Jasio "Basha" Stefan Snyder
July 24, 1990 - September 2, 2007Obituary by Jadwiga Inglis
CALIFORNIA - Hundreds of people (students, parents, friends) arrived at Cathedral City for Jasio Stefan "Basha" Snyder's funeral on Sept. 29, 2007. It was heartbreaking to see the young 17-year-old Polish American boy in a coffin: one who not so long ago energetically danced in the Polish Podhale Dance Group, who graduated from Saturday Polish School in LA, who was part of his high school football and water polo teams, played Jazz band and more.
"Jasio" Snyder, with two other friends from his high school class, died in a car accident September 24, 2007 on Morningside Road in Rancho Mirage. just south of Palm Springs, CA. His parents, Stefan and Liliana Snyder, moved from Woodland Hills to Rancho Mirage with their children about one-and-a-half years ago.
I wished to wake up and find that this had not happened; that it was just a bad nightmare. I wish that life would be the same again for Jasio, his parents, and all of us. I wished to see him graduate from High School, Class of 2008, to see him go to college, to marry and have children. It was so sad to know that all those things listed above would not take place anymore. Tears covered every face of visitors during the viewing and the funeral. Flowers with Jasio's photographs were spread all over the Mortuary at the Forest Lawn chapel and in their house. Slides were displaying Jasio's short yet great full-of adventure life. They showed how much he was loved by his parents, family, and others. We heard Jasio's favorite music and songs, and the sound of saxophone as he liked to play. I remember how he was eleven and performed on the sax during the Proud to be Polish Festival in Los Angeles. The boy who just became a man, dear to his beloved parents, who loved him so much, dear to his sister, cousins and dear to his friends entered eternal life so early. We prefer he would be with us. I would prefer to write about his further successes on earth not about the end, and yet death is like a thief that comes when least expected and takes away what is most dear. During my grief I think how stupid and disturbing wars are; how they make no sense. Every death of a child to every parent and friend is the same sad story.
On the road at the site of the accident, I saw the remains of a small animal that probably was the cause of this tragic accident. The 17-year old female driver of black Volkswagen Jeta probably was trying to save the animal crossing the road and drove rapidly to the left side, applied brakes and hit a tree, accidentally killing herself and her friends; her two passengers. Loss of emotional control can cause death and all this suffering.
Jasio Snyder was a good friend of my son and my seventeen-year-old daughter. He was the son of our good friends that are always friendly and generous people. He was a Polish and American Citizen born in the USA. He loved to cook, assemble computers and he wanted to become a doctor as his father is.
We miss Jasio dearly, and our hearts are united in sorrow with his family.
Liliana, Stefan, Misia, Maya, Wojtek and Lila, as you grieve Jasio's loss, may the great memories with him and of him lighten your pain.
With love, Jadwiga Inglis with family and friends.
From: THE POST EAGLE , October 17, 2007