Staff

Our dedicated staff members are here to provide support, compassion, and information to help you through your journey of grief and the celebration of your loved one’s life.

 

photo
Elsa Woyasz President / Owner

Elsa (Figueroa) Woyasz was born in Cidra, Puerto Rico and came to Connecticut as a young woman with a desire to discover her potential to do great things for others. She immediately began working at various local companies and chose to be in positions serving customers to interact with and make relationships in the community. With a strong work ethic and natural ability to serve, she held numerous roles at the Naval Underwater Warfare Center and Sound Lab, and Ledge Light Federal Credit Union. Following these careers, she and her husband Jonathan decided to dedicate themselves to the next generation of funeral service at Woyasz & Son. Focused on reinvigorating the customer experience at Woyasz, Elsa and Jon teamed with company founder Peter Woyasz to deliver superior service to their client families.

In her spare time, Elsa is an avid runner and enjoys attending weekly church services as a member of Church of the City in New London. She has two sons—Kent and Martin—and loves to spend time with her grandchildren, Mason and Gwynn.

photo
Jonathan P. Woyasz Vice-President / Owner

Jonathan Woyasz is a second-generation funeral director and embalmer born and raised in Norwich. He is a graduate of Norwich Free Academy, Class of 1985 and obtained his mortuary science degree from the New England Institute of Applied Arts & Sciences in Boston. After losing his mother to cancer at 16, Jon felt the incredible ability of the funeral service to help him take those first steps toward healing; it’s that understanding of loss so early in his life that makes him different from other funeral directors and endears him so much to his client families. Jon believes that simply listening to the amazing and incredible stories of what people have experienced in their lifetimes is one of the greatest gifts of the funeral ministry, and he’s been told countless times how therapeutic it was for families to share their stories.

Jon has served as President of the Norwich Sunrise Rotary Club and as a two-time President of the Connecticut Funeral Directors Association. He serves as a board member for the Johnson Home and for Maplewood Cemetery. He is also a long-time parishioner of St. Joseph Church in Norwich and loves to spend time with Elsa and their family, boating, traveling, and golfing.

photo
Peter R. Woyasz Founder & Funeral Director (1940 - 2018)

Peter R. Woyasz, 77, a lifelong Norwich resident, died peacefully on Thursday, January 4, 2018. Born in Norwich on August 5, 1940 he was the son of Walter and Cecile (Porier) Woyasz. Peter was a graduate of NFA class of 1958 and the New England Institute of Applied Arts and Sciences in Boston. He was the owner of Woyasz & Son Funeral Service for over 50 years. To describe his life is quite simple. He was a hard worker who was extremely passionate about his profession. To describe Peter as a person is a bit more complicated. He was generous, supportive, knowledgeable, resourceful and was always quick to help his family and friends. He was fun and witty and there were times he was steadfast and stubborn; but he was certainly happiest when he was working on any one of the ten projects he would have going at any given time. He loved fixing and maintaining his "fleet" of cars. They weren't always the fanciest of cars but you can be assured that they were built "Ford Tough". As a man of strong faith he was a parishioner of St. Joseph Church in Norwich and was active with the Bingo committee for many years. 

photo
Gavin P. DeMauro Funeral Director Woyaszfh@gmail.com

Born and raised in Norwich, Gavin is a licensed funeral director and embalmer who cares deeply about serving the families of Woyasz & Son. As a young man, Gavin decided to pursue funeral service as a career after working alongside his grandfather and funeral home founder, Peter Woyasz, and his uncle, Jon Woyasz. He is a graduate of Norwich Free Academy, Class of 2015, and he earned his associate degree in mortuary science from Lincoln College in Southington. Gavin later earned his director’s license in 2018. He’s extremely proud to be a third-generation funeral director and to continue the legacy of service excellence and high standards set by his grandfather. With an enthusiastic spirit and gentle nature, Gavin has committed himself to making sure that every client family is served with dignity and respect.

Gavin is a parishioner of the Cathedral of St. Patrick in Norwich, loves to spend time outdoors and traveling across the United States, and enjoys entertaining family and friends.

photo
Tom Kolasa Senior Funeral Associate

Tom has been assisting the Woyasz & Son Funeral Service in its mission to help families celebrate the memories of their loved ones for over 50 years. He is a graduate of the original Norwich Technical High School and a retiree of United Nuclear Corporation and Foxwoods Casino. Tom is an experienced and skilled fisherman, and a longtime member of Thompson Fish & Game Club and Trout Unlimited. He is also a parishioner of St. Joseph Church in Norwich where he enjoys attending services with his family.

photo
Dennis Burke Fleet Maintenance

photo
Richard Bernier Funeral Associate

Born and raised in Norwich, Rich has been an invaluable part of the Woyasz team for many years. He is a retiree from the Connecticut Department of Transportation and enjoys fishing and boating with his family. Rich is also a talented and accomplished accordion player and began performing in 1966. He’s played in numerous polka bands and his legendary career includes the recording of dozens of albums, starring in the movie “The Polka King” with actor Jack Black in 2018, and receiving the Leon Kozicki Award from the International Polka Association for his 50 years of contributions to the genre. He has used music as a way to support many charitable organizations, including the Lisa Biskup Foundation, and performing with the Polish American Carolers at the Holyoke Soldiers Home, various Alzheimer’s facilities and nursing homes, and religious organizations.

photo
Roberto Diaz Cruz Funeral Associate

photo
Javier Martinez Facilities Specialist

Elsa Woyasz

President / Owner
photo

Elsa (Figueroa) Woyasz was born in Cidra, Puerto Rico and came to Connecticut as a young woman with a desire to discover her potential to do great things for others. She immediately began working at various local companies and chose to be in positions serving customers to interact with and make relationships in the community. With a strong work ethic and natural ability to serve, she held numerous roles at the Naval Underwater Warfare Center and Sound Lab, and Ledge Light Federal Credit Union. Following these careers, she and her husband Jonathan decided to dedicate themselves to the next generation of funeral service at Woyasz & Son. Focused on reinvigorating the customer experience at Woyasz, Elsa and Jon teamed with company founder Peter Woyasz to deliver superior service to their client families.

