Testimonials

Look what our recent client families are saying about us . . .

My mother passed away suddenly, while visiting me in Connecticut.  It was extremely traumatizing for me and my family.  We called on John for the transportation and cremation services.  John and his staff were kind, compassionate and professional at every step of the way with my stepfather as he signed off on the documents and completed all the very difficult arrangements.  Mom was cremated and would eventually make her way back to my home; however, I struggled with picking up her ashes.  I never felt rushed, pushed, or like it was business as usual and I was given the space and time I needed to eventually make my way to the funeral home to pick up her ashes. We arrived at Wakelee Memorial Funeral Home just as they were getting ready for the holidays.  It was decorated beautifully, and the entire home was spotless.  John told us about a beautiful antique sleigh he was having restored that would be the finishing touch for the holidays. John took the time to present options for Mom's ashes and made sure I had everything I needed, if I decided to travel or ship her ashes.  He was so patient in explaining the details and options.  I can’t thank John enough for being incredibly comforting and kind, during a very difficult time.

Carrie H.

John and staff are wonderful. They are caring and attentive. When speaking to John about funeral preparations it was as if I was talking to a family member. I did not have one worry the day of the wake or funeral. A personal touch that touched my heart was a Polish flag hanging next to my father's casket. Wakelee Memorial deserves the highest praise.

Aneta G.

John was amazing!! We had an open casket for both my brother and my dad (they passed 4 short months apart) and he did amazing work! I couldn’t be happier with his service. John made it as easy as possible and didn’t want us to stress with everything that was going on, as he realized we had enough on out plate . . . he let us grieve without the worries. My family and I are so happy with Wakelee Memorial's services -  so thank you with all my heart.

Jessica D.

Where do I begin to thank you? The entire funeral service for our mother has exceeded all expectations.  You truly devote your time and expertise to the deceased loved one and the family.  We couldn't have asked for a more beautiful service from the calling hours, to the church, to the mausoleum.  Believe me, we had so many people remarked how beautiful and well planned it was.  The video was magnificant and really captured her spirit.  We cannot thank you enough - your staff is outstanding also.  We appreciate your kindness and support and made this a beautiful tribute to Mama.

Tony & JoAnn M.

Wakelee Funeral Home deserves the best review. In this difficult, heartbreaking time of the loss of our Mom, John, Milly and their staff took care of everything. They are compassionate, caring and understanding. Their attention to detail, professionalism and extensive experience were phenomenal and we did not have to worry about a thing. Our Mom looked absolutely beautiful! What we really liked about the place is that it had a nice feel to it, it was bright and not dingy, smelled wonderful and was spotlessly clean. John and Milly were super responsive always offering their help and support. They accommodated all of our Mom's desires and the family's needs. We are extremely pleased with their services and recommend the Wakelee Memorial Funeral Home to everyone!

Dorota T.

On behalf of my family, I want to thank both John & Milly for making my mom's funeral a special day.  John, as promised, my mom was beautiful which made the viewing a memorable experience for all of us.  And Milly, your efforts with Zoom made it possible for our families out of state to feel part of my mom's funeral.  You thought of everything from water at the cemetery and cookies to share at lunch.  Wakelee Memorial was the best choice for us.

Cathy Z.

When my husband died recently, his death took me by surprise. My children and I so were devastated. At the hospital, I was not prepared on what to do next and the hospital ICU staff were not helpful. A nurse even told me to go home and think about it, but I could not leave my husband's side, the man who had loved me with all his heart for over 39 years. I needed to know he would be taken care of with respect and with compassion. I did not make a mistake in selecting Wakelee Memorial Funeral Home. Late in the day, Wakelee Memorial was open 24/7 and John Zaleski, the Funeral Home Director, immediately responded to my call. He showed great professionalism and compassion in taking care of the paperwork and in caring for my husband from the hospital to the Funeral Home to his cremation and back to me. At each step, I knew my husband was treated with dignity and respect. Even though, John had a devastating death in his own family at the same time as my husband's, he and his wife Milly were still upstanding, kind, empathetic, thoughtful, and compassionate towards my family. John also went out of his way to accommodate our special needs, answering all my questions, and keeping me informed at all times.  On behalf of my family, thank you, John. Through your professionalism and thoughtfulness, you have given me and my children some peace of mind through this deepest of sorrow. Without hesitation, we highly recommend Wakelee Memorial Funeral Home to anyone facing the loss of a loved one.

