Summer 2015 - Duksa Family Funeral Homes

Transcription

Summer 2015
Celebrating Moments
Cherishing Memories
Honoring Lives
®
COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS
Newington Memorial Funeral Home
Making of a Guide Dog:
The Fidelco Guide
Dog Foundation
C
harlie and Robbie Kaman knew
from the beginning that their combined insight and expertise could help
people. Their experience with German
Shepherds made them aware these dogs
could be of great service in helping
blind people lead more independent
lives. This work began in the 1960’s and
continues to this day in the form of the
Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation.
Continued on page 2
Izaac DeMaio
Bill DeMaio: Parks,
Recreation &
Community Services
Director
All With the Help of Izaac,
His Guide Dog
“I
finally made the choice after I
went jogging and ran into
someone. Literally, ran into someone.”
This is how Bill DeMaio of Newington
describes a life-changing decision he
made about three years ago. He was jogging on a sidewalk near his home and
could see someone running toward him.
Continued on page 4
Newington Memorial Funeral Home • 860.666.0600
Burritt Hill Funeral Home
Fisette-Batzner Funeral Home
Welcome to Duksa
Community Connections!
D
uksa Family Funeral Homes is family-owned and has been serving
families in Newington, New Britain and the surrounding communities
since the 1950’s. Our family has been privileged over the years to offer
dedicated and committed service to our friends and neighbors, and to administer
those services with heart-felt compassion and care. Both our Newington Memorial
and Burritt Hill locations have been recipients of the National Funeral Directors
Association’s Pursuit of Excellence Award, which characterizes our high standards
and professionalism.
Our team of funeral homes includes Newington
Memorial Funeral Home in Newington, FisetteBatzner Funeral Home, formerly of Hartford, and
Burritt Hill Funeral Home in New Britain. These
funeral homes are all owned by the Duksa
family, and we are a family that maintains deep
roots in the area communities. We have three
generations of caring and tradition and a shared
Newington Funeral Home &
vision of doing whatever it takes to meet every
Fisette-Batzner Funeral Home
family’s needs.
In an ever-changing, mobile society, we feel we
must make an extra effort to stay connected
with the people who rely on us for guidance
and information. Our intention is to use this
quarterly newsletter to help us keep connected
to our families in the community, continuing
to offer timely, valuable resources. In our
Frequently Asked Questions section, we will
address common issues that are of interest to
people considering end of life issues.
Burritt Hill Funeral Home
We will also feature articles that relay information
from local experts in the fields of hospice
information, veterans affairs, estate planning
and other related areas of interest. Highlighting
local businesses and sevices will be an important
component that keeps our readers advised of
community offerings. Our hope is that you
come to find our newsletter a valuable source of
information and will use it as a helpful guide for you and your family.
Sincerely,
The Duksa Family
Burritt Hill Funeral Home • 860.229.9021
Fisette-Batzner Funeral Home • 860.233.6223
1
Continued from page 1
The Fidelco Guide
Dog Foundation
The Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation has
been based in Bloomfield, Connecticut,
since the 1980’s. This wonderful group
of dedicated people is committed to
providing the highest quality German
Shepherd guide dogs to men and women
who are blind.
When asked why Fidelco exclusively trains
German Shepherds, Julie Unwin, Chief
Operating Officer, responds, “German
Shepherds are a true working breed, not a
sporting breed. They tend to have a longer
working life and their desire to work is very
strong.” This breed possesses the ideal
qualities of a working guide dog: even
temperament, high intelligence, and
stamina. On average, the working life of
a guide dog is 10 years. They are typically
placed at two years and work until they are
12. At retirement, Fidelco works with the
client to find the guide dog a happy new
home.
There are many things to consider when
matching a client to a guide dog. Laura
DeMaio Roy, Fidelco instructor/trainer
mentions some of these factors: stride
Group nap for Fidelco pups
Jeter, a Fidelco guide dog
length, stride speed, personality, and
lifestyle. “For example, Izaac and Dad’s
(Fidelco client Bill DeMaio) personalities
go well together, and Izaac can tolerate all
kinds of work situations from fireworks, to
swimming pools, to small children.”
