Our dedicated and experienced staff are here for you when you need us
Trust our team to guide you through the funeral process every step of the way. We will talk you through all of the options available to you and ensure we tailor a service that suits the wishes of your family in terms of content and cost. We take pride in the service we provide to the Kapiti area to honour your loved one and attend to the spiritual needs of your family.
Sara Madders –
General manager
Sara grew up in a small town in Herefordshire, England and emigrated to New Zealand in 2011 where she spent the majority of that time living and working in Auckland.
Sara has a background in logistics and administration and has most recently worked in the agriculture sector. Sara comes from a long line of funeral directors in her family especially her Aunt who runs her own business back in the UK.
When not at work Sara loves the outdoors especially walking her little Jack Russell, Alfie, and competing in running events. She also enjoys travelling and has been lucky enough to visit many different countries.
She considers herself extremely fortunate to have been given this opportunity and feels that being able to serve the families of Waikanae and the wider Kāpiti Coast community is a huge privilege.
Our Dedicated Team
We are blessed to have a team of such dedicated, compassionate people.
Lloyd Dacombe
Funeral Director & Embalmer
Lloyd was raised in Nelson with two brothers and three sisters. He moved to the Kapiti Coast during his college years and now lives here with his wife. He has a daughter and a son who have both left home.
He enjoys music and tramping in the great outdoors with his dog and has conquered several of New Zealand’s great walks. He also owns a small sound equipment hire company.
Lloyd has previously worked in several industries including footwear manufacturing, forestry, office equipment repairs and as a whiteware service manager. These have equipped Lloyd with an ability to meeting people’s needs with solutions and have prepared him for the funeral industry and the challenges that families are faced with in time of need.
Antionette Younger
Funeral Director
Antionette has lived in the Kapiti area most of her life, but her career has seen her spend time in both Christchurch and Auckland too.
Antionette previously worked in both the public and private sectors and most recently owned her own beauty business. These areas of work have enabled her to be equipped with the skills to start her journey as a Funeral Director.
She enjoys spending time with family and friends, singing to music, going to a good restaurant, and listening to her toddlers’ interests.
Antionette has wanted to be in the funeral industry, as she has always wanted to assist people in giving their loved ones a service they deserve, but also to give dignity to those who have passed.
Overall, she feels it is a privilege to be working alongside a team with experience and kindness.
Peter Dacombe
Funeral Directors Assistant
Peter has lived on the Kapiti Coast since he was born. He grew up in Raumati, living 5 minutes from the beach with his parents and older sister. He has always loved living in Kapiti and never wanted to leave and now lives in Waikanae with his wife and two little boys.
Peter is an absolute family man, always helping and playing with the kids. He loves learning about Space, animals, and gaming with his friends. Being around people and spending time with those closest to him is how he refuels.
After working in retail for almost 8 years, Peter wanted to go into a career where he knew he could help people. Having grown up with his father in the funeral industry, he gained an understanding of how important this line of work is and knew it was the right fit for him.
He is excited to learn from the team and follow in his father’s footsteps in helping people through this stage of life.
Caroline O’Hagan
Funeral Home Assistant
Caroline originally hails from Mount Maunganui in the sunny Bay of Plenty and she has been living here on the Kapiti Coast since 2020, with her husband and four (!) cats. Prior to settling here, she lived in Edinburgh, Scotland for 20 years. Her family history goes back to the Shetland Islands, the most northerly part of the UK, which celebrates its strong Viking heritage, rich history and music.
Her career – both here and over there – has been underpinned by a genuine interest and curiosity about people from all walks of life, something Caroline has taken into her role here with us. She feels very privileged to now be assisting families, and our team of experienced Funeral Directors, in caring for your loved ones.
When not at work, Caroline can be found trying to tame her jurassic garden, opening and closing doors for cats, enjoying a good British TV drama and spending time with family and friends.
Alfie
Alfie is our resident funeral home dog and will be ready to greet you with a wag of the tail when you come through the door. He can often be found soaking up the sun in reception or curled up in his bed in the office. Waikanae Funeral Home are proud to be dog friendly and encourage families to bring along their dogs to arrangements, viewings and even to services if that’s something that they think will be beneficial to them. We understand that dogs grieve too and like to feel part of proceedings. They also bring a great deal of comfort to their grieving families. Dogs will be made to feel welcome with a water bowl and some specially made doggie treats.