Obituary of Fr. Joseph Snyder

SNYDER, Rev. Joseph Gerard – It is with sadness that we announce the sudden passing of Father Joe on Saturday, July 4, 2009, at his residence in Brights Grove, Ontario. Predeceased by his parents Joseph and Helen (Walsh) Snyder, aunts and uncles, Patricia and Paula Walsh, Marian and Harry Walsh, Marian and Frank Ward, Josephine and Larry Bissell and John Walsh. He is survived by his aunt, Lydian Walsh and cousins. He was born November 15, 1940 in London, Ontario. He attended St. Peter’s School and Catholic Central High School in London. He attended St. Peter’s Seminary in London and was ordained a priest for the Diocese of London on May 23, 1966. He had a post graduate degree in Canon Law from the University of Ottawa. He served as an Associate Pastor at Christ the King in Windsor. After his studies in Ottawa and Rome he served as the Vice Chancellor of the Diocese from 1968 to 1977. He then served as Pastor at St. Pius X in London and during this time he served in the capacity of Dean of London for two years. He then served as pastor at Holy Angels, St. Thomas; St Gabriel, Windsor; the cluster parishes of Christ the King and St. Martin de Porres in Windsor and his final posting at St. Michael Parish in Brights Grove. Father Joe served as a Diocean Consultor, Pro-Synodal Examiner, Parochial Consultor and Pro-Syndola Judge. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to McKenzie & Blundy Funeral Home of Sarnia and Donohue Funeral Home of London. Father Joe will be waked at St. Michael Church in Brights Grove on Tuesday evening from 6-9 p.m. Parish prayers will be offered at 6 p.m. Visitation will then take place on Wednesday at Donohue Funeral Home, London from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. The Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Thursday, July 9, 2009 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Peter’s Basilica, London Burial at St. Peter’s Cemetery, London. A parish memorial mass for Fr. Joe will be celebrated on Friday, July 10 at 10:30 a.m. “I give thanks to Jesus Christ our Lord who has strengthened me and because he counted me trust-worthy in making me his minister.” A tree will be planted in memory of Fr. Joseph Snyder in the McKenzie & Blundy Memorial Forest. Dedication service Sunday, September 20th, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. at the Wawanosh Wetlands Conservation Area.