It takes $45,000 to breed, raise, train and
place each and every one of these dogs.
All clients receive their guide dog free of
charge. Fidelco is able to accomplish all
this due to the generosity of donors and
volunteers, and they appreciate any and all
levels of support.
So, how can you help? The public can help
via financial support or by volunteering.
Volunteers come in all different ages and
levels of support. If you want to help
raise money, you can do an individual
fundraiser. One idea is Pennies for
Puppies, where a child can collect pennies
and bring them in when he/she reaches
a desired amount. One establishment
conducts a “Barktober Fest” — there is
a cover charge for the evening and that
Future Fidelco Guide Dog
“German Shepherds
are a true working
breed, not a sporting
breed. They tend to
have a longer working
life and their desire to
work is very strong.”
Continued on page 3
2
A Famous Quote
to Inspire
The Fidelco Guide
Dog Foundation
money goes to Fidelco. Some individuals
collect blankets and towels and bring them
in for the dogs.
Another very important way to be of help
is to become a Volunteer Puppy Raiser.
Puppies go home with a Volunteer Puppy
Raiser family at eight weeks of age and are
typically returned to Fidelco at about 14
months. Being a Volunteer Puppy Raiser
is a very selfless thing to do. Bill DeMaio
likes to remind people that by training a
puppy to be a guide dog, you truly change
a person’s life. You can download an
Taking a break from being adorable
Helen Keller sitting holding a
magnolia flower, circa 1920
“Face your deficiencies and
acknowledge them; but do
not let them master you. Let
them teach you patience,
sweetness, insight.”
One of Fidelco’s finest
application or get more information at
www.fidelco.org/Volunteer.
One of Fidelco’s most popular
fundraising events is the Annual Ride
for Independence which took place on
Sunday, July 19 in Bloomfield. This is
a family-friendly event that includes an
escorted motorcycle route through the
Farmington Valley, gourmet barbecue from
Black Eyed Sally’s, music by Shovelhead,
and more. This event also includes the
Annual Field of Flags. For a $10 donation,
Fidelco will plant an American flag to
honor the person of your choosing.
Another fun way to help fundraise is to join
Team Fidelco at the Eversource Hartford
Marathon Races on October 10, 2015. To
learn more about Fidelco Guide Dog
Foundation or any of the opportunities
mentioned, please visit www.fidelco.org
or call 860-243-4500 and help them Share
the Vision™.
These words were penned by the
famous Helen Keller, an American
educator who was blind and deaf.
Keller obviously lived by these
words and didn’t let her physical
challenges keep her from getting
a formal education, becoming an
activist, or receiving many honors
for her accomplishments. While she
was an educator herself, she kept
learning throughout her lifetime,
allowing her problems to be her
teachers.
Helen Keller took her own deficiencies and turned them into learning
opportunities. She exemplified persistence and worked hard to not let
her problems overcome her. Helen
showed us how challenges can be
chances to grow in both our personal and professional lives. She
served as a shining example to all
of us to let our limitations become
learning experiences!
3
Bill DeMaio: Parks,
Recreation & Community
Services Director
All With the Help of Izaac,
His Guide Dog
He wasn’t prepared, however, when
the other jogger ran right into him and
fell down. She thought he would move
but he couldn’t see her well enough to
maneuver out of her way. What was
this decision that altered Bill’s life in
every way? Well, he has four legs, thick
fur, and big brown eyes.
The Answer Was Izaac
Izaac has been Bill’s constant
companion for the last three years.
Izaac is, of course, Bill’s five year old
guide dog. Bill was diagnosed with
retinitis pigmentosa when we he was
30 years old. Retinitis pigmentosa is
an eye disease that is characterized
by black pigmentation and a gradual
degeneration of the retina that leads
to blindness. It usually starts in young
adulthood and progresses over the
course of time. By the time Bill was
in his early 50’s he was beginning to
consider the possibility of a guide dog.
