Helen Marie

Snellback

Artist And Mother

Helen Marie Snellback, a resident of the Manor at Woodside in New York, and formerly of Yorktown Heights, Deerfield, Ill., and Winter Haven, Fla., died peacefully, October 19. She was born in Manhattan, January 7, 1924, the daughter of Mae Wiebel and Walter P. Burke.

She married her sweetheart and returning World War II veteran, Donald F. Snellback, on August 30, 1947.

Five children and their spouses, Dean and Margot Snellback of Newtown, Barbara Snellback, Donna and Ken Thomas, Donald and Sari Snellback, and Tom Snellback survive Mrs Snellback, as do 12 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Her husband predeceased Mrs Snellback in 2008.

After their five children were in school, Mrs Snellback worked for a time at Sara Lee, then for 20 years at Richards Medical Equipment. She enjoyed her work and did an excellent job balancing her work and homemaking.

Art and painting were always her loves, and several of her paintings are hanging in the Manor at Woodside. She made friends easily, and was gentle, compassionate, and kind-hearted. She always found the good in others. She had a great sense of humor and a wonderful smile. But nothing gave Mrs Snellback more pleasure than being surrounded by her family.

The family would like to thank all of her friends at the Manor and a very special thanks to Donna Marie Williams for all her loving care.

A Mass of Christian Burial was scheduled for Friday, October 21, at 10:30 am, at St Martin de Porres Church, 118 Cedar Valley Road, Poughkeepsie, N.Y. After the mass a visitation will be held at Parmele Auchmoody & Schoonmaker Funeral Home, 110 Fulton Avenue, Poughkeepsie. Burial will be Monday, October 24, at Fort Sheridan Cemetery, Lake Forest, Ill.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St Jude Children’s Research Hospital at www.stjude.org, or Hospice, Inc, 374 Violet Avenue, Poughkeepsie NY 12601.

Online condolences may be offered at www.hudsonvalleyfuneralhomes.com.

The Newtown Bee        October 21, 2011