Linda W., Darcie R. & John R.

My mother-in-law recently passed away and I was so totally impressed with how John and his team took care of all of the arrangements. It's important to note that the family is Buddhist, so arrangements were anything but typical! I can't say enough good things about how everyone worked so hard to ensure that every detail was just so! Thank you John and everyone else that helped!!

David O.

My sister and I recently lost our mother and needed to make funeral arrangements. We are originally from Laos so our customs are very different than the traditional "American" ones. John and his staff were just remarkable! My sister and I were totally impressed with his enthusiasm to help us make everything perfect for this. We couldn't have asked for anything else to have been done better. I highly recommend Wakelee Memorial Funeral Home to anyone that has lost a loved one.

Patricia O.

John and Milly Zaleski are professional and compassionate people you need during the very painful process of laying a loved one to rest.  They have wonderful relationships within the Ansonia/Derby and surrounding communities which lends itself to moving through this process with as much ease as possible while paying close attention to requested details.  We had many people who attended my Mother in Law's wake and funeral comment on how clean and bright the funeral home is.  And the guidance and comfort provided by everyone at Wakelee to our family was appreciated by all.

Joann W.

Wakelee Memorial Funeral Home was so amazing to us in so many ways John Z. And his wife took care of everything we needed and wanted for my grandmother's arrangements. John went over and beyond to make sure we had everything and did everything that we asked of him in these hard days he made us feel like family more than a customer. I would recommend this funeral home to my entire family and friends. Thank you, John, for helping us with all that we needed and not for one moment did he try and sell us anything that we did not need. I give this funeral home a 5 star they are more than amazing at making families feel welcomed and at ease on hard times.

Montalvan Family

Our family used Wakelee Memorial FH for mom's funeral in 2017 and dad's just last week (March 2019).  They were two (2) very different services:  public vs private; viewing vs cremation; civilian vs military.  One phone call, a couple of discussions and we had exactly what we wanted.  John was very thorough in explaining the processes of each service and we were extremely pleased with the outcome of both.

Nancy M.

On behalf of me and my family, we would like to thank John and Milly Zaleski for their kindness, compassion, and attention to detail in making all arrangements for my wife and mother of four children.  From the preplanning stages to the wake and the funeral, Wakelee Memorial helped give the family closure at a very difficult time.  We appreciate the outstanding job and professionalism offered by Wakelee Memorial.

Charles V.

Easy access to CT Route 8. Updated, clean, bright, and MODERN facilities. The care, comfort, and compassion exhibited to our family was indescribable. John and Milly Zaleski explained everything that would happen from start to finish. The entire staff was professional and welcoming during our time of grief. Thank you!

John S.

In a time of need, in losing a loved one, I would not trust anyone more than John Zaleski of Wakelee Memorial Funeral Home. He took care of our Father in the most dignified way possible. Our father was a 96 year old WWII veteran, and John Z covered every detail, including all military items. Other comments from our family:
-funeral home beautiful, very warm and welcoming.
-staff was amazing. very compassionate and detail oriented.
-cared for our family and helped make our difficult time easier.
-took care of all our needs, very knowledgeable.

John, Kenneth, Carol, and Robert K.

After the recent passing of my father, I chose Wakelee Funeral Home in Ansonia, CT for the services. John Z. was great during this whole process. He took care of all arrangements, paperwork and made sure that my family and I were informed about everything. John replied to all of my questions and concerns right away. He was very professional, caring, made us feel less stressed and didn’t put pressure on us to purchase additional funeral expenses. Not only did he coordinate everything but he attended all the services (Wake, church Mass, burial). My family was very happy with his services and would recommend him to anyone who seeks such services to their loved ones.

