Helen Thorbahn Snyder

York – Helen Thorbahn (Shaub) Snyder, age 100 years, one month and one day, went to be with the Lord on Sunday, March 15, 2020. She lived at Spiritrust Lutheran at Sprenkle Drive. She was born in Lancaster County on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 1920, to the late Sarah Helen (Long) and Herbert Leo Shaub. Helen was married to the late J. Robert Snyder for 62 year until his death in 2004. She and Professor Snyder restored many older properties in Shippensburg and Helen rented them out to college students. They contributed generously to Shippensburg University and to their church, Grace Lutheran. Helen was preceded in death by three brothers, Robert L., Melvin Herbert and John Carl Shaub, and is survived by her sister, Sarah Alma Horting, as well as sister and brother-in-laws and numerous nieces and nephews. She is also survived by her three children, R. Herbert Snyder, Barbara A. Dresser and Frances S. McLaughlin and husband, G. Jeffrey; five grandchildren and their spouses and eleven great grandchildren. Helen once worked for Mary Sachs in her Lancaster clothing store. Mary called Helen ‘Teen’ and often summoned her to model the dresses for customers. Mothering her children was her ultimate passion and life’s work. However, Helen was an accomplished artist, poet, interior decorator and seamstress. Her paintings grace the walls of her children’s homes. She had her poetry published in 2005, made both of her daughters’ wedding gowns and two of her homes were featured in tours of historical sights in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania. Although she received a distinguished certificate from the New York School of Interior Design in 1966, she didn’t need a diploma to prove her talent. She was blessed with a gift for the arts. She simply had the ‘it’ factor. She will always be remembered as Nana, a very classy and sophisticated lady with a lot of spunk, who could often be found wearing flawless, white tennis shoes and a ball cap. Helen was very grateful to the ‘nurses’ at Spiritrust Lutheran for treating her like family and making her feel at home for the last eleven years. Many thanks to those who loved her through her final chapter. One month before her death, Helen was present for the grand celebration of her 100th Valentine’s Birthday. Her many paintings, sewing projects and published books of her poetry were on display. Her children and grandchildren recited her poetry by reading and singing the many verses she wrote with instrumental accompaniment, including the piano, guitar, flute and trombone. The gala was held in the ballroom of the Glatfelter Center on the campus of Spiritrust Lutheran at Sprenkle Drive. The tables were set with crisp white tablecloths and adorned with vases of pink tulips which Helen requested for her final farewell. Forty people attended from her family and Spiritrust. It was a grand event given for a grand lady! Two of her poems turned out to be so true of a centenarian like herself: Not Me Whoever heard of getting old- I never heard of that, did you? But I can’t hear, And I can't see; This must be somebody else- Not me! Getting Old I haven’t accepted getting old, I hardly think I ever will, When days amount to nothingness And the quality of life lies still. One’s image once acceptable Now fades away in shades of gray, So painful just remembering What only being took away. ‘Nana,’ as she was known to most of us, will be sorely missed. Her final farewell will be at Conestoga Memorial Park in Lancaster Pennsylvania by her immediate family members.