Ethel "Elaine" Snider
January 23, 1934 ~ June 26, 2016
Ethel Elaine Snider, 82 of Martinsville and formerly of Kokomo, Indiana passed away the night of June 26, 2016 in the assisted living at Meadow Lakes in Mooresville. She was born January 23, 1934 in Moorcroft, Wyoming to the late William T. and Ethel Anne (Dienstel) Donald. On June 19, 1954, Elaine was united in marriage to her loving and devoted husband, Raymond Snider; he survives.
Elaine had a short career as linotype operator and proofreader for the Rapid City Daily Journal in South Dakota before becoming a loving homemaker to a career United States Air Force husband and their children. She also enjoyed sewing and could make the best yeast rolls, biscuits and gravy, and pancakes.
The oldest of six siblings; Elaine was also preceded in death by her two brothers, Jonathan and James Donald; three sisters, Elizabeth Herman, Marcella Moore and Patricia Chaffee and her son, Brent C. Snider.
Along with her husband of 62 years, Raymond, she is also survived by her daughter, Erin W. (Barry “Tom”) Roberts of Monrovia; two sons, Bruce G. (Caroline) Snider of Indianapolis and Brian K. (Diane) Snider of Knoxville, TN; her four grandchildren, Christopher Snider, Chelsea Roberts, Colin Snider, and Ian Roberts and her cocker spaniel, Buddy Boy.
Family and friends will gather to celebrate the life of Elaine Snider in the chapel at Carlisle-Branson Funeral Service and Crematory in Mooresville from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 29. A memorial service will begin at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday at the funeral home. She will laid to rest on Thursday, June 30 at 11:00 a.m. at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, Hall. Visit www.CarlisleBranson.com where you may sign the online guest register, leave a personal message for the family or view her Life Tribute video. In lieu flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Taylor Scholarship Fund-Patricia A. Chaffee Scholarship, 3750 E. Co. Rd. 300 S., Kokomo, IN 46902.
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Elaine is my best friend’s mother. Elaine helped me to feel so welcome at her home with the whole family. I was alone a lot at my house, so I really appreciated having a second home in her house. She and Erin, Brent, and her husband made me laugh a lot. A silly and loving woman. I will miss her. She made me breakfast, dinners and let me drink her cold coffee left over in the coffeemaker. My heart breaks for her family as I know this is a great loss. Erin…love you forever. Elaine…rest in piece. I believe you are with your family on the other side without the burden of your painful body. Love, Kristen Sisk
Mom, you have passed and I selfishly wish you were still here. What I must rember is that you are still here with us. Dad, Bruce, Erin, me,a whole passel of grandkids and so many friends. We traveled with you on a journey called life. Although you are not in our company any longer your journey has become a part of each of our journeys. Those memories, those habits and those expections which you held us to continue to guide us throughout our own journeys. You will never leave us as we reconise those traits you gave to us. Will we morn your passing, yes, but we do not morn knowing how much you loved, how much you cared, how much you enjoyed. That is what you passed to each of us and we know your journey continues along with ours. I go on with you in my heart as I always will. I love you Mom and always will. Brian
Our hearts ache at the loss of our Aunt Elaine, my mom’s older sister. Without a doubt, Elaine was also her best friend. As a kid, I loved listening as my mom laughed while talking to Elaine on the phone…I can only guess at what they found so funny, and I imagine they were the same way growing up in South Dakota. Later, I know they comforted each other through the many challenging times both endured. Both were tough in their own unique ways, battle-tested and wise, but quick-witted with great senses of humor. I remember so many Thanksgivings at their home. The perfect roasted turkey, those triple-crowned rolls…she was an amazing cook. Her Christmas cards were graced with her unmistakable, almost ‘poetic’ handwriting. We treasured each one. If my mom was the artist, Elaine was the scribe. Aunt Elaine showed so much dignity and grace while persevering through heartbreaking losses, including each of her younger siblings and her youngest son, Brent. She was so strong, yet so easy to talk to. It’s almost like she knew she had to be the rock for everyone else, and she was. As hard as it was, I’m glad that she had her family around her in her final hours. She was something special. After my mom passed a few years ago, I would call Elaine occasionally. It was almost a selfish thing on my part. Her voice resonated with hints of a comforting, familiar tone and inflection that reminded me of my mom’s. Her laugh brought back warm, nostalgic memories from earlier years. All of the Donald girls had that same voice — that same laugh. I’ll miss that most of all, I think. I hope she knew how much she was loved by the Chaffee kids. We’ve been reminiscing since we learned she passed. And as much as she will be missed by her family, especially Uncle Slim (the kindest and most gentle man I’ve ever known), she deserves peace, some rest, and the blessed reunion with those loved ones who passed before her. To my dear Aunt Elaine: Please give my mom a special hug for me…and go be with Brent, the Donalds and the rest until we all catch up again. Do they have Thanksgivings in heaven? To the Snider family, please know that we grieve with you. We cherish those wonderful memories of your mother – our Aunt Elaine – and we always will. You are all in our prayers. Steve Chaffee, nephew of Elaine
Love Love Love!! RIP Aunt Elaine!
