Snyder, Martha (Van Tassel)

Rochester, NY: Martha Elizabeth Snyder passed away peacefully on January 29, 2016 at the age of 92. She was born in Lockport, NY, to Merle and Dora (Drake) Van Tassel. She spent most of her early years on a dairy farm near Titusville, PA. with her father and siblings, Hazel and Richard. She married Clarence Snyder in 1943. Together, they raised two children, Jeffrey and Sonya, in Erie, PA. Clarence and Martha lived together in Erie for 64 years until Clarence’s death in 2007.

Martha was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church in Erie, where she enjoyed singing in the choir. She loved gardening, birds, and keeping a clean and organized house. She also liked to sew and crochet. Martha was known for her excellent pies and salads. Martha and Clarence frequently visited Presque Isle State Park, where they spent many happy hours watching people, birds, and kites.

In 2012, Martha moved to the Rochester Presbyterian Home (RPH). While there, she enjoyed going to church, participating in activities and telling stories about her youth on the farm. Her pet cat, Kitty, was her roommate at the RPH.

Martha was predeceased by her beloved husband of 64 years, Clarence; sister, Hazel; brother, Richard; and half sister, Agnes. She is survived by her son, Jeffrey (Jo Ann) Snyder, of Fairport, NY; daughter, Sonya Snyder, of Jacksonville, FL; granddaughters, Kaitlin (Brian) Stone, Alaina (Charles Allen) Snyder, and Hillary Snyder; and grandsons, Gabriel (Bianca) Mattern and Sterling Mattern.

When asked on the day of her death what her greatest achievement was, she replied, “my family.”

Martha’s family would like to thank Barb, Elaine, Joyce, and the staff of Griswold Special Care in Erie for the excellent care that they provided to Martha in her home from 2005 to 2012. They would also like to thank the staff of the Rochester Presbyterian Home in Rochester for the family environment they created for her in the last years of her life.

A service of remembrance will be held at the Rochester Presbyterian Home, 256 Thurston Road, Rochester, NY, on Saturday February 6 at 11 AM, with a reception following. To honor Martha’s memory, please donate to the Rochester Presbyterian Home or the Presque Isle Partnership.