Myrna Gwynne, age 83, of O'Fallon, Ill., born November 27, 1930 in Newbridge, Wales, to Lloyd and Edith Gwynne, peacefully passed away September 15, 2014 at home, surrounded by her loving family.

Myrna had wonderful memories of growing up in Wales despite the harshness of daily life during the war years. When food was rationed during World War II, she and her beloved brother, Vernon, would work on a neighbor's farm in exchange for their farm produce. Later during her teenage years, she volunteered with the St. John's Ambulance Wales, which met the war wounded to provide first aid and food. She met her future husband, Stanislaus Koszykowski, a concentration camp survivor and member of the Polish army, in nearby Oakdale and they were married in 1949.

In 1953, they immigrated to the United States with their infant son, Edward Steven, and resided in Brooklyn, N.Y. She worked as a cleaning lady in New York City for over 25 years and loved visiting the many art museums that the city offered. She also loved her many British friends and attended the annual British War Veterans dances. In summer, the Brits would attend the US Open tennis matches in Forest Hills, N.Y. They brought their thermoses and drank hot tea in 90 degree weather (as only the British can).

Moving to O'Fallon, Ill. in 1989, Myrna dedicated her remaining 25 years of life to volunteer services. She found great joy and meaning in helping people who struggled to have their basic needs met. She worked for the Red Cross at Scott Air Force Base for over 21 years and provided over 15,000 hours of service in medical records and the refill pharmacy. She also assisted with the countless blood drives during these years. During the Gulf War, she met the planes bringing the wounded to Scott AFB giving them nourishment and comfort much as she did 50 years earlier in Wales. She was a lifelong supporter of the Griffin Center in East St. Louis dedicated to providing after-school programs for over 500 children and solicited parish support for their programming for many years. She helped with the O'Fallon Food Pantry for over 14 years delivering food donations from St. Nicholas Church and bringing food donations several days a week to Cosgrove's Kitchen in East St. Louis where she also served Thanksgiving dinners. She was a member of the St. David's Welsh Society of Greater St. Louis and treasured their friendship. She so loved the St. Nicholas faith community serving as a parish choir member and enjoying the Yesterday's Kids members and their many trips.

Most importantly, she was a deeply prayerful woman who found great peace and joy being a member of the chapel prayer group who attended daily mass and prayed the rosary. She kept an ongoing list of people needing prayers and every Friday her prayer intention was for our military members and their families.

She deeply loved her family and found much joy and comfort working in their Garden of Weeden. She was a great storyteller and provided many memorable sayings that people treasured when meeting her. She loved to cross stitch and created incredible pictures. She remained faithful till the end of life living out her faith in everyday life. We will deeply miss her but her impact in our lives will remain forever along with her humor and sayings.

Our family wishes to thank all of you who welcomed the stranger with the Welsh accent into your lives and especially to the St. Nicholas Community who loved and cared for her, the medical staff and home care staff who tenderly treated her, and to Hospice of Southern Illinois whose love, care and compassion were invaluable to our family in her last days.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Stanislaus Koszykowski; a daughter, Maria Theresa; a son, Stanley James; her parents, Lloyd and Edith nee Gale, Gwynne; her parents-in-law, Jan and Maria Koszykowski; and many other dear family members.
Surviving are her son, Edward Steven Koszykowski and her beloved daughter-in-law, Myra nee Drazul of O'Fallon, Ill.; her grandson, Stanley "Stash" of O'Fallon, Ill., granddaughters, Karla Ann (Mike) Deeken of New Athens, Ill., and Mikella "Majka" Koszykowski of St. Louis, Mo.; and great granddaughters, Gianna Botindari of Los Angeles, Calif. and Madison "Maddie" Deeken.

Also surviving are her beloved brother, Vernon James Gwynne, of Blackwood, Wales; her dearest niece, Siân (Mike) Davies, of Croespenmaen, Wales, their sons, Garreth and Kristian, and several dear cousins.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Catholic Urban Programs, the Griffin Center, the O'Fallon Food Pantry and Hospice of Southern Illinois.

Visitation: Friends may call from 4:00 – 8:00 pm, Wednesday, September 17, 2014 at St. Nicholas Catholic Church, O'Fallon, and after 9:00 am, Thursday, September 18, 2014.
Yesterday's Kids will conduct a walk-through at 9:15 am, Thursday, September 18, 2014 at the church.

Funeral Service: Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 am, Thursday, September 18, 2014 at the church with Msgr. William Hitpas presiding. Our family will bring Mom home to be laid to rest at Mynyddislwyn Cemetery in Wales.