In her spare time, Elsa is an avid runner and enjoys attending weekly church services as a member of Church of the City in New London. She has two sons—Kent and Martin—and loves to spend time with her grandchildren, Mason and Gwynn.

Jonathan P. Woyasz

Vice-President / Owner
photo

Jonathan Woyasz is a second-generation funeral director and embalmer born and raised in Norwich. He is a graduate of Norwich Free Academy, Class of 1985 and obtained his mortuary science degree from the New England Institute of Applied Arts & Sciences in Boston. After losing his mother to cancer at 16, Jon felt the incredible ability of the funeral service to help him take those first steps toward healing; it’s that understanding of loss so early in his life that makes him different from other funeral directors and endears him so much to his client families. Jon believes that simply listening to the amazing and incredible stories of what people have experienced in their lifetimes is one of the greatest gifts of the funeral ministry, and he’s been told countless times how therapeutic it was for families to share their stories.

Jon has served as President of the Norwich Sunrise Rotary Club and as a two-time President of the Connecticut Funeral Directors Association. He serves as a board member for the Johnson Home and for Maplewood Cemetery. He is also a long-time parishioner of St. Joseph Church in Norwich and loves to spend time with Elsa and their family, boating, traveling, and golfing.

Peter R. Woyasz

Founder & Funeral Director (1940 - 2018)
photo

Peter R. Woyasz, 77, a lifelong Norwich resident, died peacefully on Thursday, January 4, 2018. Born in Norwich on August 5, 1940 he was the son of Walter and Cecile (Porier) Woyasz. Peter was a graduate of NFA class of 1958 and the New England Institute of Applied Arts and Sciences in Boston. He was the owner of Woyasz & Son Funeral Service for over 50 years. To describe his life is quite simple. He was a hard worker who was extremely passionate about his profession. To describe Peter as a person is a bit more complicated. He was generous, supportive, knowledgeable, resourceful and was always quick to help his family and friends. He was fun and witty and there were times he was steadfast and stubborn; but he was certainly happiest when he was working on any one of the ten projects he would have going at any given time. He loved fixing and maintaining his "fleet" of cars. They weren't always the fanciest of cars but you can be assured that they were built "Ford Tough". As a man of strong faith he was a parishioner of St. Joseph Church in Norwich and was active with the Bingo committee for many years. 

Gavin P. DeMauro

Funeral Director
photo

Born and raised in Norwich, Gavin is a licensed funeral director and embalmer who cares deeply about serving the families of Woyasz & Son. As a young man, Gavin decided to pursue funeral service as a career after working alongside his grandfather and funeral home founder, Peter Woyasz, and his uncle, Jon Woyasz. He is a graduate of Norwich Free Academy, Class of 2015, and he earned his associate degree in mortuary science from Lincoln College in Southington. Gavin later earned his director’s license in 2018. He’s extremely proud to be a third-generation funeral director and to continue the legacy of service excellence and high standards set by his grandfather. With an enthusiastic spirit and gentle nature, Gavin has committed himself to making sure that every client family is served with dignity and respect.

Gavin is a parishioner of the Cathedral of St. Patrick in Norwich, loves to spend time outdoors and traveling across the United States, and enjoys entertaining family and friends.

Tom Kolasa

Senior Funeral Associate
photo

Tom has been assisting the Woyasz & Son Funeral Service in its mission to help families celebrate the memories of their loved ones for over 50 years. He is a graduate of the original Norwich Technical High School and a retiree of United Nuclear Corporation and Foxwoods Casino. Tom is an experienced and skilled fisherman, and a longtime member of Thompson Fish & Game Club and Trout Unlimited. He is also a parishioner of St. Joseph Church in Norwich where he enjoys attending services with his family.

Dennis Burke

Fleet Maintenance
photo

Richard Bernier

Funeral Associate
photo

Born and raised in Norwich, Rich has been an invaluable part of the Woyasz team for many years. He is a retiree from the Connecticut Department of Transportation and enjoys fishing and boating with his family. Rich is also a talented and accomplished accordion player and began performing in 1966. He’s played in numerous polka bands and his legendary career includes the recording of dozens of albums, starring in the movie “The Polka King” with actor Jack Black in 2018, and receiving the Leon Kozicki Award from the International Polka Association for his 50 years of contributions to the genre. He has used music as a way to support many charitable organizations, including the Lisa Biskup Foundation, and performing with the Polish American Carolers at the Holyoke Soldiers Home, various Alzheimer’s facilities and nursing homes, and religious organizations.

Roberto Diaz Cruz

Funeral Associate
photo

Javier Martinez

Facilities Specialist
photo