• Obituaries
  • Death Notices
• Services
  • What Will it Cost?
  • Guarantee Your Wishes
  • Service Options
  • Casket & Urn Options
  • Resource Center
• About
  • Contact Us
  • Who We Are
  • Our Facilities

Jody Wojciechowski

Jody took over the reigns of Colonial Wojciechowski Funeral Homes when his father, Joseph A. Wojciechowski, Jr., passed away in 1985. For a while, Jody was the youngest funeral home owner in the State of Illinois. Jody graduated Loyola Academy in Wilmette, Illinois and attended St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota. After obtaining his degree in Mortuary Science from Worsham College in Chicago, Jody became licensed and began serving families as a funeral director and embalmer. In 1990, Jody consolidated his two Chicago area funeral homes and began construction of the family's first suburban location. In 1992, Jody, along with his brother Mark, opened Colonial - Wojciechowski Funeral Home in Niles, Illinois. Jody has been active with the Niles Police Department serving as an Auxiliary Police Officer for many years. As a member of the Niles Sister City Program, Jody visited Limanova Poland as an ambassador for the Village of Niles. Jody has also served as board member for the Niles Chamber of Commerce, St. Andrew Life Center in Niles, IL and Children's Learning World, a Montessori School for children. Jody is married to Laura and has one daughter Elin and lives in Glenview, Illinois.

Mark Wojciechowski

After graduating from Spring Hill College with a bachelor's degree in business management, Mark joined the family business in 1988. Like many Chicago area funeral directors, he obtained his mortuary degree from Worsham College in 1990. Mark oversees the financial end of the business as well as arranging and directing funerals. Mark is active with the Gladstone Chamber of Commerce and is currently Vice President of the Funeral Directors Services Association of Greater Chicagoland. He is also a member of the Illinois Funeral Director's Association, the National Funeral Directors Association and is a Fourth Degree member of the Knights of Columbus. Mark was recently interviewed by the Chicago Tribune Newspaper discussing the funeral home's Memorial Video Productions. Mark enjoys camping and bicycle riding and lives in Glenview with his son Joey.

Ed Madura

Ed, a native of Chicago, began working for the Wojciechowski Family in 1959 under the direction of Joseph A. Wojciechowski, Sr. He began as an embalmer, but quickly rose to the position of General Manager. Over the years, Ed has been involved in all aspects of running the funeral homes, but currently overseas the day-to-day operations of the Chicago chapel and runs the funeral home's pre-need program. Throughout the years, Ed has been involved in coaching youth athletics, including baseball, basketball and football for over 25 years. He has served on the board of directors for the Chicagoland Funeral Directors Association and has been active in Polish Music for decades. Ed still plays clarinet and saxophone and has recorded with many great polka bands including Grammy award winning artist Eddie Blazonczyk's . "I am very proud of the profession that I chose. I enjoy talking with families and have been here so many years, I have come to know most of the families we serve. It's always nice going over old times." Ed and his wife lives in Norridge. He is the proud father of three and along with his wife are the grandparents of 15.

Mark A. Rizzo

Mark joined the staff of Colonial - Wojciechowski Funeral Homes in 1991. After a career change from Medical Technology to Mortuary Science in 1984, Mark has brought a vast array of experience from both family-owned and corporate-owned funeral homes. Mark was a non-profit hospice volunteer for eight years and served as president for five. During his term, his group lobbied the Stat of Illinois and was successful in passing legislation that allowed for the states first "free-standing hospice home". Mark participates in several speakers' bureaus and has presented the subject of Death & Dying, Funeral History, and Careers in Funeral Service to the Kiwanis, PTA, High School Seniors, College Freshman and Hospice support staff. Mark has been interviewed by the Wall Street Journal, appeared on the Q101 and WLUP radio programs, and the late Peter Jenning's ABC Nightly News Program. He is also called upon by industry leaders to test and evaluate new products. He is a member of the British Institute of Embalmers, Teamsters Local 727, Illinois Funeral Directors Association, the Omega Group, the Knights of Columbus and the Professional Car Society.

