People you can depend on

At Lychgate, our funeral directors are very much part of the community and are passionate about providing a professional and caring service.

To find out more about the extra care our team offers, please phone our Wellington funeral home on (04) 385 0745, Miramar on (04) 387 7123, Karori on (04) 467 6472 or Johnsonvillie on (04) 477 6855

Keith Newell, Location Manager
A funeral director for almost ten years, Keith is a Justice of the Peace and a marriage and funeral celebrant. He is also a member of the Rotary Club of Wellington.
It was his introduction to funeral services as a celebrant that led him to service with Lychgate in 2001. Having grown up in Palmerston North, Keith came to Wellington in 1972 when he joined what was then the National Airways Corporation (later to merge with Air New Zealand). After eleven years with the airline, Keith took on a food business and then became a celebrant.
Keith lives in Khandallah with his wife Ainslie. They have two adult children and two granddaughters. They manage to fit other interests such as home renovation, gardening, reading and entertaining into their busy lives.

Michaell Wolffram, Funeral Director & Assistant Manager
Michael has extensive experience in funeral service, extending over 30 years. With a background in social welfare and social work, he has maintained a career-long interest in client-focused service delivery. Michael was the tutor of Funeral Service at Weltec from 2003-2009. He holds New Zealand certificates in Funeral Directing, Embalming and Celebrant Services.
Michael lives in Whitby with his wife Marie. He has a son, a daughter and two grandchildren. Aside from his grandchildren, Michael’s interests include fishing, kayaking , motor cycling and gardening.
Larry Greco, Funeral Director
Larry was born in Wellington and grew up in Island Bay. After leaving college, Larry worked for NZ Forest Service and the Department of Social Welfare. Larry also attended the Outward Bound School, an experience he enjoyed immensely and will never forget. In 1974 Larry began training as a Religious Brother of the Society of Mary (Marist Fathers). He left the order in 1996 and returned to secular life. Larry began his funeral directing career in 2003. His outside interests include sport, gardening, fishing and socialising.
Morgan Lynch, Embalmer
Morgan grew up in Auckland and came to Wellington in 1999. He was a team leader at Freyberg Pool and Fitness Centre when he applied for Lychgate’s role as a Trainee Embalmer. Working at Lychgate since 2007, Morgan undertook the Embalmers Course at Weltec in 2009 and, with some on-the-job training, became qualified in April 2010.
Morgan lives in Wainuiomata with his wife Emily and their three young children. His interests include his family, his motor-bike which he rides to work, computers and gadgets.
Peter Evans, Funeral Director
Originally from Palmerston North, Peter has been with Lychgate since 2010. He enjoys working with families and helping them through what is often a difficult period.
Prior to becoming a funeral director, Peter worked in real estate and operated a SuperShuttle franchise. Outside of his role at Lychgate, Peter operates a voice-over studio, creating audio for documentaries to websites. He can also be heard voicing reports on Newstalk ZB. Peter lives in Upper Hutt and is married to Tricia.
Duncan Wallace, Trainee Embalmer & Funeral Director
Duncan worked for eight years as a qualified automotive industry parts consultant. He spent three years with the Army, moving to Wellington as an armourer. Duncan became interested in the funeral industry from personal experience with the bereaved and has been with Lychgate since 2010. Duncan is an outdoor enthusiast and particularly enjoys trying to make things easier for the families he deals with.
Lucie Leresque, Mortuary Supervisor
Lucie is from Quebec Province, Canada, where she gained her embalming qualification in 2002. She came to New Zealand in 2007 on a one-year work permit, gaining her New Zealand qualification while working for a funeral firm in Nelson.
After a brief stint back in Canada in 2008, Lucie has been at Lychgate since 2010.
Outside of work, Lucie enjoys cooking, outdoor pursuits and dancing.
Jacqueline Stoddart, Funeral Director
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