After working as a business manager in medical and law firms Lily started work in the funeral industry 10 years ago.  Having lost her own brother when he was 15, she had always held the idea of wanting to work with people who were bereaved and by now the time was right for her to move into this challenging but rewarding work.

Working at funeral homes on the North Shore, her passion was fulfilled when she qualified as a registered funeral director with the NZ Diploma in Funeral Directing, being awarded the highest marks in the theory of funeral directing in her studies.

Lily moved to Warkworth in 2022 when the opportunity arose for Lily to manage and continue to develop besoul Funerals.  As Secretary of the Rotary Club of Warkworth Lily enjoys giving back to the community.  With her commitment to serving families with professionalism, empathy, and experience she is able to fulfill what is truly her vocation.  Passionate about her work, Lily feels blessed to be a part of the ongoing journey of besoul.

Pete grew up in small New Zealand towns as his father was a bank manager and the family were often transferred to different locations.  After completing a degree in Psychology, which ignited his interest and understanding of helping people on a deeper level, Pete worked in the mental health and disabilities field for many years in Nelson, before moving to Warkworth to take up the opportunity of joining besoul Funerals.

At besoul Pete has embraced the role of funeral assistant, playing a crucial part in supporting bereaved families, and assisting on funerals and transfers.  Pete finds his work at besoul very rewarding, demonstrating his passion and commitment to providing empathy and support to those facing loss and bereavement.

Raoul’s journey in Warkworth has been deeply intertwined with the local community. Having lived in the area for five decades, he has a strong connection to the place. With his wife Karleen he has raised four children of their own in the area.

Initially trained as a hairdresser, Raoul took a bold step at the age of twenty-one by starting his own hairdressing business. After time in this field, he decided to explore a different path and worked in the funeral industry for three years. This experience had a profound impact on him, igniting a desire to help those who are grieving and making a difference during difficult times.

Despite his detour into the funeral industry, Raoul eventually returned to his passion for hairdressing. For the past two decades he has owned and operated Rococo Hair Design in Warkworth.

However, his experiences in the funeral industry never truly left him, and the idea of creating besoul Funerals remained quietly waiting for the right opportunity. The vision behind besoul is to honour the essence of a person and provide a tranquil welcoming space for families to remember their loved ones in a meaningful way.

This vision became a reality when Raoul connected with Les Miller, and together, they embarked on the journey of establishing besoul.

With his diverse background in both hairdressing and the funeral industry, Raoul brings a unique set of skills and perspectives to besoul Funerals, ensuring that it will be a caring and thoughtful service for the community of Warkworth and beyond.

In 1971, Les was born at Warkworth Cottage Hospital. He received his education at Warkworth Primary School and later attended Mahurangi College. Les’s family owned a farm near Martins Bay, which his grandfather had purchased back in 1947.

Following his schooling, Les embarked on a sheetfed printing apprenticeship at Times Colourprint. Subsequently, he established a successful business specialising in desktop publishing and signwriting. In 1998, he sold his business and pursued a law degree at Victoria University in Wellington. For nearly 20 years, Les has been practicing law, now at Webster Malcolm Law, located in Warkworth.

Les and Raoul have been lifelong friends, having known each other since their school days. Together, they shared a vision to create besoul Funerals, a place where people could tailor arrangements to their preferences, with spaces thoughtfully designed for moments of quiet reflection or the sharing of cherished stories and memories with loved ones.