Szynalski, Bernard George

Fortified with the Sacraments of Holy Mother Church Monday, November 11, 2024.  Beloved husband of Stella Hasting (nee Blavesciunas) and the late Silvia Szynalski (nee Palermo).  Dear father of Victoria (Dan) McNamee.  Dear stepfather of Susan (Larry) Manring and Patricia Vogt.  Dear grandfather of Colin McNamee.  Dear step-grandfather of Daniel Korte, Alex Manta, Noah Manring and Autumn Manring.  Our dear brother-in-law, uncle, cousin and friend.

Bernie passed away on November 11, 2024 with his beloved wife of thirty years, Stella, and his daughter, Victoria, by his side.  He was born on August 5, 1942, in Gary, Indiana to Frieda (nee Bolka) and Henry Szynalski.  He was the baby of the family and had two older brothers, Henry and Frank.  He grew up with the of love of the outdoors, hunting and fishing any chance he could.  Summers were spent in Wisconsin on Manitowish Waters fishing with his mom, two brothers, and adopted grandfather, Dr. Benneke aka grandpa “Doc.”

Upon graduating from Lew Wallace High School in 1960, on a whim, he and a friend took the South Shore train from Gary, Indiana to Chicago. Later that day, he phoned his mother to inform her he enlisted in the United States Air Force and spent the next four years in Okinawa, Japan.  Bernie was serving in the Air Force during the Bay of Pigs, and the Cuban Missile Crisis.  He received an honorable discharge on January 7, 1964.

In 1966, he took an insurance sales position that brought him to St. Louis, Missouri and he moved to Crestwood, Missouri. It was during this time he met his first wife, Silvia Palermo, and they were married in May of 1967.

Bernie was a salesman through and through.  Through the years he worked for an animal pharmaceutical company, Coors Brewing Company and the Joseph Schlitz Brewing Company.  Additionally, he had an extraordinary passion for horse racing and he enjoyed learning the business, along with how to train thoroughbred horses.  He met many interesting friends through his work and horse racing hobby.

One couple he met along the way was Ralph and Stella Hasting.  Bernie and Ralph were best friends and so when Bernie and Stella both lost their respective spouses, they gravitated to each other for support. Before long, they were traveling and enjoying life together.  In November 1993, they married.

Bernie often said he had an opportunity to live two full lives, and he did.  Always a caretaker, provider, and ever ready with the right advice and counsel for anyone who needed it.

Stella and Bernie enjoyed thirty wonderful years together traveling, gardening and caring for cats in need of rescuing.  Over the last several years, taking care of injured, sick or stray cats became Bernie’s passion.  It filled his cup to give back and care for these vulnerable animals.  Through the years he has fed and provided medical care to over one hundred cats.

Bernie’s life can be summarized in a paradoxical quote from a Robert Frost poem, The Road Not Taken.

“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.”

SERVICES:  Funeral from Kutis Affton Chapel (10151 Gravois Road Affton, Missouri 63123) on Tuesday, November 19, 9:15 a.m. to Seven Holy Founders Catholic Church for 9:30 a.m. Mass.  Interment Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery.  Contributions to Animal House Cat Rescue and Adoption Center (www.stlcats.org) are appreciated.  Visitation Tuesday 8:00 a.m. to 9:15 a.m.