Jean Mary Snyder

Madison- Jean Mary Helf Snyder, age 90, passed away on Tuesday, October 14, 2008 in Wyocena.  She was born on March 8, 1918 in St. Paul, MN.  Jean graduated from Birnamwood High School.  On May 28, 1938, she married Everett L. Snyder.  Together they farmed in the Norrie, Belleville, Deerfield and Cottage Grove areas.  During her retirement she lived in Cottage Grove and Madison.  Jean had a varied work experience.  She was a wonderful farm wife, a food supervisor at St. Mary's Hospital in Madison, pastry cook for Chadbourne Hall at UW-Madison, cook for the VA Hospital in Madison, and 16 years as a senior program assistant for the Dane County Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program, a free program for low-income people that involved in-home and community center teaching about gardening, canning, budgeting, cooking, sanitation and child care.  Besides supervising staff, Jean worked directly with consumers, including Cambodian and Hmong people.  After retiring, she was an active volunteer for such organizations as Community Action Commission's Self Help and Resource Exchange (SHARE) program and the Madison Literacy Council as an English-as-a-second-language tutor for Cambodian women.  She was a devoted wife who took wonderful care of her husband after his stroke.  She is survived by her sons, Ted (Mary) Snyder of DeForest and Dan (Pat) Snyder of Schofield; daughter, Shirlee Snyder (Terry Schnitter) of Henderson, Nev; nine grandchildren, Chad (Amy) Snyder, Craig (Danielle) Snyder, Kelly (Mick) Snyder-Chase, Peter (Alla) Snyder, Paul (Heather) Snyder, Dawn (Clint) Collins, Debra (Jim) Gorzek, Steven Schnitter and Kelly Bishop; 15 great grandchildren, Vitali Snyder, Hailey, Tyler and Brett Snyder, Katie, Sarah and Andrew Gorzek, Jacob, Mathew, Theadora and Luke Collins, Logan, Chase, Ashley and Brady Johnston and Ryan Bishop; and sister, Rose Jozwiak.  She was preceded in death by her mother, Helen Helf Clark; stepfather, Archie Clark; her husband, Everett; infant daughter, Louise Snyder; and brother, Eugene Clark.  A memorial service will be held at 11:30 AM on Thursday, October 16, 2008 at Windsor United Church of Christ, 4434 Second Street, Windsor, with Rev. David McDonald officiating.  Friends may greet the family from 9:30 AM until the time of service on Thursday.