SHAMOKIN • Mark Darwin Snyder, age 86, went home to be with the Lord on the morning of Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2020, following a battle with COVID-19. Mark was the second eldest child of five, born to Norman and Cora (Feese) Snyder, March 29, 1934, in Hunter Station, Pa. He was a 1952 graduate of Mahanoy Joint High School. Mark met the love of his life, Mary Jane Oberlin, at a roller-skating rink where she taught him how to skate. They were married May 12, 1956. He spent much of his young adulthood working on the family farm where he and Mary Jane raised their six children, pigs and potatoes. Later in life, he resigned from farm life to pursue a career as a truck driver. To say that Mark was hardworking would be an understatement, as he rarely missed a day of work and did not retire from Michael Foods until he was 82 years old. Mark loved spending time outdoors, planting gardens, setting up spectacular Christmas light displays with his wife, and hunting with his children and grandchildren. He and his wife enjoyed hosting large holiday family gatherings. At the center of his life was his faith and family. He had a heart of gold and was deeply devoted to his children and grandchildren, whom he always led, hand in hand, in ardent prayer before every meal. Despite the grandchildren and great-grandchildren running amok, he always showed a high degree of skill in napping through any post-meal celebrations. In addition to his beloved wife, Mark is survived by five children, Daniel and Debbie Snyder, Brian Snyder, Pamela and Jim Grexon, David Snyder and Rick Mooney, and Kathy Snyder; 13 grandchildren, Luke, Kristin, Jeremy, Marcie, Charity, Jesse, Jayme, Jennifer, Janelle, Jessica, Mark, Sean and Yannick; 17 great-grandchildren; and two brothers, Melvin and Judy Snyder, and Paul and Tina Snyder. He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Mark; a sister, Fay; and a brother, Clarence. Unable to have visitors due to COVID-19, Mark was lovingly cared for by the many doctors, nurses and caretakers at ManorCare in Sunbury, Pa., where he had been a resident. The family extends their deepest appreciation to everyone at ManorCare who cared for him; especially those who facilitated virtual visits with his loved ones and those who kept him comfortable without us by his side in his final hours. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations to support residents of ManorCare be made to ManorCare Health Services-Sunbury, 901 Court St., Sunbury, PA 17801 with Activities Department in the memo line. The family also requests that, in his honor, the community wear face masks and practice safe social distancing to protect everyone’s loved ones. Private graveside services with family will be held due to COVID-19. Arrangements are being handled by Hoover-Boyer Funeral Home, Ltd., Elizabethville, Pa. To sign the guestbook, go to minnichfuneral.com Paid by funeral home
