Kathleen A. Snyder born in Ireland and a resident of Natick for nearly 50 years, moved on from this world on Monday, March 26th. She died due to old age after a series of bone fractures - Developing advanced symptoms of congestive heart disease late in her life. Kathleen was 90 years old. The staff at Saint Patrick's Manor in Framingham had contributed greatly to her comfort and contentment for the last 2 and 1/2 years. She looked forward to visits from her son and others until the very end.
Kathleen was the eldest of 4 children and hailed from County Cork. Just after the mid 1920's John Palmer gave up the farm in Ireland for opportunity in America. His wife Elizabeth brought Kathleen, her Sister Mary and Brother James to join their father once he'd made a fresh start. Kathleen's baby sister Agatha - affectionately known by family and friends as Gay - was born in the family's new homeland.
The family settled in Somerville, Massachusetts. Kathleen idolized her father for the savvy and strength he had to operate his own oil delivery business. She revered her mother for the ability to sing soprano and craft fine needlepoint. And she beamed with pride whenever she spoke of her brother's achievements, particularly the zeal he displayed on the baseball field. A lifelong love for swimming grew out of family trips in dad's truck to Revere Beach. Kathleen graduated from St. Joseph's High School in 1940, always attesting to how demanding the good nuns were. Kathleen and her sister Gay grew especially close when they both worked as telephone company operators at AT&T, latter in the 40's and early 50's.
After a whirlwind courtship in 1957, Kathleen married an honest, hard working Chemical Engineer who had just moved from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Brighton. Frank Snyder Sr. and Kathleen had meet at a Catholic social club dance. They were married on November 16th, 1957 - which was remembered as an unusually glorious "late summer" day. Like a good few newly wedded couples of the day, they chose the roar of Niagara Falls for a honeymoon destination. Not long after, the couple's only child Frank Jr. was born. Frank Sr. and Kathleen loved to laugh, dance and have a good time. Their most enjoyable moments together were vacationing at resorts like the Elms in Goffstown, NH. All told they took 8 different tour cruises to the Caribbean and Alaska. Kathleen and Frank Sr. were married for nearly 52 years.
Kathleen readily embraced the role of aiding others and always thought of those less fortunate. She was no stranger to hard work maintaining the household in Natick, while working for many years at Zayre Corporation where she advanced to the position of Clerical Supervisor. She was the guardian for her older sister Mary, who had special needs. She showered her husband & son with love and always remembered 11 nieces and nephews. In retirement, Kathleen was a daily communicant at St. Linus Parish for many years and brought communion to the sick and aged. She grew up with and maintained a devotion to the Rosary for as long as she could.
Kathleen is predeceased by her brother James, Sister Mary and husband Frank Sr. She is survived by her beloved sister Gay Durkin formerly of Woburn, son Frank Jr., daughter-in-law Jacquelyn Goddard and grandson Patrick. A wake is planned for Friday Evening, March 30th from 5 PM to 8 PM at the John Everett & Son's Funeral Home, 4 Park St. at the Natick Common. A funeral mass will be held in the Holy Family Chapel at Saint Patrick's Manor in Framingham on Saturday March 31st at 10 AM. The Boston Archdiocesan Choir School will sing during the service. Interment to follow at Saint Patrick's Cemetery in Natick. Flowers are permitted during Lent at the funeral home, but an in lieu donation to Saint John's Seminary in Brighton is suggested. For online guestbook please visit www.everettfuneral.com