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 read more

John Zaleski's compassion, sensitivity to our needs and concerns, and attention to even the finest detail made the loss of our Mom so much more bearable. John's eminent professionalism and decades of experience made this otherwise painful and difficult process very simple, easy to understand, and seamless. He coordinated absolutely everything with outside vendors and the Church, and essentially turned this into a "one-stop shopping" experience. John went above and beyond to take the time to get to know us and Mom. John truly listened, and his soft-spoken manner relaxed us; he made us feel emotionally supported and heard throughout the entire process. The final result confirmed that John's a highly-talented man with golden hands; Mom looked beautiful, and both the wake and funeral were beyond dignified - they were polished, peaceful, and personalized, and ultimately did justice to Mom's long legacy of love, compassion, and generosity. If I could give him a 10-star rating instead of 5-stars, I would. read more

Experiencing the loss of my father, our first intimate family loss, was an incredibly difficult time for us. However, John, the owner of Wakelee Memorial, walked us through every step of the process with unmatched attentiveness and compassion. From the initial planning stages to following up as we await the medical review, he has been consistently available to answer all our questions and provide guidance. The funeral home itself is thoughtfully designed, with high ceilings that create an open, airy feel--far from the stuffy atmosphere often found in such spaces. The decor is warm and comforting, offering a sense of peace rather than somberness, which made all the difference during this emotional time. John's professionalism, kindness, and the serene environment of Wakalee Memorial brought us much-needed comfort during a painful experience. I cannot recommend their services highly enough for anyone navigating such a loss. Thank you for everything John. read more

We had an incredibly difficult time after the passing of my husband, and Wakelee Memorial Funeral Home made an enormous difference. From the very beginning, they treated our family with genuine compassion, patience, and respect during a moment when we were completely overwhelmed. John, in particular, went above and beyond for us when we needed support most. He was there for our family, especially when another funeral home we were planning to use wasn't there at all. His kindness and steady guidance helped ease both the stress of the logistics and the weight of our grief. He listened, answered our questions clearly, and handled everything with care and dignity. We will always be grateful for the support Wakelee Memorial Funeral Home provided us. We highly recommend them to anyone who needs understanding, responsiveness, and compassion during a time of loss. read more

I have known John for many years but when he handled my sister's arrangements earlier this year it was the first time I had attended a service at Wakelee Memorial, I was very impressed with his professionalism. When my father got sick a few months ago I reached out to him for advice and to begin the process of making final arrangements so we would be prepared when the time came. Unfortunately that time was this past weekend. John was incredibly kind, very professional and he explained everything thoroughly so we knew exactly what needed to be done. He was very reassuring and made the whole process so much easier for both my mother and myself to handle. The funeral home itself is lovely and very tastefully decorated, both he and his staff were a pleasure to deal with. I highly recommend using his services, I wouldn't have considered going anywhere else. read more

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! read more

We ended up using Wakelee 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! read more

My husband and I can't tell you how much we have appreciated the genuine care and concern of John Zaleski and his staff at Wakelee Memorial Funeral Home, in Ansonia, CT. We had needed John's expertise and compassionate services on four separate occasions over the past fifteen years. He had helped us through some of the most difficult times in our lives with gentleness and a meticulous eye on every detail. He truly is a blessing from God and entrusting our loved ones into his care has given us great peace of mind. We would not hesitate to recommend John Zaleski at Wakelee, with our highest regards, to anyone who is looking for the very best in his field. Many thanks again John! read more

Waklee 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 grandmothers 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 then 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 then amazing at making families feel welcomed and at ease on hard times. Love Montalvan Family read more

Wakelee Memorial Funeral Home is the most amazing funeral home, staff and owner you could ask for. They went above and beyond with every detail and part of helping us bury our son. We had nothing to worry or think about with them. Not only we're they professional they were compassionate as well, which made our experience better than we could ask for. The level of care and value of the service, casket, and transportation truly came from their hearts and we can't thank them enough. Death is never a good experience but there are people blessed by God to help get you through and John and his team are definitely heaven sent. read more

Losing my father-in-law was one of the hardest experiences of our lives, but John at Wakelee Memorial made us feel truly cared for throughout the entire process. From the very first conversation, it was like talking to a family member--someone who genuinely understood our grief and wanted to support us in every way possible. John's kindness and attentiveness were remarkable. He never rushed us and always took the time to answer every question with patience and compassion. It felt like we really mattered to him, not just as clients but as people navigating a deeply personal loss. Thank you, John. read more

Wonderful funeral home. The staff was the best I have ever dealt with. My husband was cremated, and funeral director John stayed with my husband throughout the cremation, and only he processed my husband's remains. The urn we chose was wonderful, and the etching flawless. John took the time to explain every part of the process to us, answered all our questions with precise answers, and no pressure at all . We felt very relaxed with John and his staff, and recommend Wakelee funeral home to anyone looking for the perfect funeral home . Thank you John and staff for everything . Mrs. Robin P. read more

When we put my father in Hospices, I then started to call a few homes just the way John spoke to me in a caring way I knew that I wanted him to take care of my father. He kept me informed and helped me though it all. The video that he did was wonderful and the funeral was so nice. Everyone that attended told me what a wonderful ceremony. Also, the doormen help the older people in and out of the car with the walkers. I know that my dad would have loved it and I am so happy that I went with them. From the start to finish it was a great experience under the circumstance. Thank you John read more

Losing our son was the hardest experience of our lives, and we are grateful that we chose Wakelee Memorial Funeral Home to guide us through such an unimaginable time. The staff were compassionate, thorough, and consistently kind in every interaction. John, in particular, helped make an overwhelming process feel a little less heavy. His patience, gentleness, and attention to detail brought us comfort when we needed it most. We are deeply thankful for the care and respect shown to our family and to our son. Wakelee Memorial truly went above and beyond during a time of profound grief. read more

My sincere thank you to Mr. John Zaleski for his compassion, professionalism, and patience both during and after my brother-in-law's passing. John, as well as the staff at Wakelee Memorial Funeral Home had every detail precisely orchestrated so that his wake, funeral mass and burial proceeded smoothly. John's response to calls, questions and requests were all handled with efficiency and caring. His response to any request, no matter how small, made you feel your request was as important to him as it was to you. I would highly recommend Wakelee Memorial Funeral Home. read more

We recently experienced the loss of my beloved stepdad, and from the very first interaction with John and his wife, we were met with compassion, professionalism, and genuine care. They went above and beyond to make sure that every detail was handled with respect and consideration. The facility is beautiful and classy and provides a comforting environment for our family. They were also super patient and clear, making a very difficult time a little easier to bear. Thank you for helping us honor our Bill in such a beautiful and dignified manner!! read more

John took care of everything for us. He was there for us from the time of death (arranging for cremation and travel arrangements for the ashes) through the funeral and beyond. He is caring, kind, patient, thoughtful, thorough, detail oriented, and wonderful. The time that he took with my mother in law and sister in law was amazing. He took the time to make sure we were comfortable with everything that was happening and even checked in with us the day after the funeral. I would highly recommend using Wakely Memorial Funeral Home. read more

Can't thank John and Milly Zaleski enough for all their help in giving my dad the most beautiful wake and service. Being pressed for time was no problem. They handled everything and made a very nervous and broken hearted family calm. Being there for our family is an understatement. John & Milly handled everything with grace and professionalism. I know our dad was smiling down from heaven seeing all his wishes come true. His service was one to be truly proud of. Highly recommend Wakelee Memorial Funeral Home. read more

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