Jennie Mae Snyder

Jennie Mae Snyder, 88, of Bethlehem, passed away peacefully on Sunday, May 14, 2023 surrounded by her loving family. Born in Bethlehem, she was the daughter of the late Edgar A. and Addie (Souders) Snyder. Jennie Mae attended Liberty High School making local news as being part of the first ever girls softball team at Liberty, paving the way for future women’s sports at the high school. She was very athletic and participated in swimming, softball, basketball and volleyball earning her “Letter” at Nitschmann which she boasted and was very proud of.  As a teenager she loved to dance and appeared on Dick Clark’s American Bandstand in Philadelphia as her entire family watched her on TV. She worked for James River “Dixie” Company, Easton, for over 40 years until retiring in 1998. Upon her retirement she loved to travel with her daughter and enjoyed monthly luncheons with her friends from high school called “Our Gang” which was a testament to her values in maintaining lifelong friendships that endured the test of time.

     
Jennie Mae also known as Nana, Aunt Jen and as “Mom” to many, her beauty was transcendent both inside and out. She was a loyal, loving and devoted mother, grandmother, aunt and friend. She was kind, sweet, caring and unapologetically sassy. Her values were solid and always strove to do the right thing even when no one was watching, which she said was the true testament of a person’s character. She loved hard and unconditionally, none more than her only daughter, beloved grandson and son-in-law that she believed were the greatest gifts that God had ever given her.  She opened her heart and home to those in need and defended family and friends with all of her strength. 

 She was a member of the Moravian Church, although not active in her later years, her faith and relationship with God was strong and unwavering . She prayed daily not for herself but for those she loved as well as those in need. The world was blessed with a beautiful soul, her spirit has been, and will always be, part of all the people that she has touched over her lifetime.

She was loved by many and will forever be missed, loved and remembered by her daughter Lisa and husband Carlos Fontanez,  her beloved and only grandson Losian Garcia Fontanez who live in Bethlehem as well as many loving nieces and nephews, including Addie Mattes, Richard and Gary Diefenderfer and Roy Gambler Jr. She was preceded in death by her siblings Chaplan Edgar A. Snyder, Jr of  College Hill and Central Moravian Church, Shirley A. Gambler and Jean M Diefenderfer.

Services: A viewing, 6-7pm and Memorial Service, 7-8pm will be held on Monday, May 22, 2023 at the Cantelmi Long Funeral Home, 500 Linden Street Bethlehem, PA 18018.  All are invited to share their memories, pictures and condolences online. Those who were not able to attend Monday’s viewing and service are welcome to join the family for a short cremation burial that will take place at 11am Tuesday May 23, 2023 at Fairview Cemetary. 

Jennie appreciated the beauty in all things: the sun on her face, wind in her hair and the long drawn out smell of fresh cut flowers as well as random acts of kindness. In her memory the family asks you take the time to enjoy the simple things as did she, and if possible along the way, do one act of kindness for someone in need so her spirit, through us, continues to touch and bless others. This is what she would have wanted.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.