr Peck said.
His sister was a wife and mother of four, and worked as an in-home child carer.
"She had three or four little children that she looked after in her home. I had the opportunity to see her with them and she was so loving with them.
"All she ever wanted to do was have children and look after children."
Zane, a Wanganui High School student, had inherited his mother's gift with children.
"It was touching to see him with his siblings and his nephew - he was very gentle and kind, he always had time for them."
Zane was a keen karter and Mr Peck said he understood the family had been in Palmerston North for Zane to do some training.
A family friend, Sheila Schmidt, said the Towns had previously lived in Hawke's Bay and moved to Wanganui when William Town, got a job as a tanker truck driver. She said Mr Town had come upon the scene of the crash by chance while driving a truck on Saturday.
"He was driving a tanker and went past the accident and suddenly realised it was his wife," Ms Schmidt said.
Mr Peck said the family had been overwhelmed with support from the Wanganui community.
"It has deeply touched us."
It was the worst weekend on New Zealand roads for 30 years, with 10 people killed in crashes throughout the country.
Mr Peck said he was grieving for Jennifer and Zane but also for the other eight people who had been killed.
"I heard about my sister and my nephew on Saturday evening, and when I drove down from my home in Katikati I was held up because of another awful accident in Tauranga."
That crash claimed three lives - all female members of one extended family.