He wrestled with the idea for almost
three years, but the jogging incident
was the clincher.
“I am so excited to have
Isaac be a part of our
family,” Laura says.
Izaac was bred and trained by
Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation in
Bloomfield, CT. Fidelco specializes
in providing high quality German
Shepherd guide dogs to men and
women who are blind. Bill’s daughter,
Laura DeMaio Roy, works for Fidelco
as a certified instructor/trainer and
actually trained Izaac. “I am so excited
to have Isaac be a part of our family,”
Laura says. “I was nervous at first but
it has been really cool to be able to see
how well Dad and Izaac work together.”
4
Bill DeMaio and his guide dog Izaac
Bill At Work
Bill At Play
Bill has a high profile job for the city
of New Britain, where he has been
the Parks, Recreation & Community
Services Director for nine years. Before
that, Bill served in various supervisory
posts for the department since 1984.
He oversees 70 full-time and 450
part-time employees. “Izaac helps me
to be the best Parks and Recreation
Director that I can be. He enables me
to move amongst crowds of people
with no problems at all. I am regularly
at stadiums, monuments, parks and
outdoor pools and rely on Izaac
to guide me through any obstacles
that come along.” Izaac helps Bill to
navigate among 50,000 participants at
the July 4th festival, yet he can handle
sitting patiently through lengthy public
meetings. Bill has just accepted a job
in Newington as that city’s Parks
and Recreation Director and knows
that Izaac will help the change go
smoothly when they start in early
July. “After 31 years, I’m heading back
home,” remarks Bill.
Being an avid windsurfer and kayaker,
it was important that Bill was matched
with a dog that would be able to do
many activities with him. He traded in
his kayak for one where Izaac can ride
behind him. “I work hard and play
hard and Izaac does too,” remarks
Bill. Not only does Izaac enjoy
kayaking, he swims, chases frisbees
and balls, and guides Bill through his
personal exercise routine. In 2014, Bill
and Izaac attended Oral Hull Blind
Adventure Camp in Sandy, Oregon
where Bill caved under Mt. St. Helens,
windsurfed, white water rafted and
did archery and martial arts for the
blind.
Bill underestimated three things before
he received Izaac: the companionship,
security and sociability. He wanted a
guide dog with a presence for security
reasons and a German Shepherd fits
that bill perfectly. As for sociability,
Bill explains, “Before, when I was in
a doctor’s office or other public place
and people realized I was blind, they
would get up and move away from me.
Now, Izaac gives us a commonality
and allows me to be much more social
which is a great feeling.”
Continued on page 5
Bill DeMaio: Parks, Recreation & Community
Services Director
All With the Help of Izaac, His Guide Dog
Hero Dog Awards
Izaac had the distinct honor of being nominated as the 2015 Hero Dog for
the American Humane Association Hero Dog Awards. This is an annual,
national competition that recognizes ordinary dogs who do extraordinary things.
Izaac made it to the second round of voting but unfortunately didn’t move on to
the third round. Bill said that it was an honor to be nominated and that he wishes
good luck to all of the finalists.
If you wish to check out the finalists, please visit www.herodogawards.com to
learn more information.
The marvelous
richness of human
experience would
lose something of
rewarding joy if there
were no limitations to
overcome. The hilltop
hour would not be
half so wonderful if
there were no dark
valleys to traverse.
— Helen Keller
Help Us Raise Money for
Fidelco on Facebook!
Duksa Family Funeral Homes is pleased to announce that
we have launched a company Facebook page. We are
continually looking for ways to build relationships with
the families in our area, and feel that having a Facebook
page is another avenue of staying connected with our
community. We want to use it as a way to inform and
encourage our local citizens.
We are excited to report that we will be running a
Facebook campaign to help raise funds for Fidelco
Guide Dog Foundation. During the month of August,
we will donate $1 to Fidelco for every page “like”
we receive. We invite you to check out our page to
stay updated on events in central Connecticut, to find
inspiration and encouragement, and to help us raise
money for Fidelco. Remember to click the “like” button
and then stay tuned to find out how much money was
raised. Thank you for your participation!