Marzena A.

John was professional, compassionate and showed incredible empathy and understanding in the time leading up to and after my mother's passing. He not only helped us through the difficult time, but still follows up afterwards and checks in on the entire family. The entire family is extremely grateful for all John has done for us.

Gary C.

My cousin, Beverly, and I were looking at all your awards before callers arrived for Dad's service and it is without a doubt that you deserve them all! There is no way that I can possibly thank you for everything that you did for my family and for orchestrating one of the nicest funeral services that I have ever attended.  You have been warm and caring, rather than somber and formal and you have made your funeral home welcoming and comfortable, rather than dark and scary.  You have always been professional and decisive, yet kind and patient and you made sure that everything was perfect for my Dad.  My worst memories of military honors have become incredible memories of military honors and I can see my Dad shaking his head in amazement and saying, "Oh boy, that was really something!"  He would have been so proud.

My parents were both warm and humble people.  They would have been overwhelmed by the care and compassion shown by friends and you.  After Mom's service, I wrote that I know my Mom would have really liked you; I know my Dad did; and Leigh and I do, too.  Thank you so much for being there with us for both Mom and Dad.

Sally B.

We want to say "Thank You" to John Zaleski, his wife Milly, and their wonderful staff. They are all extremely caring individuals who at your worst moment step in and assume the role of caretaker and become a part of the family. Recently, we collaborated with Wakelee Funeral Home to arrange our father's memorial services and funeral. Being a Funeral Home, you expect a baseline level of support and compassion. However, John, Milly and their staff far surpassed any preset expectation - they were genuinely considerate, compassionate, honest and accommodating in every interaction and went out of their way to help and support our family. There was no pressure applied at any stage to influence decisions and they were very supportive of all our mother's requests, thus reducing her stress and anxiety during this difficult time and providing her with what she most needed, comfort that her wishes were respected and handled with warmth and care. They walked us through the entire process, including all arrangements with the cemetery which was in another state and well outside their normal service area. Essentially, they managed everything so that we could be focused on family and pay a respectful tribute to our dear Dad. Their facility is spotless and comforting with easy access and as mentioned earlier, the entire staff is extremely attentive. We all understand that this is a part of life but rarely are we ready for it and when faced with the experience, you would want these folks by your side.

Jerry B.

John and his staff were professional and caring to make a difficult time easier.   He was honest and always available to answer questions and provide advice.  John and Wakelee memorial funeral home is highly recommended.

Paul S.

John and his staff are caring, thorough honest and professional. Wakelee handled my mother's funeral arrangements and did a masterful job. Making the funeral arrangements themselves involved a meeting with John and talking through various options. John was upfront and honest throughout. Everything after that was taken care of as promised. John was easily accessible by phone for any questions before the wake and funeral, he followed up to ensure everything went smoothly and was generally very accommodating.

Dennis K.

Thank you, does not seem to be enough to convey the level of appreciation and gratitude that I would like to express to you as you carried out my Dad's last wishes.  The sensitivity, professionalism, decorum, and exquisite attention to detail that you personally oversaw provided a funeral service of great honor for my Father that will be indelibly stamped in my memory and on the memories of all who were able to attend.  Thank you, John, I will never forget what you did for my Dad and his family.

Edward S.

The care, kindness, sensitivity, patience and professionalism that John and the staff of the Wakelee Memorial Funeral Home showed my family after my dad's death last year were exceptional. They answered every question, guided us step by step through all of the decisions that had to be made and listened to every story we needed to tell. Their expert guidance helped my family plan a wake and funeral that honored my dad and all he meant to us.  In addition, John performed a superb job in making my dad, who had been quite sick at the end of his life, look like the person we knew and loved. They were also there for us, particularly for my mom, in the weeks after the services, when other matters such as choosing a headstone had to be dealt with. Being in such good hands helped to ease the emotional and practical burdens we experienced in the aftermath of my dad's death. I will be forever grateful to the Wakelee Memorial Funeral Home and would highly recommend them to anyone facing the loss of a loved one.

