Mary Belle Snyder

Mary Belle Snyder Mary Belle (Patterson) Snyder was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on September 9, 1917 and died January 17, 2011 in Adrian, Michigan. She spent her early childhood living in Washington, PA. She moved to Pittsburgh when she was 12 years old and remained there until she relocated to Adrian, MI, after the death her husband, to be near her daughter and her family. Mary Belle graduated from Carnegie Institute of Technology (now known as Carnegie-Mellon University) in 1939 with a degree in psychiatric social work then went on to take classes at University of Chicago at the graduate level. She returned to Pittsburgh to finish her Masters Degree at Carnegie Tech, graduating in 1941. From there, Mary Belle was hired to be a social worker at Family and Children’s Service and she remained there for her entire 41 year career as a social worker. During those years she worked with a variety of client needs but specialized in marriage counseling. Mary Belle became a district supervisor during her tenure at Family and Children’s Service and went on to become a board member of the organization shortly after she retired. She remained an active member of the board for 6 years. Mary Belle was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma National Sorority, The Monday Literary Club, and The Alpha Omega Sorority, both of Adrian, Michigan. She belonged to the Edgewood Presbyterian Church in Edgewood, PA and attended the First United Methodist Church of Adrian. On June 20, 1941, Mary Belle married Russel L. Snyder and they were married for 53 years. Russ died on May 24, 1994. Shortly after his death, Mary Belle moved to Adrian, MI and remained there until her death. She is survived by her only child, Lucinda (Cindy) K. Urash and her son-in-law, Mark A. Urash, her grandsons, Harrison Benton Urash and Graeme Anson Urash, and her granddaughter-in-law, Jenny Rae Urash, her great grandson, David Anson Urash, and special cousin, Katharine Mantin. She also left behind many dear friends including Pamela and John Guthrie, her “dear girls”, Shelley Hickman, and Julie Shultz, and many, many others who touched her life through the years. A memorial service will be held for Mary Belle on Thursday, January 20, 2011 at 4:00 PM at the Adrian First United Methodist Church with Rev. Christopher Brundage and Rev. John Guthrie officiating. The family will receive friends prior to the service beginning at 3:00 in the Narthex of the church. Mary Belle’s ashes will be interred in Homewood Cemetery in Pittsburgh, PA next to her husband. A memorial service will be held at the chapel on the grounds of the cemetery at a later date. Mary Belle always had her radio set to the PBS station so she could hear the beautiful piano and violin music playing throughout the day. In lieu of flowers, and as a tribute to her, please consider a donation in her name to the Adrian Symphony Orchestra (110 S. Madison Avenue, Adrian, Michigan 49221) to keep the music playing. Hospice of Lenawee (415 Mill Road, Suite 4, Adrian, Michigan 49221) took care of Mary Belle in the last few weeks of her life and a gift to them, in her memory, would be another choice in lieu of flowers. Arrangements have been entrusted to Wagley Funeral Home where you may send condolences at www.wagleyfuneralhome.com.

Mary Belle Snyder

September 9, 1917 - January 17, 2011