Edward J. Sypniewski, Jr.

Edward J. Sypniewski Jr. age 77, of St. Paul, passed away peacefully on February 13, 2026, after a battle with cancer.

On Friday the 13th in November of 1969, Edward, “Eddie", "Big Ed” Sypniewski had a brain aneurysm. He was only 21 years old. He told people that when it happened, he woke up a different person and had to relearn the things we take for granted, like walking and speaking. Before that fateful day, Eddie was racing cars at the Twin Cities dragstrips and taking flying lessons. Always the optimist, Eddie turned the number 13 into his lucky number. He loved when a Friday the 13th would roll around. He remembered that day as the day he survived, not the day that made his life more challenging. Eddie would always bet on the number 13. One time winning a fair amount of money on the MN Daily Three or Pick 3. When his boys played sports, they would wear the #13 whenever they could, to honor him and passing on the belief that 13 was a lucky number. He would tell anybody who would listen how long ago he had his aneurism. It is no surprise that he waited until Friday the 13th to end his battle.

Eddie had a deep faith and was a practicing Catholic until the day he passed. He was known by many at the old St. Ambrose Church on the East Side of St. Paul, and at his current parish of Blessed Sacrament.

Eddie had a wonderful, loving, and adventurous life. Many people don’t know that he did not meet his loving wife of 53 years, Frances, until after his aneurism. He was only slowed down by his aneurism and subsequent brain bleeds, in his later years.

He will be remembered as the loveable part owner of Red’s Pizza, where he gave many neighborhood kids on the East Side their first job. He also loved his time as the volunteer “mummy” for the St. Paul Police haunted house, the Dungeon of Horrors. Eddie loved his large Italian family and spending times with his many aunts, uncles and cousins. He will be missed by all those that knew him, especially his wife, two boys, daughters-in-law and his five grandchildren. He told them he loved them every day and was always filled with immense pride for their accomplishments.

Eddie is preceded in death by his parents, Violet and Edward Sr.; and sisters, Sharon Marie and Lynda. He is survived by sons, Edward III (Katie), and William (Tara Dougherty); grandchildren, Jameson, Sabrina, Parker, Finley, and Sullivan; and many other family and friends.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 AM Wednesday, February 25 at The Church of the Blessed Sacrament, 2119 Stillwater Ave. E, St. Paul. Visitation will be held from 3-7 PM Tuesday at Mueller-Bies Funeral Home - Roseville, 2130 N. Dale St. at County Rd B, and at the church from 9:30 - 10:30 AM Wednesday. Interment to take place after the mass at Calvary Cemetery.

Memorials are preferred to the family.

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