The Lychway

We walk with you every step of the way.

About Us

At The Lychway Funeral Directors, we believe every life deserves to be remembered with dignity, compassion, and care. Based in Palmerston North, we are proud to serve our local community and surrounding regions with funeral services that are personal, respectful, and deeply meaningful.

Our dedicated team walks alongside families during some of their most challenging moments, offering guidance, support, and a gentle hand to help navigate the farewell process. We understand that no two lives are the same and neither should be their farewells. That’s why we work closely with each family to create a service that truly reflects the life, values, and personality of their loved one.

With years of combined experience in funeral care, our team brings a wealth of knowledge, professionalism, and heartfelt empathy to every family we meet. Whether you’re planning a traditional service, a contemporary farewell, or something completely unique, we are here to support you with warmth, discretion, and respect.

At The Lychway, we don’t just organise funerals we help families honour a life lived and begin the journey toward healing. We are committed to providing not only quality funeral services but also a space where memories are cherished and stories are shared.

Our People
Our History
Community Involvement
Our People

Graeme Procter

Graeme’s worked in the funeral industry for fifteen years, all of them as the owner and manager of The Lychway Funeral Directors. He strives to provide a high level of service to families and to make the process of arranging a funeral as easy as possible. “It’s a very special privilege to serve our families in their time of need”. They say if you enjoy what you do you never work a day in your life; and that has been true. In this twilight period he is handing the business management over to two of his staff Glenn and Elisha; to carry the baton on and maintain the legacy of The Lychway. Graeme graduated with a Diploma in Funeral Directing in 2016. Outside of work, Graeme enjoys the lifestyle block he lives on with his partner, and enjoys most sports, particularly golf and fishing.

Glenn Davies

Glenn is the General Manager, Funeral Director and Embalmer.

He has over 21 years’ experience within the funeral industry. Glenn is passionate about his chosen career and takes great pride in caring for the families he looks after. He also believes it is important to allow relatives and friends to spend unlimited time saying goodbye to their loved one before the service takes place.

In his spare time, Glenn enjoys travelling with his partner Rachael and their sons Matthew and Nathan.

Sharon Bower

Sharon has been involved with the funeral industry for over 40 years and has extensive knowledge based on her experience.

She lives on a lifestyle block with her partner, Paul. There is always something for them to do on their 13-acre property. Sharon cherishes time spent with her two adult children and is a proud Nan of four grandchildren.

Outside of work she enjoys reading, spending quality time with friends and is also passionate about her animals – two dogs and three cats.

Elisha Hart

Elisha Hart is the Operational Manager, Funeral Director and Embalmer.

With now a few years of experience in the funeral industry, Elisha is deeply committed to guiding families through one of life’s most challenging moments. She considers it a privilege to care for those who have passed and strongly believes in the importance of families spending time with their loved ones.

Before entering the funeral profession, Elisha spent 14 years working in a rest home in Dannevirke, where she developed a deep sense of compassion and dedication to end-of-life care. Now, she brings that same heartfelt commitment to her role in funeral service.

In her personal life Elisha enjoys being at her home in rural Dannevirke with her partner, Cole, and their cats. Elisha cherishes spending time with her family and friends and treasures her role in her nephew and niece’s lives.

Mike Dalley

Mike is a dedicated Funeral Director and Embalmer with over a decade of experience in the funeral industry.

Passionate about providing compassionate care, Mike takes great pride in supporting families and honouring those who have passed. His calm presence and wealth of experience ensure that every family he serves receives the utmost care and respect.

Outside of work, Mike is a devoted family man. He is a father of two and a proud grandfather to five. Married to Christine, he values time spent with his loved ones. When he’s not at the funeral home, you’ll often find Mike on the open road, exploring the beauty of New Zealand on his Harley Davidson.

Our People
Our History
We are the oldest running Funeral Home in Palmerston North

Our History

The Lychway Funeral Directors has a proud legacy of service that stretches back over a century in the Manawatu region. Originally established as Thomas Griggs and Sons, the business began as a trusted local provider of funeral services built on a foundation of compassion, integrity, and a deep sense of duty to families in their time of need.

Over the years, the business evolved alongside the changing needs of the community. In time, the name became The Lychway Funeral Directors, a reflection of both continuity and renewal. While the name may have changed, the commitment to personal, respectful, and high-quality care has remained the same.

Today, The Lychway is honoured to continue the legacy that Thomas Griggs and his family began more than 100 years ago. Our experienced team remains rooted in the same values: to serve with empathy, to guide with professionalism, and to create meaningful farewells that honour each life with dignity.

As we look to the future, we carry forward a proud heritage but always focus on meeting the unique needs of the families we are privileged to support.

Our History
Our History
We are the oldest running Funeral Home in Palmerston North

Our History

Founded in 1879 as Thomas and Griggs & Son Ltd, The Lychway Funeral Home is Palmerston North’s oldest funeral home. After four generations of family ownership, and more than 100 years of credibility. The Lychway Funeral Directors took its current form when the business came out of corporate
ownership and back into a family owned and operated funeral home.

The Lychway Funeral Directors Limited was formed in May 2011 as a 100% locally owned and operated business. Graeme and his team are proud to continue the traditions of this business whose foundations were set so many years ago by Thomas Griggs.

Our History
We walk with you every step of the way.

Code of Conduct and Ethics

We are part of the Funeral Directors Association of New Zealand

“A group of caring professionals who are committed to ensuring that the families they serve receive high quality service.”

To see our code of conduct and ethics, click the button below.

Code of Conduct and Ethics
Community Involvement
We’re not just here for you, we are here for them too.

Community Involvement

At the Lychway we believe in the importance of community. We work closely with a number of local organisations, including the police, ambulance, fire service and army within the framework of a Youth Offenders initiative by helping teach at risk teenagers to make better life choices.

In 2019 we worked with the other local funeral directors to bring to like ‘Piping for Prostate’, an event that bought together the community to not only raise awareness of prostate cancer but to also raise money for research. We are currently in full support of our very own Andrae to join up and play in the upcoming New Zealand Tattoo. We will be hosting/supporting many events through the year, so watch our facebook page for any news on those.

In the process of working on events and supporting the community, we also continue our efforts to educate the community about the process of death, and welcome the opportunity to speak to various groups in the Manawatu region about this subject.

This is just a small part of our policy of giving back to the community we serve.

Community Involvement
Community Involvement
We’re not just here for you, we are here for them too.

Community Involvement

At the Lychway we believe in the importance of community. We work closely with a number of local organisations, including the police, ambulance, fire service and army within the framework of a Youth Offenders initiative by helping teach at risk teenagers to make better life choices.

In 2019 we worked with the other local funeral directors to bring to like ‘Piping for Prostate’, an event that bought together the community to not only raise awareness of prostate cancer but to also raise money for research. We are currently in full support of our very own Andrae to join up and play in the upcoming New Zealand Tattoo. We will be hosting/supporting many events through the year, so watch our facebook page for any news on those.

In the process of working on events and supporting the community, we also continue our efforts to educate the community about the process of death, and welcome the opportunity to speak to various groups in the Manawatu region about this subject.

This is just a small part of our policy of giving back to the community we serve.

Community Involvement
Testimonials