Erna Gerda Snyder

Erna Gerda (Boy) Snyder, age 85, of Aberdeen, MD passed away on Aug. 11, 2017 in her home after battling pancreatic cancer for a year and a half. Born in Tilsit, East Prussia, Germany, she was the daughter of the late Herbert Richard Boy and Auguste “Grete” Schmidt. She was preceded in death by the love of her life and husband of 53 years Richard Wallace Snyder. In her youth, Erna endured the struggles of WWII as a German refugee moving with her family around Europe to survive the war. In womanhood she met Richard Snyder, a U.S. soldier stationed in Germany, whom she had described as “the best thing” in her life. She was a strong-willed woman with an incredible work ethic, working at Ames for a time to assist with providing for her family. Erna was also a dedicated wife and mother of three children. She loved flowers, was an avid gardener and had a passion for cooking. She was, and will forever be, a beloved wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Mrs. Snyder is survived by her daughter, Shirley Ann McAlexander and her husband, Brian, of Edgewood; daughter-in-law, Juanita Snyder of Edgewood; daughter-in-law Theresa Snyder of Edgewood; sister, Hedwig of Kassel, Germany; brother, Dieter Boy of Hessen, Germany; sister, Evelyne Naumoff of Anderson, South Carolina; five grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren. Erna was preceded in death by her sons, Frank Richard Snyder and Billy Wallace Snyder, as well her siblings, Christel, Elfrieda, Waltraud, Klaus, and Gunter. Visitation will be held at Tarring Cargo Funeral Home in Aberdeen Aug. 15 from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. The funeral service will be held at the funeral home on Aug. 16 at 10 a.m. with Rev. Herb Townsend officiating. Interment will be in Harford Memorial Gardens. Contributions in her memory may be made to the American Cancer Society, PO Box 22478, Oklahoma City, OK 73123.