Find us at Duksa Family Funeral Homes
5
Our Family is Proud to Care for Your
Family Through the Generations
T
he Duksa family has been caring
for other families for over 60 years.
Our tradition of care and dedication
to funeral service began with Matthew
and Dorothy K. Duksa. This husband and
wife team, both licensed funeral directors,
started out with the philosophy of taking
care of families
first. “We knew
the importance
of understanding
families and
helping to guide
them through
funeral decisions
with compassion
and kindness,”
says Dorothy.
Duksa family patriarch
Matthew R. Duksa, Sr.
Matt Duksa, Sr.
died in 2002, but
the traditions he and Dorothy established
live on through their children, Diana Kurz,
Matthew Duksa, Jr. and grandson James
Kurz.
Diana, Matt and Jim are continuing the
commitment to the highest standards of
care established by their parents. Diana
remarks, “My mother and father built
meaningful relationships that make up
the foundation of our funeral homes. We
feel blessed and extraordinarily fortunate
to continue serving families throughout
“An eternal flame can
never burn out...”
6
a funeral director, he was a big part of my
life and helped instill the beliefs and values
our firm was built upon,” said Jim.
Not only does Duksa Family Funeral
Homes have three generations to continue
our very important work, we are grateful
to the people who work for us. Our entire
staff is honored to serve the families in
our community, and is committed 24/7 to
creating the best possible experience for
every single family we work with.
From left to right: James S. Kurz, Diana Duksa
Kurz and Matthew R. Duksa
central Connecticut when they need us the
most.”
The logo that was created for Duksa Family
Funeral Homes is a heart with an eternal
flame, and it symbolizes our thoughts
and feelings perfectly. “An eternal flame
can never burn out,” remarks Alexander
Scott, Funeral Director and Director of
Marketing and Public Relations. “Whether
love is tangible or from afar, it always
exists and can never be forgotten.”
Matt is happy to be helping other people
in the Duksa family fashion. “We are
committed to carrying out our families’
wishes as best as we possibly can. People
can trust us to do the things they want
done at a reasonable price.” Matt continues,
“In today’s changing environment, nothing
is assumed and meeting the different needs
of individual families instills trust that we
will take care of them.”
Diana is extremely proud that her son Jim
has joined the Duksa family tradition as
a funeral director. “We are happy to have
the third generation coming alongside
and helping to continue serving our
community in a very important way.” All
three generations have the same philosophy
of serving and caring for people with
integrity. “I take great pride in being able to
carry on my grandfather's legacy. While I
never had the privilege to work with him as
Jim with his Grandpa, Matt Duksa, Sr.
Our goal is to be kind to people and to
listen. We take every single detail seriously
and are concerned about how people
feel when they walk away. Our intended
direction has stayed the same from
our humble beginnings to the present.
Please visit our website at http://www.
newingtonmemorial.com for more
information on a variety of funeral topics,
and to find out how we can further assist
you. Our friendly staff can be reached
at 860-666-0600, 24 hours a day/7
days a week. We also welcome visits to
our facilities at Newington Memorial
and Fisette Batzner Funeral Homes in
Newington, and Burritt Hill in New
Britain.
Share the Food, Share the Love
Helen Andrews Stochmal’s
Chocolate Brownies
Helen had baked these brownies for as long as her family
could remember. Everyone knew and loved her chocolate
brownies and always asked for the recipe.
INGREDIENTS
F
or centuries, families and communities have been
gathering together to share food and conversation. There
is just something about food that brings us together in a
satisfying way. Whether it’s the planning, the cooking, the eating,
or the conversation, the joy we get from the entire experience is
unique.
We all have a quick answer when it comes to the question,
“What’s your comfort food?” Mashed potatoes, ice cream,
chocolate chip cookies. If we take it a step beyond that, most
of us can come up with a favorite food made by someone
special. Grandma Wanda was known for her pies, Aunt Sue for
her potato salad, and Uncle Henry for his barbecue. And who
doesn’t want to give a gift of food? When we find something this
gratifying, we like to share. And that's what we want to do here;
share favorite recipes that our families have given to us.
