Archived Events & Press Page

Willow Springs Funeral Home Construction Photo Diary

Follow along with our picture diary of the construction of our second location in Willow Springs from groundbreaking to completion.

May 30, 2007

July 2, 2007

July 14, 2007

July 24, 2007

Charmaine Zarzycki with Dave TeBrake and Jesse Dumonceaux of Miller Architects and Builders.

July 25, 2007

July 26, 2007

August 14, 2007

September 11, 2007

Construction progress is moving swiftly.

September 26, 2007

October 17, 2007

October 25, 2007

November 6, 2007

The asphalt has been laid.

Tim O. braving the first cold spell of the season on the job site.

November 14, 2007

Landscaping is installed.

December 19, 2007

Zarzycki Manor Chapels Participates at Willow Springs Winter Festival

Zarzycki Manor Chapels, along with other Willow Springs businesses, particpated in the Winter Festival held January 31 at the Community Center.

2007 Holiday Memorial Service

Family and friends gathered at Zarzycki Manor Chapels' annual holiday memorial service Saturday, November 24. Presiding was the Rev. Paul Stein of St. Sylvester Parish, along with music accompaniment by Kamil Bartoszcze and soloists Ewelina Minko & Joanna Komperda. For the past eight years, the Zarzycki’s have held the service with the hopes of helping families cope with their grief during a difficult time of the year. “The holidays are especially difficult for families, as it is their first Christmas without their loved one,” said Claudette Zarzycki. “Our goal is to help families through these challenging times and beyond.” For more information, please contact us at (773) 767-2166 or email us.

Zarzycki Manor Chapels Participates in Willow Springs Family Fun & Safety Day

Zarzycki Manor Chapels, Ltd. participated in the ‘Family Fun & Safety Day’ September 16 hosted by the Willow Springs Business Owners’ Council. With the school season in full swing, the event promoted safety and also was a fun-filled afternoon for the entire family. Local Willow Springs businesses, as well as civic and social organizations were present. Activities included D.A.R.E. and internet safety presentations, the Fire Safety Trailer, face painting, coloring contest, raffles, great food and give-a-ways. Many of the activities were sponsored by the local businesses.

'Want to Go in Style?'

We were featured in Monday's, June 4, 2007 edition of the Chicago Sun-Times. Click the link above to view the article.

2007 Scholarship Recipients

We are very positive about the future of Zarzycki Manor Chapels, our community and especially our youth. As a result, in 1989 we established an annual scholarship fund for the eighth grade graduates in local parochial parishes. This scholarship is awarded to the two top scholastic students. The second scholarship, the "Agnes Zarzycki Achievement Award" is in honor of the foundress of our family-owned and operated business. In 1915, as the first Polish-American, woman funeral director in the city of Chicago, Agnes Zarzycki showed great courage, strength, leadership and independence within her community. The female recipient of this award represents all of these qualities and much more. All scholarship recipients are chosen by their teachers. As business owners in this community, we believe that the future lies with the success of our young people. We know of no other higher achievement than that of academic excellence. We believe that excellence in our schools is a direct reflection of excellence in leadership and that is why we continue to award our scholarship: an honor designed to identify, recognize, reward and encourage students. We extend our sincere congratulations to this year’s scholarship recipients.

St. Bruno Scholarship Recipients

(l-r) Mark Koziel, Kathryn Donfrio and Matthew Ziarno stand with Claudette Zarzycki after being presented with their 2007 scholarships sponsored by Zarzycki Manor Chapels, Ltd. on Wednesday, May 30, 2007.

Pope John Paul II Scholarship Recipients

(l-r) Claudette Zarzycki stands with scholarship recipients Jessica Zamora, Ana Vazquez and Yvette Cabada of Pope John Paul II School at their graduation ceremony June 2, 2007.

St. Richard Scholarship Recipients

(l-r) Andrea Zarzycki presents scholarships to recipients Rebecca Schaeflein, Samantha Mackowiak and Meagan Juggan of St. Richard School at their graduation ceremony June 9 2007.

