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.

 

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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.

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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.

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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. 

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Gavin P. DeMauro Funeral Director Woyaszfh@gmail.com

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Tom Kolasa Senior Funeral Associate (1940 - 2025)

Thomas J. Kolasa, 85, a longtime Norwich resident, passed away on August 27, 2025. He was born in Norwich, Connecticut on Feb. 9, 1940, the son of the late Thaddeus and Matilda (Borsa) Kolasa and was the loving husband of Frances (Wujcik) Kolasa. Tom was a graduate of Norwich Technical High School class of 1958. He worked for over 30 years as a machinist at United Nuclear in Uncasville as well as working part time for over 50 years at the Woyasz & Son Funeral Home. He retired in 2008 after 16 years at Foxwoods Resort and Casino. Tom was an avid fisherman, hunter and rock collector and lifetime member of the Valley Springs Sportsmans Club. He loved polka music and enjoyed going to dances with his wife and family.

 

 

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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.

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James Kurasz Funeral Associate

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Dennis Burke Fleet Maintenance

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Javier Martinez Facilities Specialist

Elsa Woyasz

President / Owner
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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
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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)
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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
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Tom Kolasa

Senior Funeral Associate (1940 - 2025)
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Thomas J. Kolasa, 85, a longtime Norwich resident, passed away on August 27, 2025. He was born in Norwich, Connecticut on Feb. 9, 1940, the son of the late Thaddeus and Matilda (Borsa) Kolasa and was the loving husband of Frances (Wujcik) Kolasa. Tom was a graduate of Norwich Technical High School class of 1958. He worked for over 30 years as a machinist at United Nuclear in Uncasville as well as working part time for over 50 years at the Woyasz & Son Funeral Home. He retired in 2008 after 16 years at Foxwoods Resort and Casino. Tom was an avid fisherman, hunter and rock collector and lifetime member of the Valley Springs Sportsmans Club. He loved polka music and enjoyed going to dances with his wife and family.

 

 

Richard Bernier

Funeral Associate
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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.

James Kurasz

Funeral Associate
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Dennis Burke

Fleet Maintenance
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Javier Martinez

Facilities Specialist
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