Rachel S.

On behalf of George, Gail, Patty, and the rest of the family, I would like to publicly thank Wakelee Memorial Funeral Home and Mr. John Zaleski for the excellent service and support given at the time of George Gnall's passing on January 3. From the first phone call the night he passed, we knew he was in good hands. Your compassion and professionalism was beyond words. You made an extremely difficult and emotional situation bearable because you had everything handled. So, our sincere thanks for everything.

Gary H.

I lost my grandfather and closest relative last month, George Hudak. He had prepaid for his own services after the folks at Wakelee Memorial had done such a wonderful job handling my grandmother's services back in 2009. John Zaleski and all of the folks at Wakelee were a tremendous help and comfort to us as soon as we were in touch with them. The way John added his personal touch and handled so many small touches really helped us in being able to focus on observing the loss of our loved one. From the gifts to keep the littler kids occupied, to parking and directing attendees, to including thank you cards for us to send out at no extra charge, Wakelee does a tremendous job and is a great example of a thoughtful small business doing things right in any industry, 100% customer focused. I greatly recommend their services, and want to say thanks again for making a hard time that much easier for us. Happy New Year!

Rich C.

Dear John and all the staff at Wakelee Memorial Funeral Home, we cannot thank you enough for the kind, professional and heart warming help with the services for my dad. John helped us cope in this difficult time for our family by going above and beyond our expectations with handling the entire ceremony and all the smallest details. John took extra steps to make it special. We are very grateful for all your help. Thank you

Kluzinski Family

Dear John and staff, Mom and I wanted to send you a note of gratitude and thanks for the overwhelming support you offered to us during Gram’s hospice and passing. Your professionalism, warmth and compassion made a stressful and trying time much easier to cope with. Thanks for taking the time to reply to each and every email I sent and for creating such a warm and inviting home from which we could say say goodbye to our loved one. We wish you a wonderful Christmas Season and thank you from the bottoms of our heart for taking such wonderful care of gram for us. Peace.

Laura & Patricia H.

John is caring and compassionate. He genuinely is concerned about his clients. We chose cremation for our loved one and John explained all of our options without trying to push anything on us. He worked with my family in a very difficult time and spent considerable time keeping us abreast of everything he was doing. After meeting John and having him take care of our loved one it was easy to see that he is a good man. I highly recommend the Wakelee Memorial Funeral Home.

Sam T.

The Wakelee Memorial Funeral Home is an excellent funeral home. The staff are excellent and John goes above and beyond his duty. He is a very kind and compassionate man. I would highly recommend this funeral home to anyone. Their helpfulness and honesty is very much appreciated, especially during such a difficult time.

Rebecca D.

We used Wakelee Memorial Funeral Home in February when my father-in-law passed away.  We were so impressed with all the aspects of this Home's service!  The owner, John, was extremely helpful in guiding us through a process that we knew very little about. We ended up with both a memorial service at our church in CT and an interment of the ashes in Long Island, and John took care of it all, including getting the paperwork for the cemetery in LI.   The facilities in Ansonia are very tasteful, the prices are reasonable and you definitely feel that you are in good hands throughout the entire process, which is really helpful during an otherwise very difficult time.  I highly recommend this place to anyone!

Inger M.

The entire Wakelee Staff provided exceptional service in handling my father - Frank Stuban's - recent funeral. Everyone was very kind and thoughtful throughout the planning and during the wake and funeral. John Zaleski patiently met with family members to explain the various options he offered and then guided us through the whole process - sharing his many years of experience and helpful insights. Their compassion and professionalism is unmatched. God Bless.

Lydia A.

