our people
As our company philosophy is ‘Nothing is too much trouble’ you can imagine what sort of people work for us. They’re great listeners for a start; getting to the heart of what you want is the key to a beautiful funeral. They’ll make suggestions, give advice but always try and see things from your viewpoint. They’re creative thinkers who get huge satisfaction from delivering exactly what a family has in mind for a funeral. Most importantly, they’re genuine people who want to help others who are going through a difficult time.
Meet the team
Everyone on our team is experienced in working with bereaved families and someone will always be available, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Stephen Dil
Managing Director
With a focus on the strategic direction of the firm, Stephen is always looking for ways to better serve families.
Stephen holds the National Diploma in Funeral Services. He has a BBS (Management) from Massey University and an MBA from the Smeal College of Business, Penn State.
Stephen is a leader in Funeral Service. He is a Past President of the Funeral Director’s Association of New Zealand (FDANZ) from 2016-18, and a former trustee of the Funeral Service Training Trust (FSTT). He is currently a Trustee of the FDANZ Funeral Trust.
Wade Downey
General Manager
Wade brings more than 30 years’ experience in the funeral profession to his role of General Manager. The strength of his background enables him to oversee the daily running of the company with outstanding knowledge and skill. In an environment that can be unpredictable at times, you can always count on him for consistency and clear thinking.
He is highly qualified with a Diploma in Funeral Services and is a former President of the New Zealand Embalmers Association (NZEA).
David Edlington
Funeral Home Manager
The services that David provides are marked by consistency and thoroughness in every aspect. He closely follows our philosophy that ‘nothing is too much trouble’ to ensure every detail requested by a family is followed through, and that the quality of service expected from our company is always met.
David holds the National Diploma in Funeral Directing.
Karen Bills
Funeral Coordinator
For Karen the funeral industry was always her calling and she joined the industry in 2010. After recently returning to Auckland, Karen’s path has brought her back to the Dil’s team a second time. Karen finds it a privilege to be a part of the end of a loved one’s journey and will ensure their story is heard and respected.
Karen holds the NZ Diploma in Embalming and Funeral Directing.
Ellie Mason
Funeral Director
Ellie wanted to work in the funeral industry since high school and after spending a few years in retail she joined the Dil’s team. She is passionate about her role as a Funeral Director and understands the importance of honouring a loved one and celebrating their life’s journey in a way that has meaning for families.
Tom Manihera
Funeral Director
Tom has an in-depth knowledge of religion after studying Theology in Rome. Having also served as an ambulance officer, Tom is calm, caring and adept in helping people in their time of need. He regards his role as a privilege and works to ensure every detail is covered as per the families wishes.
Daniel Bloomfield
Funeral Director
Daniel came to Dil’s after 22 years as a travel agent, so he is no stranger to helping families plan a journey. He is passionate about helping people and going above and beyond to deliver a celebration of life. Daniel prides himself in finding ways to accommodate a family’s request or show them unconditional care in their time of need.
Daniel speaks Tagalog as a second language which brings an extra personal touch when he cares for Filipino families.
Grace Woods
Funeral Director
Grace has always put others before herself. Prior to joining the Dil’s team she worked as a caregiver to special needs children. Grace is ideally suited to supporting families through difficult times and shows great empathy for the families she looks after.
Louis Potgieter
Funeral Director
Louis has a passion for family and a background in Theology. With an honest, genuine and compassionate approach he is committed to supporting a family with the care and attention they need at every stage of this vulnerable process.
Andrew Carey
Embalmer/Funeral Assistant
After several years in banking operations and administration roles a move to funeral service has provided Andrew with a completely fresh perspective. Passionate about providing the best possible service, Andrew feels privileged to be involved at such an important time for families.
Daniel Fernandes de Oliveira
Embalmer/Funeral Assistant
Originally from Brazil, Daniel has lived in NZ for a number of years. With a background in quality control and manufacturing, he brings a valuable eye for detail to his work. Daniel is reliable and insightful, and finds it rewarding to bring people a positive experience in difficult times.
Peter Marshall
Funeral Assistant
After experiencing first-hand the difference a funeral director can make for a family, Peter has found his way into Funeral Service following a 45 year career in Education. A School Principal for 29 of those years, working with families has always been a focus of his work. Peter understands and has a warmth for people and brings this wealth of experience to his role as a Funeral Assistant.
Blair Forrester
Funeral Assistant
Originally from Oamaru, Blair has a background in banking and the rural sector. Over the years Blair has worked with people from all walks of life, actively serving in the community wherever needed. Blair has a kind and genuine approach to all aspects of his role.
Kirk Storie
Facilities Coordinator
Kirk works across every aspect of our funeral home and is a friendly point of contact for families. He also enjoys working behind the scenes, helping out where needed and making sure our vehicles and properties are presented to a high standard. He loves the work he does and always has a smile on his face.
Shannel Nikoia
Administration Manager
As one of the first points of contact at Dil’s, Shannel places great importance on helping families. Her empathetic and caring nature is crucial to making families feel supported and secure during their journey with us. Shannel also plays a vital role in assisting our accounts team.
Sarah Holyoake
Administration
Calm and thoughtful, Sarah is a great listener and puts people at ease through her gentle demeanor. As first point of contact at Dil’s her empathetic way of dealing with people enables her to establish a great connection and rapport with families who come through reception.
May Langley
Memorials Co-Ordinator
May is a people person who enjoys helping families to create a lasting memorial. Turning special memories into a cherished memorial is a very personal experience and requires care and attention. With her eye for detail, you are always in good hands working with May.
After years in the Commercial Architectural and Interiors industry May holds Diplomas in Architectural Drafting and Illumination Design.
Justine von Wallmoden
Administration & Memorials
Justine brings warmth and compassion to her role that combines front of house, administration and memorials. Justine believes it’s a great privilege to help families and assisting the memorials team allows her to help people in a meaningful way.
Kumar Shantanu (Shan)
Graphic Designer
Shan has an eye for detail and delivers carefully crafted, personalised service sheets and slide shows. A passionate Graphic Designer, Shan loves to challenge himself each day to come up with new and innovative ideas.
Shan holds a degree in Graphic Design and a Diploma in Visual Arts.
Tracy Sampson
Graphic Designer
Tracy is very passionate about helping people and uses her design talents to create personalised service sheets and slideshows. She is very detail oriented and always takes the time to create a unique experience for each family. She has many years’ experience in customer service and the theatre industry and loves working with people. Tracy has a diploma in Graphic Design and a degree in Business Computing.