Stephen Dil (41) from Albany, Auckland is the newly elected national president of the Funeral Directors Association of New Zealand (FDANZ).
The third generation to own and lead Dil’s Funeral Services on Auckland’s North Shore, Stephen is also a third generation Latter-day Saint. The Church’s encouragement for its members to give community service, influenced his decision to stand as president of FDANZ.
“A major goal of FDANZ is to improve and maintain high standards of public service in the funeral industry throughout New Zealand and this is consistent with the Church's emphasis on helping others both in the Church and the wider community.”
Stephen started in funeral service straight from high school when he needed to earn funds to support himself on a voluntary Church mission served in Montréal, Canada from 1993-5.
On his return he married Heidi Dunlop in the Hamilton New Zealand Temple and they have three daughters. With a family to care for Stephen took nine years to gain his Bachelor of Business degree part time through Massey University whilst continuing to work in the family business.
He did his formal funeral training through Weltec in Wellington and finished top of his class.
When his parents left to serve a three-year mission for the Church in West Africa in 2005, Stephen bought the business from them.
He gained a full scholarship to the Pennsylvania State University in the USA and took his family there from 2011-2013 whilst gaining his MBA.
Prior to being elected national president at the FDANZ national conference at Wanaka, Stephen had served on the executive for two years and is also a Trustee of the Funeral Service Training Trust and the FDANZ Funeral Trust.
In the Church he has simultaneously given ongoing voluntary service working with the youth and young single adults and is currently teaching a gospel doctrine class in his local congregation.