Final Arrangements

JUNE 2013 • PAGE 11 Final Arrangements "They do their own remembrance in their own traditions, in their own belief system." Wojcik's Funeral Chapel funeral director and embalmer Richard Wojcik says whatever a family chooses, it's important to have some type of remembrance. These days, only about 25% of people who request his services want traditional funerals. "It's drastically changed. At one time, it was reversed. When cremation first came to Western Canada, we were doing 80 - 85% traditional burials of a casket and 20% cremation," he says. "Here in Winnipeg, there's a lot of cremation with no service at all. People are taking their loved one to a favourite place that they liked or taking people back to their home countries." He says families are not as close as they used to be, and that also impacts tradition. "In the olden days, people were born and raised in Winnipeg and we died here. Now people finish their education and they're off to many parts of the world ... so you've lost that family connection," he says. "We keep in contact the odd time, but for the most part we don't see each other that much. So when you die or I die, it's not the same." As someone who sees death every day, Wojcik offers a few words to live by. "Stop and smell the roses like you should. I see it day to day — you're here today and you're gone tomorrow. Your life passes you by very quickly," he says. "Spend time with your wife, your children, your mom and dad, your friends, the people who are close around you. You might wake up tomorrow or you might not." WheelerFuneralHome NO HIDDEN COSTS 204-224-1525 or204-222-6677 1800DayStreet • AmpleParking "Providingyouandyour lovedonesprofessional servicewithoutallthe highcosts" "Over20years experienceserving Winnipegand surroundingarea" FuneralDirectoravailable24hoursaday7daysaweek ChadR.G.Wheeler GeneralManager Cemetery&Crematorium FamilyOwned &Operated Funeralarrangementscanbemadeinthecomfortofyourhomeorwe'll providetransportationforyouandyourfamilytothefuneralchapel. Weprepareallthedetailsforthebenefitsyou'reentitledto...inthecases of•CPPDeath&Survivor•Veteran'sAffairs•ManitobaPublicInsurance •VictimsofCrimeandallotherGovernmentAgencies&LifeInsurance Companies.Granite&bronzemonumentsavailable. *Cremation, NoService $975+GST *Memorial Service $1900+GST *Traditional Burial $3000+GST caring,compassionandkindness. ince1957,Cropohasgenerouslysupported nce1 5 , r nitywithacommitmentof y ourcommun o un ou •TraditionalEarthBurial •FuneralsforAllFaiths •CremationServices •WorldwideTransferService •Winnipeg'sLargestChapel •BeautifulReceptionRooms •Pre-PlanningArrangements •Staffavailable24hoursaday Phone(204)586-8044 ortollfree1888586-8044 1442MainStreet|Winnipeg,Manitoba|Cropo.com 420AirportDrive|St.Andrews,Manitoba FamilyOwned Caringaboveall.

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