Bradley A. Rushton

Brad was born and raised in Central Illinois. He received a B.A. from Blackburn College in Music Performance and Education with a major in Percussion and Keyboard and minors in Business and Spanish. He also graduated from Worsham College of Mortuary Science in Des Plaines. He has lived in the Pacific Northwest, namely Eugene and Bend, Oregon. Brad and his wife Janet have one son. They live in the Northwest Suburbs of Chicago and attend Harvest Bible Chapel in Rolling Meadows. He has been very active in ministry most of his adult life. Currently, Brad and Janet serve as Small Group Leaders in their home. He has played drums and percussion for many events and has helped out our local churches in musical productions and holiday performances. Brad has been involved in the funeral industry since 1980 and started working for Colonial-Wojciechowski Funeral Homes when they opened their new facility in Niles in 1992. He has spoken at different events about funerals and funeral planning. He also carries a Life Insurance License for the purposes of preplanning funerals. He enjoys traveling with his family, cycling, woodcarving, golf, cooking, home remodeling and the Chicago Cubs.

Allan Ostrowski

Allan Ostrowski, also known as Al, serves the public with compassion and dedication with his second family, Colonial Wojciechowski Funeral Home. A graduate of Worsham College of Mortuary Science, Al joined the Wojciechowski Family in 1992. Shortly thereafter, Al became a fulltime licensed funeral director and embalmer. He maintains his license through annual continuing education courses and seminars. Al serves the public in all aspects of the funeral industry including arrangements, body preparation, embalming, restorative art and cremation services. On call 24 hours a day, his dedication and professionalism is evident even in the wee hours of the morning when he assists families with first calls and removals. Al is currently married to a Chicago Police officer and lives on Chicago's Northwest side. He loves the outdoors and the sun, but his true love is the caring of abandoned and injured dogs.

Karen Bruli

Karen started her career in the funeral industry by joining Colonial Wojciechowski Funeral Homes in 1999. She began working while enrolled in the Mortuary Science Program of Malcolm X College in Chicago. After working nights as a wake duty attendant, Karen graduated in 2000 and served her one year apprenticeship with the funeral home. In 2001 Karen became Colonial - Wojciechowski Funeral Home's first fully licensed female funeral director and embalmer. Prior to entering the funeral industry, Karen worked as a Certified Nursing Assistant and Emergency Medical Technician. Even though these positions were ones she enjoyed, Karen felt a calling to serve even more. "Becoming a funeral director was a life long passion. Everyday is a new challenge and experience." While every family has different wants and needs, Karen has proven herself as a truly compassionate and empathetic director. She brings to the funeral industry a unique and caring perspective that for too many years has been missing. "I am blessed and hope to continue serving families for many years to come.

Raymond Park

Raymond has been a funeral director and owner of Park Funeral Service since 1981. Ray was the first licensed Korean funeral director in the State of Illinois. Along with his wife, Hyun Sook “Sue”, they have been faithfully and ethically serving the Korean community of Chicagoland for over 25 years. Ray was born in South Korea and has been living in the Chicago area since 1971. He currently lives in Des Plaines. Before becoming a funeral director, Ray operated one of Chicago’s first Korean Language driver’s education companies. He has been serving as an Associate of Colonial-Wojciechowski Funeral Homes since 1994. Ray and his wife are avid dancers and are very active at Lakeview Korean United Presbyterian Church.

Mike Lepore

Born on the Northwest side of Chicago, Mike attended St. Eugene Catholic School and then graduated from Notre Dame High School in Niles. He was a former employee of the City of Chicago Department of Transportation for 10 years. He is married, so too bad for all you ladies out there. Mike lives in the suburbs just outside of Chicago with his wife and children. Mike is a connoisseur of good Italian food, especially if it is his mom’s, and is very active in the Italian American community. He is also the resident accomplished bowler of the funeral home playing on several local teams. Mike is a diehard Cub Fan and is an avid sports enthusiast. He also enjoys traveling with his family, especially to Las Vegas. He has been with the funeral home since January of 2005.

Jim Furlong

James E. Furlong, a 30 year veteran of the Chicago Fire Department, joined the staff of Colonial- Wojciechowski Funeral Homes in October of 2004. Jim proudly served in the United States Marine Corps during the 1950’s. Jim has been driving hearses and limousines for over 20 years and is very familiar with the Chicagoland area. He is happily married and enjoys his children and especially loves being a grandpa. While not working, Jim enjoys days at his summer home in Lake Geneva. Always light on his feet, Jim and his wife belong to various jitterbug clubs in Chicago. He is an avid classic car enthusiast and also enjoys collecting Lionel model trains.

Click Here to go back to About page