Paul J. Zalenski

Paul Zalenski was the king of conversation, a man with a silver tongue and a truly golden heart. With a dry wit and a warm, friendly demeanor, Paul was beloved by all who knew him. Those who knew him best always joked that “Paul is Paul, and that is all,” but he was truly so much more. Paul was a loving husband, father, grandfather and friend, a good Christian and Catholic, and an even better man.

Paul’s story began on a warm spring day in 1960, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Those were turbulent times in our nation’s history, during the Cold War and the Space Race. On May 8, 1960, John and Virginia (Priest) Zalenski experienced a big change of their own, with the birth of a baby boy, a son they named Paul.

Paul was the fifth of nine children in the large family, joining his older siblings Priscilla, John Jr., Elizabeth, and Steven, and his younger siblings Mark, Anne, Theresa and Tom. The family lived on Jackson Street NW, where Paul was raised, and he would remain a lifelong “West Sider.” His father was a service station owner and General Motors worker, while his mother had her hands full during the day with the kids and the home, and worked some nights as a movie theater usher.

Paul attended St. James Elementary School and later Walbridge Academy, when he wasn’t running around outside, of course. He had congenital inner ear problems and was often sick, which would affect him throughout his lifetime, but it hardly slowed him down as a child.

Paul loved dirt bikes, skiing, fishing, hunting and boating as a kid. The family did much together growing up, and Paul fondly recalled the times they spent at the family cottage on Lincoln Lake. They were also faithful members of the Catholic Church, where Paul’s lifelong faith was formed.

Paul left school early, anxious to set out into the world, but would later return to earn his GED. He started out working at Holy Cross Cemetery and West Michigan Iron and Metal, before finding a good job at Calvin College, becoming Supervisor of the cafeteria. Paul's disab ility later allowed him to be home, taking care of the family and household.

Paul’s personal life was even more rewarding, however. One night he went to his friend John Hanson’s birthday party, where he met a beautiful young woman named Lucinda “Cindy” Swendroski. The sparks flew between them, and they soon had their first date, dancing the night away at the Lincoln Casino, followed by some fishing at the family cottage.

The two dated for a couple of years, fell in love, and were married in March of 1985, at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church, with a reception afterward at Duba’s Restaurant.

The newlyweds settled into a little apartment on Watson SW in Grand Rapids, and later bought a home on Lane Street, before moving to a beautiful home on Hamilton Street NW, where Paul would live the rest of his life, and where they would raise their family.

Paul and Cindy were blessed with three beautiful children over the years, first with their daughter Jenni in 1985, followed by Paul in 1988, and Matt rounded out the happy family in 1989. Paul couldn’t have been a prouder papa, and was a very dedicated and loving husband, as well. He always called Cindy “his beautiful bride,” and doted on his family.

Paul loved to cook, and made most of the family meals. Dinner was always waiting when they came home at night. He made an incredible pot roast, Swiss steak, and was a true grill master, too. He bought his meat at Frank’s Market or Sobie Meats, getting the choice cuts.

The family did much together, from their summer vacations to Traverse City, Mackinac Island and the Upper Peninsula, to of course, Mass on Sunday. They became members of Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, where Paul became very, very active. He served as a Sacristan, head of the altar servers, and helped in weddings, funerals and all the holiday masses, too. He was playground supervisor, and became close with Father John Thome, Father Joe Pettit and Father Dennis Morrow, as well as the Carmelite sisters of Parnell Monastery.

Paul always helped out wherever he could, though, and was so quick to lend a helping hand or words of encouragement. Paul was a world-class conversationalist, of course, and was always happy to chat somebody up, with his dry wit and admittedly corny jokes.

Paul had many interests of his own, and loved to play golf, go pan fishing, pike fishing or add to his coin collection. He enjoyed sports, from big-time wrestling, to baseball and Michigan football, and his musical tastes ranged from classic rock, to Sinatra and Josh Groban. He loved chocolate, and cashews, and an ice-cold Vernor’s Ginger Ale.

Most of all, Paul was a loving husband, father and grandfather, who always put his family first.

On Thursday afternoon, July 24, 2008, Paul was watering the grass at his home, when he developed chest pain. He was taken to Butterworth Hospital, where he sadly died not long after, at the age of 48.

Paul was a wonderful man, who devoted his life to the two most important things: his family and his faith. He was a world-class talker, with a silver tongue and a golden heart, and a loving husband, father, grandfather and friend. Most of all, Paul was a good, Christian man with a good life, a life we were so blessed to have shared. He will be greatly missed.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Virginia Zalenski, and his brothers, Steven and Mark Zalenski. He is survived by his loving wife, Lucinda; his children, Jenni, Paul R. and Matthew Zalenski; his grandson, Seth Zalenski; his mother-in-law, Virginia Swendroski; his brothers and sisters, Priscilla (Donald) Sullins, John (Rose) Zalenski, Elizabeth Zalenski, Ann Zalenski, Theresa Hnyluk, Tom Zalenski; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Therese & Charlie Foley, John and Debby VanDam, Rick Swendroski, Tony and Vicki Swendroski; many nieces, nephews and friends. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday morning at 10:00 AM at SS Peter and Paul Catholic Church (please meet at the church). Burial in Holy Cross Cemetery. Relatives and friends may meet his family on Sunday from 2-4 and 7-9 PM, with the rosary at 7:00 PM, at Heritage Life Story Funeral Home – Alt & Shawmut Hills Chapel, 2120 Lake Michigan Dr. NW. Contributions in his memory may be made to Carmelite Sisters Monastery of Parnell MI. To read more about Paul’s life, to leave your own memory of him and to sign his guest book, visit his web page at www.lifestorynet.com