Stephen A. Smigielski

Stephen Smigielski passed away peacefully on September 27, 2022 at McLeod Hospital in Florence, SC, he was 85 years old.  He was a wonderful husband and father and a well-loved member of the community.  Born September 3, 1937, in Buffalo, N.Y, he was one of three siblings born to Stephen and Helen Smigielski.  After he graduated from Burgard High School he entered the Air Force and trained as an Air Traffic Controller.  He served from 1956 to 1960.  He was stationed in Okinawa and at the Plattsburg Air Force Base where he met his beautiful wife Colleen.

He worked as an Air Traffic controller for 31 years and during that time he spent a year in Saudi Arabia teaching Air Traffic Control.  He retired in 1988.  Being so young, retirement did not last very long as he moved to Oklahoma City where he taught at the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center air traffic control for 17 years. 

Stephen had such a passion for gardening.  He would spend hours meticulously picking out and planting his garden in the whole backyard and just when you thought he was done, he would find one more thing to put in his garden. 

He was such a devout catholic and was involved in so many groups within the church, including, catholic charities, distribution of communion to the sick, eucharistic minister, lector, church choir and also received his degree in spiritual direction. 

Along with his passion for gardening, he also loved golfing, camping and traveling with his wife and their partners in crime, Ed and Pat Russo. 

He is preceded in death by his brother and sister, Frank Smigielski; and Sister Josette Smigielski, CSSF and his two sons Allen Smigielski and Edward Smigielski.

He is survived by his wife Colleen Smigielski of 61 of years, daughters Patrice Chichester (Edison); Christine McCain (Mark); his son Stephen Smigielski; grandchildren Marisa Gelsomino (Sal); Sean McCain; Stephen Smigielski; Spencer Smigielski; Shane Owens; Kaylin Roberts; Jennifer Chichester; great grand child Samuel Roberts; and many nephew and nieces. 

Funeral Service will be held at Catholic Community at Carolina Forest on Monday, October 10, 2022 at 11:00 AM.

In Lieu of flowers, memorials can be made in his name to Catholic Community at Carolina Forest located at 1300 Carolina Forest Blvd, Myrtle Beach, SC 29579.

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