For All The Saints - Marilyn Snyder
Marilyn (Mickey) Snyder
Marilyn Malita (Ophardt) Snyder, 90, of Geneva, IL and longtime resident of Glen Ellyn, IL passed away Monday, June 19, 2023 at Delnor Community Hospital. She was born February 6, 1933, to Carl and Edna (Grimm) Ophardt at the family farm in Hamlin, NY.
Marilyn was a talented artist and recently exhibited her paintings in the Greenfields art gallery She had composed her own biography for the event. There are no better words to share than her own:
“I was born with a creative spirit that surfaced throughout my life of 90 years. It is a gift from God. I believe that 30% is talent but 10% is learned skill.
I grew up in rural New York State. There were 35 students in the high school class, so art classes had limited supplies. The teacher, Mrs. Crosby knew the value of perspective drawing. After all, what we create is an illusion on flat surface.
For many years I taught school… mainly kindergarten. What a blessing it was to be able to design projects and worksheets. When I retired from full-time teaching, I also stopped playing the church organ because of hand problems. I did, however, continue teaching students at homeless shelters for ESL.
I also began to start painting pictures. I lived close to the College of DuPage, so I took some classes there. For several years I attended workshops at Dillman’s Art Foundation & Resort in Wisconsin. One instructor that really impressed me was Tom Lynch a local water colorist.
I've never tried to sell my paintings, rather I've given many away as gifts. The walls of my home in Glen Ellen were covered with my paintings so, bringing them to Greenfields was my way of feeling at home. The subject matter is varied because I painted things close to me.
Several people have said to me at Greenfield’s, that years ago, they used to draw and paint, but it's too late to try now. My thought is, “Why not try?” You don't have to be good at something to enjoy it. What a marvelous legacy for a grandchild.
I have a bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois and a master’s from National University.”
At a very young age, in between picking cherries with her family at a local orchard, Marilyn started piano lessons. By the time she was 16 years old, she was the accompanist for all school plays/events, the organist at St Paul Lutheran in Hilton, New York and working at the local Rochester, NY radio station with the Scottish singer. Music was everything to Marilyn; She always said, “the Lord gave us two voices: a speaking voice and a singing voice, and both should be used to spread joy.”
While organist at St. Paul Lutheran church, she met her future husband, James Orman Snyder, whom she married on June 28, 1952, and raised four children with, Dan, Mark, John & Mary.
Marilyn served the lord, sharing her musical ability by playing the organ and directing the choir, at two churches each Sunday in Hilton, New York and two churches in Glen Ellyn; Faith Lutheran Church and St. Luke. She will be remembered as a devoted servant to her community and faith.
Prior to moving to Illinois, Marilyn attended the State University of New York at Fredonia, majoring in music. After moving to Illinois, she continued working towards her teaching degree. She graduated from the College of DuPage, University of Illinois Chicago, and the National Teachers’ Institute. Throughout her life, Marilyn was a teacher, whether it be teaching kindergarten classes for years, tutoring refugees in English at her church or children via the Bridge Communities program, leading her boys’ cub scout troop, or inviting her grandchildren and neighborhood children into her home to learn to play the piano, paint, and sing.
She is survived by her children Daniel (Hannah) Snyder, John (Gina) Snyder, and Mary Snyder-Hodson. Marilyn was a loving grandmother to her grandchildren Robert, Sarah (Ryland) Zweifel, Ben (Danielle) Snyder, Sean Snyder, Rachel Hodson, and Elliot Snyder. Marilyn was preceded in death by many loved ones, including her parents, husband, son Mark Snyder, son-in-law Richard Hodson, and siblings Lorraine and Arnold Ophardt.
A Memorial Service will be held at Faith Lutheran Church, Glen Ellyn, IL – date to be announced.