I am very sorry for your loss . Losing a loved one in death is such a difficult thing to experience . Please be comforted by the promises in the Bible . Jesus tells us at John 5 : 28 , 29 that all those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice and come out . What a loving provision put in place by the God of all comfort so we can have the assured hope of seeing our dead loved ones live again one day . Meanwhile as I pray for that day to come I ask Jehovah God to bless your family and give each of you the strength to endure this most trying time .
It’s difficult for me to think of all I want to say, and it’s even more difficult for me not to see, hear, and talk with/to you mom. You told your granddaughter Chelsea, ‘you may not believe it now, but one day your mom will be your best friend,’ and Chelsea told me, ‘yeah, grandma was right (again) about that.’ You had this uncanny ability to know things, what people were going to do, say, etc. I’d say you made an impression on some people with that ability. Mom always gave 110% into everything she ensued, being a mother, military wife, working, cooking, cleaning, writing, etc. When we were growing up, our family was never the ‘lovey dovey, kissy type,’ but the love was relayed in other wonderful ways, i.e. when any of us would leave and drive, mom would always tell us to ‘drive careful.’ We knew that was her endearment to us and it meant so very much. Mom had a lot of loves in her life, first and foremost, Dad, these two just celebrating their 62nd wedding anniversary on June 19, where dad asked mom to marry him again and thank goodness she said, ‘sure!’ Mom loved us, her children Bruce, Brian, Brent, me and grandchildren, Ian, Chelsea, Chris, and Colin. She loved her in-laws, and I know from my perspective how she considered my husband Tom also like a son. She loved her parents, aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters, cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends. She nurtured us, taught us so many aspects of life in general, using her wit, intelligence. Mom never told me how to think/believe/make decisions. She guided us through our childhood and adulthood. Through our darkest and happiest of hours in our family, mom was the one who soothed our woes, even when her son, my twin Brent, passed, and she encouraged us to continue on. She was the eldest of her brothers and sisters, and to quote my cousin Steve, ‘she saw them all come and she saw them all go.’ That’s the way mom has reacted to everything, a ‘guardian’ of sorts to make sure things went well. Mom loved animals, her dogs like Lonesome, Dusty, Buddy Boy, calico cat Cassie. She loved birds, watching hummingbirds, hearing the cardinal/finches sing, and hear the coo of the dove (which she always associated with Brent). Mom loved nature in general, the trees like the pine that whispers and the beautiful blooms of her Bradford pears. She loved the ‘fluffy’ clouds with a clear blue background, and she loved the sound of rain on a tin roof. In essence, mom loved many, many things. There isn’t anything in this world that doesn’t remind me of mom, and I believe that is how it is supposed to be. She’s obviously loved dearly and missed so much. You’ve already been in my dreams, and I know you are here with us..I love you mom and cannot wait to see you again. Erin, daughter
Dear Erin and family. After reading the wonderful tribute you wrote about your mom, I realized that there is a Hymn that describes her and her feeling of love about the world around her and the people in it. I’ve printed below for you. God bless you and keep you. May he lift up his countenance upon and give you peace. Love, Peggy O Lord my God, When I in awesome wonder, Consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made; I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder, Thy power throughout the universe displayed. Refrain: Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee, How great Thou art, How great Thou art. Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee, How great Thou art, How great Thou art! Refrain When through the woods, and forest glades I wander, And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees. When I look down, from lofty mountain grandeur And see the brook, and feel the gentle breeze. Refrain And when I think, that God, His Son not sparing; Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in; That on the Cross, my burden gladly bearing, He bled and died to take away my sin. Refrain When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation, And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart. Then I shall bow, in humble adoration, And then proclaim: ‘My God, how great Thou art!’ Refrain
I was honored to have known Elaine for over 47 year. Her son Brent, was my best friend. I will miss her, but i know she is in a better place. Reunited with her son, a smile on her face, and with out pain. May the angels hold you in loving arms, and welcome you home. MORE THAN A MOTHER, MORE THAN A WIFE. HER HOUSE FULL OF LOVE, SHE BROUGHT JOY TO EVERY LIFE. HER PASSING IS FELT, BY FAMILY AND FRIENDS. A WOMAN SO DEAR, HER KINDNESS HAD NO END. THE MEMORIES WE SHARE, BRING HER BACK TO US ALL. SHE LIVES ON IN OUR HEARTS, EVERY TIME WE RECALL