John and his staff have been wonderful and compassionate. John truly cared about me and my wishes, not money and helped with the death of my husband. I highly recommend Wakelee Funeral if you want someone to trust and make this difficult time easier for you. Many thanks and love to you all.

Judy B.

During a very difficult time for our family, John went above and beyond to help us with arrangements for dad. He provided us with exceptional customer service, care and concern and provided us with all the necessary information we needed in order to make the right decisions for our loved one. We felt very confident that our dad was in the best hands.

Jennifer C.

John and his staff are the most compassionate and trustworthy funeral services I've ever used. 3 separate deaths and John made it all so much easier. Much love to you all. I would recommend your services to everyone!

Danielle S.

Thank you for making all the arrangements for Mom's funeral.  Everyone thought she looked lovely.  Thanks again for everything.

Lynn & Andy H.

We would like to thank all of you for the outstanding job you did in the devastating loss of our son, Derek.  You supported us and took care of everything, and we didn't have to worry about nothing.  No one could ever prepare themselves for this, but you have made it a beautiful experience.

The Jansen Family

I wanted to personally thank you again for the wonderful, professional and respectful job you and your crew did for my mom and family. You lived up to every expectation and over delivered in some areas. You are a man of your word. I will definitely recommend you to anyone who asks me. I'm sure you have heard this before, everyone who was there this morning loved the vault cover. They all thought it was a great idea.

Todd S.

5 Stars! The family that runs Wakelee Memorial Funeral Home in Ansonia, CT is very professional and also very pleasant. I have never left a funeral home review before but this place deserves one. My family and I have recently lost our grandmother, so we called Wakelee Funeral. Setting up the consultation was very easy, and after that they had everything in order. It is very difficult to think straight about what needs to be done during a time of loss, but their flow and order is flawless. John is easy to communicate with, and 3 things stood out to me here. 1. They are media friendly, because they have two mounted flat screen tvs set up and ready to go, and I was able to go in ahead of time and set up my slide show, no stress. 2. Also, it is updated and open concept, and the atmosphere is top notch. Usually places are tight and dark, with many walls, and you would have to bring your own digital set up. Not here! 3. Lastly, picking out the casket is quaint and bright and upstairs, not in the basement. That really makes a difference. They were courteous and understanding and everything you could ask for when having to go through this situation.

Gabby M.

You are the only one who's been prompt, efficient, and handled everything flawlessly.  The military service for George will always remain in our hearts.

Olivia Y.

John, you have always been not only a friend but someone we could depend on in our times of need. The wake for my sister Tamie, although in some ways hard to remember, was beautifully done and handled with the grace and dignity she deserved. Sadly, over the years we have lost too many friends and relatives, but you have always been a rock for us, and I would suggest you and the Wakelee Memorial Funeral Home staff to anyone in their time of need with full confidence.

Denise K.

When my grandmother died, the smartest thing I did was call John Zaleski at Wakelee Memorial. I was born and raised in The Valley, but live in Florida now, as did she. I had no idea how to handle the situation or what the proper procedures and etiquette were. One phone call to John and everything was handled professionally and compassionately. He answered all my questions and offered more caring and support than was ever expected.

Chuck M.

I cannot thank you and the entire staff enough for your heartfelt thoughtfulness during our difficult time. You and the entire staff made my family and I comfortable and at ease with your warmth and caring. Our grief was lessened. I was confident when I called you that you would do everything but breathe for me- and you did. Thank you so much for the caring and sincerity you all shared. You made the task of his final arrangements very comforting with your professional expertise and utmost attention.

Cynthia C.

Wakelee Memorial Funeral Home is a caring and compassionate team of professionals that creates a comfortable atmosphere to grieve the loss of your loved one. When my grandfather passed away, our family used Wakelee Memorial Funeral Home. The professionalism, compassion and dedication shown by John and his team was extraordinary. From the time we called John to handle the arrangements, he made our family feel very comfortable and at ease.

Kristine Y.