Our Team
At Lychgate Funerals our funeral directors are very much a part of the community, and are passionate about providing a professional and caring service. They have extensive experience in funeral service and are available at any time to discuss options with you.
To find out more about the extra care our team offers, please call us or click here.
Keith Newell JP Dip.FD
Location Manager & Funeral Director
A funeral director since 2001, 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 service as a celebrant that led him to service with Lychgate. 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 followed by some years in catering and then entered funeral service. 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.
Dana Brown Dip.FD
Assistant Manager & Funeral Director
Dana began her career as a Funeral Director in 2004 and graduated with the Diploma in Funeral Directing in 2007. In her spare time Dana has been involved with the sport of marching for over 25 years competing, coaching and representing New Zealand throughout the world. It is important to Dana to experience the variety of cultures and customs through travel. She feels this enables her to understand a family’s needs and wishes when arranging their personalised funeral service. Dana is married and has lived in the Hutt Valley all her life.
Peter Evans
Funeral Director
Originally from Palmerston North, Peter has been with Lychgate since 2010. He enjoys working with families and helping them through the difficult period of bereavement. 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.
Anna Wolffram Dip.Embalm
Funeral Director / Embalmer
Anna grew up in Wellington and completed her college years at Wellington East Girl’s College, before spending the next few years working in the film industry. Anna joined Lychgate in 2012 as a trainee embalmer and has since gained the NZ Diploma in Embalming. In 2015 Anna was awarded the Lucentt Top Theory Student Award, the Noel McNee Memorial Award for Top Practical Student, and the Regal Supreme Award for Top Overall Student for 2014. Anna considers it a privilege to work with grieving families during what can be a very difficult time. In her spare time Anna enjoys music, the outdoors and spending time with her friends and family.
Morgan Lynch Dip.Embalm
Embalmer
Originally from Lower Hutt, Morgan is a qualified embalmer, a member of the New Zealand Embalmers Association and a supervisor for WELTEC embalming students. He has been with Lychgate since 2007. Morgan lives in Wainuiomata with his wife and 4 children. When not at work he enjoys completing projects in his workshop with his family and taking walks up to the Wainuiomata water tower.
Louise Hagger
Administrator
Growing up in rural Wairarapa with a farming background, and after three years of international travel, Louise moved to Wellington in 2002 to help manage a Karori based monumental masonry business. She has eleven years of experience in the funeral industry and gains satisfaction from assisting families in their time of need. Louise has two sons and makes the most of the beauty the New Zealand countryside by trail-running, equestrian riding and taking her sons in to the outdoors as much as possible.