The Manitoba Home Builders' Association is celebrating 75 years.
Issue link: http://publications.winnipegfreepress.com/i/333362
Serving 204-897-4665 204-268-2263 204-586-8668 "Wherecare&compassioncomefromunderstanding" www.wojciksfuneralchapel.com Located1blockwestofDeerLodgeCentre at2157PortageAvenue @SharpBoulevard & Beausejour,Manitoba & Located4blockssouthoftheRedwoodBridge 1020MainStreet @ManitobaAvenue SpecializingIn: •Entombments •TraditionalEarthBurials •GravesideServices •PrivatelyownedCrematorium •ReceptionServices •Cremation,Memorial&InurnmentServices •ThoughtfulPre-Planning RichardA.Wojcik,Louise,Rachel&Ryan AFAMILY-OWNEDALTERNATIVETOTHEHIGHCOSTS OFWINNIPEG'SCORPORATEFUNERALHOMES Inaworldwherebigbusinesscanoftenbecoldandimpersonal,RichardandLouise Wojcikstillbelieveinfamily.ThatmeansatWojcik'sFuneralChapelyouaretreatedas familybystaffwhomaintainatraditionofprovidingoldfashionedandpersonalized funeralservices. TheyareoneofthefewfamilyownedfuneralchapelsleftinWinnipeg."MostofWinnipeg's funeralhomesarenowownedbylargecorporationswhoseloyaltiesbelongtotheir shareholders,"explainsWojcik'sPresident,RichardWojcik.Hisvisionistoofferfamiliesa better,moreintimatealternative. WojcikwhowasbornandraisedinBeausejour,beganhiscareerinfuneralserviceatthe ageof12–washingcars,cuttinggrassandansweringphones.Aftergraduationhe undertookatwo-yearapprenticeshipfromtheWesternSchoolofMortuaryPracticein Winnipeg. Hethenspentthenext11yearsemployedinvariousfuneralchapelshoninghisskills. WhileinBeausejour,WojcikwasaFirefighterwiththeBeausejourBrokenheadFire DepartmentandalsoamemberoftheBeausejourAmbulanceService. ThroughoutWojcik'salmost33yearsofdedicationtohisprofession,hehadbeenemployed atanumberofthisprovince'swell-knownfuneralestablishments. BeginninghiscareeratRussell'sFuneralHomeandSoberingFuneralChapelin Beausejour,Wojcik'sWinnipegexperiencehasincludedbothinternationalcorporations andprivatelyownedfuneralhomes-allpriortoopeninghisownbusiness. October13,1998- OpenedfirstChapelat2157PortageAvenue@SharpBlvd August16,2003- OpenedownCrematoriumatHeadingley,Manitoba April1,2008- Opened2ndChapelat1020MainStreet@ManitobaAvenue "Weofferassistance24hoursaday,sevendaysaweek,"hesays. "Weprovideaservicefor allfaithsandanybeliefs,atanyplaceofworshipandcemeteryinWinnipegandrural Manitoba." Wojcik'sencouragespeopletocomparepricesandservicessotheycanmakean informeddecision.Theyusuallyfindthatthesmaller,privatelyownedfuneral chapelsofferamorepersonalserviceatabetterprice.Thereisnocostor obligationassociatedwithaconsultation. Peopleshouldalsobeawarethattheyarenotobligedtousethefuneralchapellocatedin thecemeterytheyareusing.Theyarefreetochoosethecompanytheyfeelmost comfortablewith.Evenprearrangedfuneralplanscanbecancelledortransferredtothe funeralchapeloftheirchoice. Wojcik'sLicensedFuneralDirectorsareprofessional,honestandsincere.Theyareallpaid bysalaryasopposedtocommissionedsalespeoplewhoareunderpressuretomakesales. Thiskindofcompassionateserviceisimportantwhenyouthinkaboutallthedecisions thathavetobeconsideredincludingarrangingforaclergy,soloist,floralarrangements, catering,locationsandthedetailsoftheservice. Allthisatatimewhenfamiliesareveryemotionalandarefacedwithmakingallthe arrangementswithinjustafewdays. "Onecallcantakecareofallthearrangements,"saysWojcik."Mostpeoplearenotina goodframeofmindtobemakingsomanydifficultdecisions.Ourgoalistohelpthem throughtheprocessandmakeitaseasyaspossible." Wojciksuggestsitcanbehelpfultobringsomeonealongwhoisnotasemotionally attachedtothesituation.Someonewhocanoffertheirsupportandguidance. Ifyoucan,itisdefinitelyagoodideatomakeyourfuneralarrangementsaheadoftime. It meansyouwillgetthekindofserviceyouwantandmakesitmucheasierforyourfamily becausetheydon'thavetostrugglewiththedetailsatsuchadifficulttime. ALL BELIEFS & FAITHS FUNERAL CHAPEL & CREMATORIUM Photo courtesy of Elcheshen Photography