Today we’d like to introduce you to Vincent Kunkel
Hi Vincent, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Everything started when I married my wife in November 2016. At the time, we were both working at Stanford Hospital in the San Francisco Bay Area. Both of our departments received major layoffs due to the hospital attempting to meet the budget for the “new hospital” which is now operational. Unemployed and unsure, as a newlywed couple, we were presented the opportunity to relocate for a short time in San Diego, specifically in El Cajon. Once here, I applied for over 120 job openings, and my wife joined me as well. My wife started facing complications to her health due to childhood injuries, so there were many positions that she had to pass on. In desperate need, I found myself applying for a position that was completely different to me, which was a Removal Technician for a local Funeral Home Firm. Surprisingly, that employer was the only one who had called me back and offered me the job that I desperately needed. Very quickly, I learned how demanding the Funeral Industry was, and I wasn’t sure if this was the right move for me. However, with necessity came courage and willingness to provide for my wife and I. As the years passed, I became very knowledgeable and understanding of how the “Funeral World” worked. For a couple years, I worked in a couple different positions trying new vocations apart from the Funeral Industry. I served at the County Of San Diego as well as Scripps Hospital Hillcrest during the Pandemic, yet I found myself still thinking about how much I wanted to help people when they are going through the loss of their loved ones. I saw it as a form of ministry. It was like a calling that refused to abandon me. Again, I started submitting job applications, and unlike the past, I instantly received callbacks and interview opportunities. However, there was only one Family-Owned Funeral Home that caught my attention more than the others. The owner is actually famous in California. I took the interview, and I was offered a position as a Funeral Counselor. This position was new to me and it opened a side of the business that I had not gotten to apply myself at before. Immediately, I knew in my heart that this is where I was meant to be. After being mentored for 2 years, I was encouraged by my Manager to obtain my Funeral Director’s License. After studying and taking the test, I was issued my Funeral Director’s License by the State Of California. After much prayer, I met with the Owner and Manager at my job, and I expressed to them that I wanted to branch out and open my own establishment. They were both extremely understanding and supportive. In the past, I had talked to my wife about the idea of opening a Funeral Home for ourselves, but with complicated pregnancies, a lack of savings, and limited experience, we had not had the opportunity to do so. Fast forward, here I was with savings, two toddlers, highly-valuable experience gained, and with the support of God, my wife, my family, and my employer, we decided to venture into opening “Chapel of Peace Cremation & Memorial Services”. The process was rigid, challenging, and eye-opening in many ways. After passing the final inspection by the Cemetery & Funeral Bureau with flying colors, we started servicing families and instantaneously receiving a lot of positive feedback. It’s been a great experience, and the feeling of healing so many people when they need it the most is very rewarding.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
One of the biggest struggles over the year has been trying to survive on a very low single-income. In addition to living under the poverty threshold, my wife has had multiple health complications that had required me to take time off of work. We even applied for things like Habitats For Humanity and Financial Aid for school, and we were rejected for having far too little of an income. I believe that this financial struggle has also played a role in making it difficult for me to know which career path to take. As soon as I accepted what I believe was “God’s plan” for me, things became smooth.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Chapel of Peace Cremation & Memorial Services?
We are a Oneness Pentecostal Family-Owned Funeral Home, possibly the only one in all of San Diego County, and one of few in the entire Nation. We serve families from every background and culture with love, integrity, and honor. We describe ourselves as a “No Pressure Funeral Home” that focuses on allowing families to celebrate life without restraining them into large spending on package deals. My wife and I both come from immigrant families with some incredible historic roots. In addition to traditional Funeral services, we also offer very uncommon and modern options that few Funeral Homes in San Diego offer.
How do you think about happiness?
The top three things that make me happy are not contingent on material attainability or retention. My relationship with God, my wife, and my children all make me happy regardless of any fluctuating aspects in life’s picture. As a man, the love and support that I receive from them is what keeps me pushing forward. I have lived my life on low-income for so long, that I have learned how to embrace the things that are not purchased with currency. This brings fulfillment to my life. Things like love, loyalty, honor, friendship, and sacrifice are all major influential powers that we hold onto inside of us, and they cannot be purchased or stolen by others. When loss comes into my life, I know that God is still in control. When gain comes into my life, I know that it was given by God Himself. This brings me happiness.
Pricing:
- Direct Cremation: Starting at $1,365
- All Veteran Add-Ons: Completely Free
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ChapelOfPeaceCremation.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ChapelOfPeaceCremation/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChapelOfPeaceCremation
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ChapelOfPeaceCremation
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/chapel-of-peace-cremation-and-memorial-services-el-cajon
Image Credits
©Chapel of Peace Cremation & Memorial Services, Inc.