1/2 cup butter or margarine
1 cup sugar
2 eggs, slightly beaten
1 tsp. vanilla
2/3 cup flour
2 squares unsweetened
chocolate, melted
2/3 cup chopped walnuts
DIRECTIONS
Cream together the margarine, sugar, eggs and vanilla. Stir in
the flour. Add the chocolate and walnuts. Pour batter into a
greased 8" square pan. Bake at 325 degrees for 25 minutes or
until done/set. This recipe can be doubled and baked in a
13x9" pan.
These brownies are very moist and chocolatey. Enjoy!
7
Pre-planning: Is it Right for Me?
Frequently W
Asked
Questions
e plan for a variety of occasions over the course of our lifetime: college, a
wedding, the birth of our children. These are times when having a plan
can be an incredible benefit to ourselves and to those we love. Can you
imagine having someone plan your wedding for you? What kind of dress does she
want? What kind of flowers does she like? Which flavor of cake does he prefer? The
indecision and guessing would be a great stressor for the person doing the planning.
Casey Biega knows this feeling all too well. Her parents did not prepare her for their
funerals and she had great difficulty in taking care of their final arrangements without
the benefit of advice from either one of them. Casey is the pre-need counselor at
Duksa Family Funeral Homes and has been a licensed funeral director since 1996.
“Because I wasn’t prepared for my parents’ funerals, I see the value of having
plans made in advance,” explains Casey. “It’s not just the making of decisions
under pressure, it’s also the second-guessing yourself months later. It can be
heartbreaking.”
How do I pre-plan?
MES
NERAL HO
FAMILY FU
rial Funeral Home
Newington Memo Avenue
20 Bonair
06111
Newington, CT
(860) 666-0600
ral Home
Burritt Hill Fune
t
332 Burritt Stree
06053
New Britain, CT
(860) 229-9021
www.duksa.net
G ui de
Fu ne ra l Pl an ni ng
We need to ask our loved ones if advance plans are something that have been
recorded in writing, and if so, where are they located? If our parents or other people
important to us have plans written in a will or placed in a safe-deposit box, these
things are not opened until after the funeral and therefore not helpful. If relatives
verbally communicate wishes to their children or other relatives and it is not written
down, then loved ones have the responsibility of trying to recall details under
pressure. This is likely a stressful time and no one needs the added pressure of trying
to remember plans while grieving.
When you meet with a funeral director, all of your plans will be written down and
placed on file to be easily accessible when needed. You will have the opportunity to
ask questions, explore and determine what service options are best for you and your
family without obligation.
Do I have to prepay?
Payment options can also be discussed at the appointment. Many people don’t realize
that they don’t have to prepay to make advance arrangements. However, many people
choose to pre-pay because there are so many advantages. Pre-funding can help
to protect your family from price inflation. Options are available to make smaller
payments over time so that you don’t have to come up with a lump-sum payment.
Pre-paying can also eliminate overspending by family because decisions are made
during a non-emotional time. Pre-funding also can be helpful when qualifying for
Medicare. A funeral director will be pleased to help determine if this option is right
for you.
Casey reminds us that, in the state of Connecticut, funds are placed into a separate
account and untouched by the funeral home until they are needed. This money is
completely transferable in case your plans change. Duksa Family Funeral Homes
gives the added benefit of price protection (except for third party purchases)
against rising funeral costs. They cannot guarantee third party charges such as
cemetery costs or charges from the minister or funeral celebrant.
How can I get more information?
Casey Biega invites you to contact her at 860-666-0600 to ask questions and set an
appointment to speak about pre-planning arrangements. A free funeral planning
guide can also be requested by emailing Casey at [email protected]
or by visiting any of our locations.
8

Summer 2015 - Duksa Family Funeral Homes

Transcription

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