If you have any questions, please reach out to Mary Snyder-Hodson via email, mail or phone - [email protected] , 3207 Raphael Court, Saint Charles, Illinois 60175 , 708-814-6039
Marilyn Malita (Ophardt) Snyder, 90, of Geneva, IL and longtime resident of Glen Ellyn, IL passed away Monday, June 19, 2023 at Delnor Community Hospital. She was born February 6, 1933, to Carl and Edna (Grimm) Ophardt at the family farm in Hamlin, NY.
Marilyn was a talented artist and recently exhibited her paintings in the Greenfields art gallery She had composed her own biography for the event. There are no better words to share than her own:
“I was born with a creative spirit that surfaced throughout my life of 90 years. It is a gift from God. I believe that 30% is talent but 10% is learned skill.
I grew up in rural New York State. There were 35 students in the high school class, so art classes had limited supplies. The teacher, Mrs. Crosby knew the value of perspective drawing. After all, what we create is an illusion on flat surface.
For many years I taught school… mainly kindergarten. What a blessing it was to be able to design projects and worksheets. When I retired from full-time teaching, I also stopped playing the church organ because of hand problems. I did, however, continue teaching students at homeless shelters for ESL.
I also began to start painting pictures. I lived close to the College of DuPage, so I took some classes there. For several years I attended workshops at Dillman’s Art Foundation & Resort in Wisconsin. One instructor that really impressed me was Tom Lynch a local water colorist.
I've never tried to sell my paintings, rather I've given many away as gifts. The walls of my home in Glen Ellen were covered with my paintings so, bringing them to Greenfields was my way of feeling at home. The subject matter is varied because I painted things close to me.
Several people have said to me at Greenfield’s, that years ago, they used to draw and paint, but it's too late to try now. My thought is, “Why not try?” You don't have to be good at something to enjoy it. What a marvelous legacy for a grandchild.
I have a bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois and a master’s from National University.”
At a very young age, in between picking cherries with her family at a local orchard, Marilyn started piano lessons. By the time she was 16 years old, she was the accompanist for all school plays/events, the organist at St Paul Lutheran in Hilton, New York and working at the local Rochester, NY radio station with the Scottish singer. Music was everything to Marilyn; She always said, “the Lord gave us two voices: a speaking voice and a singing voice, and both should be used to spread joy.”
While organist at St. Paul Lutheran church, she met her future husband, James Orman Snyder, whom she married on June 28, 1952, and raised four children with, Dan, Mark, John & Mary.
Marilyn served the lord, sharing her musical ability by playing the organ and directing the choir, at two churches each Sunday in Hilton, New York and two churches in Glen Ellyn; Faith Lutheran Church and St. Luke. She will be remembered as a devoted servant to her community and faith.
Prior to moving to Illinois, Marilyn attended the State University of New York at Fredonia, majoring in music. After moving to Illinois, she continued working towards her teaching degree. She graduated from the College of DuPage, University of Illinois Chicago, and the National Teachers’ Institute. Throughout her life, Marilyn was a teacher, whether it be teaching kindergarten classes for years, tutoring refugees in English at her church or children via the Bridge Communities program, leading her boys’ cub scout troop, or inviting her grandchildren and neighborhood children into her home to learn to play the piano, paint, and sing.
She is survived by her children Daniel (Hannah) Snyder, John (Gina) Snyder, and Mary Snyder-Hodson. Marilyn was a loving grandmother to her grandchildren Robert, Sarah (Ryland) Zweifel, Ben (Danielle) Snyder, Sean Snyder, Rachel Hodson, and Elliot Snyder. Marilyn was preceded in death by many loved ones, including her parents, husband, son Mark Snyder, son-in-law Richard Hodson, and siblings Lorraine and Arnold Ophardt.
A Memorial Service will be held at Faith Lutheran Church, Glen Ellyn, IL – date to be announced.
If you have any questions, please reach out to Mary Snyder-Hodson via email, mail or phone - [email protected] , 3207 Raphael Court, Saint Charles, Illinois 60175 , 708-814-6039