Chicago Legal Clinic Annual Awards Banquet

Andrea Zarzycki, a volunteer with the Chicago Legal Clinic, Inc. stands with the Most Rev. Bishop Thomas J. Paprocki, President of the Clinic, at their annual awards banquet May 18, 2007 at the Chicago Hilton.

Protecting Your Identity After Death

An interesting article appeared in the March 2007 issue of AARP magazine. It detailed how the deceased can also be victims of identity theft. Please click the headline above to read this article. Zarzycki Manor Chapels,...keeping you informed.

BREAKING NEW GROUND IN WILLOW SPRINGS

[Willow Springs, IL]—Official groundbreaking ceremonies of Zarzycki Manor Chapels, Ltd. in Willow Springs took place Wednesday, April 11, 2007 at 12 Noon. This is the funeral home’s second location at 8999 Archer Avenue. “We are very excited of our new venture,” said Charmaine Zarzycki, owner of the 92-year old family owned and operated business. “We were motivated by the families we serve to build a second location. Our home-base in the city will remain open to continue servicing families in the traditional way we have been since 1915.” The Chicago funeral home is located in the Archer Heights neighborhood at 5088 South Archer Avenue. The planned 11,000 square foot funeral home will feature spacious visitation chapels accented with large windows viewing a beautifully-landscaped garden and existing forest preserves, an inviting lobby with a fireplace and a black-topped, lighted parking lot for more than 85 cars. The funeral home will be on one level and is fully handicapped-accessible. “My mother and late father Richard C. Zarzycki chose one the most beautiful areas of available land in the village,” said Claudette Zarzycki, Charmaine’s daughter and another owner. “The existing forests and the area’s peacefulness is the perfect location for our plans.” Third owner and daughter Andrea Zarzycki, is proud to a fourth-generation funeral director. The mother-daughters team is truly a family affair at Zarzycki Manor Chapels, Ltd. Miller Architects of St. Cloud, Minnesota, specialists in funeral home design, developed the plans and are coordinating all construction phases. The funeral home is scheduled to be completed in late fall of this year.

Pictured left to right: Brian Malone, DesignTek Engineering; Dave TeBrake, Miller Architects; Matt & Charles Kurland, Kurland Insurance; Andrea & Charmaine Zarzycki; Willow Springs Mayor Alan Nowaczyk; Claudette Zarzycki; Rev. Edward Gleeson, Pastor St. James at Sag Bridge; Tim Olinger, Miller Architects; Al Gielczewski; Mark Pesavento, Pesavento & Pesavento, Ltd.; Deacon John Wilkinson, St. James at Sag Bridge; Marion Gielczewski.

BREAKING GROUND

Rev. Edward Gleeson and Deacon John Wilkinson of St. James at Sag Bridge Parish offered prayers and the blessing of the new grounds and building construction.

The Zarzycki Family with Willow Springs Village Officials. (Pictured left to right: Mayor Alan Nowaczyk, Andrea, Charmaine, Claudette Zarzycki, George Kucharchuk, Building Commissioner; John Hoefferle, Village Engineer)

Richard C. Zarzycki~A Life Lived to the Fullest

Richard C. Zarzycki, owner and operator of our funeral home, passed away July 1. His visitation was Thursday, July 6, 2006 from 2-9 p.m. and his funeral was Friday, July 7, 2006. A Mass of Christian Burial was held at St. Bruno Church and he was entombed at Resurrection Mausoleum. Richard was a part of many lives in some shape or form. He will be missed greatly by our entire family and we ask that you keep us in your thoughts and your prayers. God Bless you all! Bog Zaplac!

