Wakelee Memorial Funeral Home

Specialties

To Provide Compassionate, Personalized and Affordable Funeral Service, of the Highest Ethical Standards, to All We Are Priveledged to Serve.

History

Established in 1932.

Nicholas L. and Josephine Hylwa, Sr. (children of European Immigrants), founded the Hylwa Funeral Home on 22 Lester Street, Ansonia. Their business flourished as they served the needs of many Eastern European, Slavic and Russian Orthodox families. In 1980, their son, Nicholas Hylwa, Jr., moved the family business to its current location at 167 Wakelee Avenue and re-​licensed the funeral home as the «Wakelee Memorial Funeral Home.» Generations will forever call the funeral home «Hylwa’s», but it still bears the name «Wakelee Memorial» today. Mr. Hylwa experienced unprecedented growth in the following years and continued to operate the business until his death in 2000. Determined to keep her husband’s legacy alive and serve the needs of many client families, Mrs. Virginia K. Hylwa continued to own and operate the funeral home for the next six years. In September of 2006, the search was over; Mrs. Hylwa sold the business to John S. Zaleski.

Meet the Business Owner

John Z.

Business Owner

Working in funeral service over 25 years, he possesses expert experience in all facets of funeral service and has earned the designation of Certified Funeral Service Practitioner by the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice. He serves as a Professional Consultant and Advisory Council Member of the New England Organ Bank and was awarded with special recognition in 2008. In 2005, John served as the 116^th President of the CT Funeral Director’s Association. He is a member of St. Joseph Church, Shelton and sits on the Alumni Steering Committee; Sts. Peter and Paul Church, Ansonia; Committee Member, BSA — Troop 27, Shelton, as well as being a member of the Advisory Board of the Housatonic Council, BSA. 4^th Degree Knights of Columbus; Connecticut Funeral Director’s Assoc. and the National Funeral Directors Assoc.; Seymour Lions Club, nominated as the 2010 Lion of the Year. In recognition of his outstanding professional reputation, he was invited into the NVSL Ambassador Program.