Newell-Hoerling's Mortuary | Dedicated Service Since 1907

Our Staff

We have years of experience caring for families, from all walks of life. Each family comes to us because they know we are leaders in our profession, dedicated to excellence in service, and have the highest integrity.

When we sit down with a family, we have just one goal: to create a fitting, memorable and affordable service for their loved one. Together, we explore the wide variety of services and products available, as well as a wealth of creative ideas and suggestions.

Together, we'll design a memorial or funeral service that suits their needs now, and in the future. Families who come to us know that years from now, they will have deep peace-of-mind because in coming to us, they've done their best to honor their loved one.

Staff members of Newell Hoerling's Mortuary are caring and experienced professionals who understand that each family is unique and has personal requests and traditions. These requests and traditions are of utmost importance to our staff of licensed funeral directors.

Russ Weeks, CFSP

President & Owner

A Certified Funeral Service Practitioner and President of Weeks’ Funeral Homes, Russ was born and raised in Enumclaw, WA. After graduating from Enumclaw High School, he received a Bachelor’s degree in Communications from the University of Puget Sound and an Associates degree in Funeral Service Education from Mt. Hood Community College. In 1990 Russ returned to Enumclaw and joined the family firm. He and his brother, Doug, grew the business to its current size of 7 funeral homes, 3 cemeteries, and 3 crematories. He is a two-term President of the Washington State Funeral Directors’ Association and was voted Washington’s Funeral Director of the Year in 2002. Russ enjoys golfing, fishing, and dinners with friends. Russ and his wife Kelley (also an Enumclaw native) have 3 adult children, Corissa, Trevor, and Ryan. No grandchildren yet, but they are patiently waiting. They are active members of Wabash Presbyterian Church and enjoy travelling and learning the history of new places.

Dan Schaffer

Family Service Counselor

Dan is our family service counselor, he is here for any preplanning needs.

Sarah Lambrecht

Location Manager at Newell-Hoerlings Licensed Funeral Director & Embalmer

Sarah was born and raised in Juneau, Alaska. Her career in Funeral homes started August 21^st, 2015, in the state of Maine. She has worked from the east coast to the west coast in funeral homes. She graduated Mortuary school in 2020 from American Academy McCallister Institute in New York, NY. Her degree is in applied science of Funeral service and is a Licensed Funeral Director/Embalmer. Her passion for serving the community is seen in her caring for every grieving family member that walks through the door at Newell-Hoerling’s Mortuary. She is a dedicated mother to two children, she loves dogs, hiking, camping and any activity that gets her outside.

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Diego Patlan

Funeral Director & Embalmer

A Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer, Diego was born and raised in the Olympia area. After graduating from Bellarmine Prep High School, he ventured to warmer climates in Los Angeles, California where he received an Associates in Mortuary Science from Cypress College and a bachelor’s in Business and Leadership from Concordia University, Irvine. He started working in the funeral industry at the age of 16 as a funeral attendant and errand runner at White-Emerson Mortuary in Whittier, California. It was the combination of art and science along with the fulfillment that comes from helping others in the community through their grief that motivated Diego to pursue his career in the funeral industry. Diego then returned to the Pacific Northwest to work as a Funeral Director and Embalmer at our sister funeral home, Columbia Funeral Home in Seattle, Washington, until 2013 when he left for a four-year adventure in Chile. He has since returned to the Pacific Northwest to continue serving local families.

¿Sientes más cómodo con una persona que entienda su cultura, costumbres y tradiciones? ¡Hablo español!

Contessa King

Funeral Director (Intern) & Embalmer (Intern)

Contessa grew up around Seattle, Washington. Her passion for helping families in their time of need lead her to emergency medicine. At this time, she was also pursuing her undergraduate degree in Environmental Science where she specialized in soil engineering. Her interest in Washington’s green burial laws and her love for serving her community brought her into the funeral industry. She graduated with her associate of Applied Science in Funeral Service Education from Lake Washington Technical Institute in March of 2023. At Newell-Hoerling’s Mortuary, Contessa can apply her knowledge gained through her fields of study to best educate and guide families as well as to care for the loved ones entrusted in her care.

When she is not working or studying, Tess enjoys painting, tending to her jungle of plants, and spending time with her family and friends.