A Sincere Thank You

My mother, sisters and I express our deepest thanks and heartfelt gratitude for the outpouring of love and support during our time of bereavement. My Dad was a very special person. It is difficult to put into words just how wonderful he was. In short, my Dad lived a colorful and vibrant life. He was always a fair, honest and ethical man to the utmost. We extend a special and sincere thank you to the Most Reverend Bishop Thomas Paprocki, who has known my father his entire life, for celebrating his Funeral Mass. His beautiful and comforting prayers and words will remain with us. Also a sincere thank you to Father Kilian, Father Trela and Father Bernas, and to the many other priests and deacons who adorned the altar at St. Bruno in honor of my father. To the musicians and choir members for your inspirational music: My father would not have wanted it any other way. To those who sent the beautiful flowers, offered Masses, spiritual bouquets and those who will keep my Dad in their thoughts and prayers, we are forever grateful. Everyone that was present represented a chapter in my dad’s life. From family and friends, neighbors and colleagues to our professional associations, church, community, educational and fraternal organizations and to the countless families we have served over the years. All of you have a special place for my father in your hearts, and today, and forever, you have a special place in ours. My father taught all of his girls many things and always guided us down the right path. I will always be grateful for that. I was honored to work side by side with my Dad and we will carry out all of his dreams that he sought out. From the bottom of our broken hearts, we thank you and may God Bless you all. ~Claudette A. Zarzycki & Family

Dziekujemy

W imieniu mojej mamy, moich sióstr i swoim, chcialabym wyrazic nasze najszczersze podziekowania i gleboka wdziecznosc za tak liczne wyrazy wspólczucia i wsparcia okazane nam w czasie tego niezmiernie trudnego dla nas czasu. Mój Tato byl bardzo szczególna osoba. Trudno wyrazic slowami jak wspanialym byl czlowiekiem. Najzwiezlej mozna by o nim powiedziec, ze pod kazdym wzgledem przezyl swoje zycie w pelni. Prawy i uczciwy, zawsze kierowal sie zasadmi etyki i sprawiedliwosci. Chcialybysmy zlozyc szczególne podziekowania Jego Ekselencji Biskupowi Tomaszowi Paprockiemu, który znal mojego Tate przez cale jego zycie, za odprawienie mszy zalobnej. Piekne i przynoszace ukojenie modlitwy i slowa Jego Ekselencji pozostana z nami na dlugo. Skladamy takze serdeczne podziekowania Wielebnym Ksiezom: Ojcu Kilianowi, Ojcu Treli i Ojcu Bernasowi, jak równiez wszystkim innym ksiezom i diakonom, którzy zebrali sie dzis przy oltarzu w kosciele swietego Brunona, aby modlic sie za dusze mojego Taty. Muzykom i czlonkom chóru, za wasze piekne i inspirujace wykonania; moj Tato nie chcialby zmienic tu ani jednej nuty. Dziekujemy. Tym którzy przyslali piekne kwiaty, zalobne wiazanki, ofiarowali msze w Jego intencji, oraz tym którzy zatrzymaja mojego Tate w swojej pamieci i modlitwach pozostaniemy na zawsze wdzieczni. Kazdy z dzis tu obecnych reprezentuje pewien rozdzial z zycia mojego Taty. Od rodziny i przyjaciól poczynajac, poprzez sasiadów, znajomych, czlonków licznych profesjonalnych towarzystw, czlonków stowarzyszen koscielnych, spolecznych, edukacyjnych i braterskich organizacji, a konczac na licznych rodzinach, którym oferowalismy przez lata nasze uslugi. Kazdy z Was ma w swoim sercu specjalne miejsce dla mojego Taty, a dzis i na zawsze Wy zajmiecie szczególne miejsce w naszych sercach. Moj Tato nauczyl nas, wszystkie jego corki, wielu rzeczy i zawsze wskazywal nam wlasciwa droge postepowania. Za to bede mu dozgonnie wdzieczna. Mialam honor i przywilej pracy u boku mojego Taty, a teraz same bedziemy pracowaly nad tym by wcielac w zycie jego plany i realizowac jego marzenia. Jeszcze raz, z glebi naszych przepelnionych glebokim zalem serc, mówimy Wam wszystkim serdeczne Bóg zaplac i niech Wam Bóg blogoslawi. ~Klaudia A. Zarzycki i rodziny.