Josephine Szynalski

Josephine “Josie” Theresa Szynalski, 87, peacefully joined her true love, Anthony, and her God on March 6, 2018.

Josie was born March 19, 1930, in Wolica, Poland, to Frank and Kathy Burda. During the tumultuous Russian invasion of Poland, Josie, all alone, was placed in a traveling orphanage of Polish refugee families and single children. The orphanage traveled around the world including India, Australia, California, seeking a place to settle, until they were welcomed in Santa Rosa, Mexico. This group of refugees later became known as the Poles of Santa Rosa. These refugees became Josie’s lifelong friends/family.

American citizens, having learned of these children, petitioned the U.S. government to bring them into the country. Josie was in the group that went to Chicago and entered a vocational school where she learned to sew, a talent she utilized the rest of her life.

She met her true love, Anthony Szynalski, married and lived in Chicago, Illinois. Anthony’s work at Hills-McCanna brought them to Creston in 1966. Another job change took them to Placentia, California, in 1985.

Josie is survived by Helen (Kerry) Kinkade, Edward (Melinda) Szynalski and JoAnn (John) Nygard; grandchildren, Cassie and Ashley Mikkelsen, Jennifer (Patrick) Bussen, Jessica (James) Cummins, Mary and Katie Szynalski, Joshua and Jordan Bryant, and Jack Nygard IV; and great-grandchildren, Anderson Mikkelsen and Daniel and Caleb Bussen.

A visitation followed by funeral Mass will be noon Friday, March 9, at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Overland Park, Kansas. Interment will be in Holy Sepulcher Cemetery in Orange, California, at a later date.