Today we are featuring an assistant foreman with Catholic Cemeteries and Funeral Services. Manny Vargas is a husband, father to four and a new grandfather to a 5 month-old granddaughter. Manny is originally from Chile and came to Canada when he was nine.
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| Manny Vargas |
1) How long have you been working for Catholic Cemeteries? What does a typical day on the job look like for you?
I have been working here since 1994. My current position is Assistant Foreman at Holy Cross Cemetery in Thornhill. I organize the daily tasks for the labourers. It differs day to day. I very much enjoy meeting families on the cemetery grounds. I am always willing to lend an ear.
2) How does your team work together to ensure things run smoothly? How many people do you work with?
I like to think we work together like a soccer team whereby I am the coach. It is important to know your players and their personalities. For instance, you should pair a more experienced worker with someone who has less experience. You should rotate your players on a soccer team. Similarly, on the job you should rotate the staff so they are not always doing the same thing. The number of staff varies based on the season.
3) How many hours does it take to prepare a plot for the interment before the family arrives?
To prepare a grave for burial takes many steps. It is of course very important to ensure the correct grave is marked and then check and double-check for accuracy. Digging a grave depends on factors such as the weather, ground conditions and depth. Most often, graves are dug the day before the burial. Ideally on a summer’s day in perfect conditions, it would take 30 minutes to prepare for and dig the grave.
4) What is something most people wouldn’t know about what goes on behind-the-scenes at a Catholic cemetery?
Most people wouldn’t know how much work is involved in preparing a grave for a burial. Every grave I prepare I do to the best of my ability because I know that everyone deserves a respectful burial. After a family leaves a committal, the burial is in our hands and I treat each burial with the utmost care, respect and dignity. Everyone who dies deserves to have a decent, dignified burial.
5) Some might find being around death all day somewhat depressing. What gives you hope?
I am a Catholic and I believe in life after death. This is what gives me hope. Also, helping families keeps me positive.
6) How has your view of death changed since you started working for Catholic Cemeteries?
I enjoy every day to the fullest. I have learned it is important to enjoy life because it is short.
7) What do you like to do outside of work?
Coach soccer. I like to work with troubled kids from broken homes. I have experience with soccer so I can work with kids to teach them what I know and it helps keep them out of trouble.
8) If you could have dinner with anyone in the world (deceased or alive), who would you choose?
I would dine with three people together: Pope Francis (I admire him because he is from Argentina which is the neighbour to Chile and he says many things which I can relate to), soccer great Lionel Messi and revolutionary Che Guevera (I admire him because he gave up his life for Latin America). We would dine on Chilean food and wine. The conversation would be about revolution, soccer, and peace and love. I have gathered the experts in each area. Che would talk about revolution, Lionel would talk about soccer and of course the Pope would talk about peace and love. We could come up with a solution to revolutionize the world using soccer to bring peace and love to all.
9) Who has been the most significant role model in your life?
My father. He was a strict man with good morals. He had a tough life and was a fighter to the very end. He passed away two years ago. I miss speaking to him about life, work, soccer, family. He brought me up with excellent standards and I admire him and thank him for that.