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StaffLife Story Funeral Director
pauluzarski@lifestorynet.com
Since he was eight years old, Paul had it in his mind that to be a funeral director would be the best job in the world. His mom always took him and his brothers and sister with her to the funeral home for visitations and rosaries and as Paul watched the funeral director he thought that was exactly what he wanted to be. Making his dream come true is a major part of Paul's life story.
Paul grew up on the West Side just a block and a half away from Sacred Heart Church. It was a great neighborhood for kids; friendly people who cared about each other and there were lots of fun things to do. Besides John Ball Park there was Lincoln Park which was a great place to swim, and there was Valley Field for baseball games. The kids walked or rode their bikes everywhere and knew where all the corner stores were. It was a great neighborhood with a wonderful heritage of food, baptisms, confirmations, weddings, and funerals.
After high school Paul got a job making cabinets at Stowe-Davis. Paul like the job and was good at it. With some coaxing from the older guys he worked with he decided to look to the future and signed up at Grand Rapids Junior College. He went to school full-time and worked part-time at the furniture factory and also at Van't Hof Funeral Home. The job at Van't Hof's came through Paul's uncle who knew Paul was interested in funeral service and told him to go see a man named Joe Oele at Van't Hof's. Joe Oele took one look at Paul and hired him; Joe knew a good thing when he saw it.
As soon as he got the credits he needed at JC Paul left for Chicago and the Worsham College of Mortuary Science. He graduated in 1982 and was licensed by the State of Michigan. It was a milestone in Paul's life story.
Another milestone in Paul's life story started with a motorcycle accident when he was on his way to work at Van't Hof Funeral Home. He was only going 20 miles an hour but ended up in the hospital with a broken back. Elizabeth Patin, from Sand Lake, was one of his nurses-and you can guess the rest of the story. Elizabeth and Paul were married at St. Mary's Church in Sand Lake in 1983.
Paul and Elizabeth have four children, Matt, Joe, Laura, and Michael. Joseph is a student at Michigan Tech, Matthew attends Grand Rapids Community College, and Laura and Michael are students at West Catholic High School. They also have a cat named Garth; Paul wouldn't mind if it ran away, actually, but the kids consider her part of the family. Because Paul's dad died when Paul was only a year and a half old and Paul's sister died in auto accident Paul knows how important family life is. He spends as much time as he can with his family. They attend Sacred Heart of Jesus Church where Paul is a lector. Paul also serves on the Catholic Secondary School Board, is a member of the Polish Falcons Aid Society and a Third Degree member of the Knights of Columbus, Sacred Heart of Jesus Council #13641.
Integrity, honesty, caring about people and doing good things for others are important to Paul. This makes him an excellent funeral director. And as Paul often says, "I can't imagine doing anything else." Paul knows the life stories of those we love are what influence who we are today.
Paul grew up on the West Side just a block and a half away from Sacred Heart Church. It was a great neighborhood for kids; friendly people who cared about each other and there were lots of fun things to do. Besides John Ball Park there was Lincoln Park which was a great place to swim, and there was Valley Field for baseball games. The kids walked or rode their bikes everywhere and knew where all the corner stores were. It was a great neighborhood with a wonderful heritage of food, baptisms, confirmations, weddings, and funerals.
After high school Paul got a job making cabinets at Stowe-Davis. Paul like the job and was good at it. With some coaxing from the older guys he worked with he decided to look to the future and signed up at Grand Rapids Junior College. He went to school full-time and worked part-time at the furniture factory and also at Van't Hof Funeral Home. The job at Van't Hof's came through Paul's uncle who knew Paul was interested in funeral service and told him to go see a man named Joe Oele at Van't Hof's. Joe Oele took one look at Paul and hired him; Joe knew a good thing when he saw it.
As soon as he got the credits he needed at JC Paul left for Chicago and the Worsham College of Mortuary Science. He graduated in 1982 and was licensed by the State of Michigan. It was a milestone in Paul's life story.
Another milestone in Paul's life story started with a motorcycle accident when he was on his way to work at Van't Hof Funeral Home. He was only going 20 miles an hour but ended up in the hospital with a broken back. Elizabeth Patin, from Sand Lake, was one of his nurses-and you can guess the rest of the story. Elizabeth and Paul were married at St. Mary's Church in Sand Lake in 1983.
Paul and Elizabeth have four children, Matt, Joe, Laura, and Michael. Joseph is a student at Michigan Tech, Matthew attends Grand Rapids Community College, and Laura and Michael are students at West Catholic High School. They also have a cat named Garth; Paul wouldn't mind if it ran away, actually, but the kids consider her part of the family. Because Paul's dad died when Paul was only a year and a half old and Paul's sister died in auto accident Paul knows how important family life is. He spends as much time as he can with his family. They attend Sacred Heart of Jesus Church where Paul is a lector. Paul also serves on the Catholic Secondary School Board, is a member of the Polish Falcons Aid Society and a Third Degree member of the Knights of Columbus, Sacred Heart of Jesus Council #13641.
Integrity, honesty, caring about people and doing good things for others are important to Paul. This makes him an excellent funeral director. And as Paul often says, "I can't imagine doing anything else." Paul knows the life stories of those we love are what influence who we are today.
