Sister Joyce Snyder, SSA, 81

MARLBOROUGH – Sister Joyce Snyder, (Sister Marie Irene of the Cross), 81, a  Sister of St. Anne, died Feb. 1 at Alliance Health Care at Marie Esther Center.  

Born in West Patterson, New Jersey, she was the only child of Elmer and Irene (Moquin) Snyder. She graduated from Worcester’s Classical High School. She attended Anna Maria College and earned a bachelor’s degree in Music. Following graduation, she joined the Sisters of St. Anne in Marlborough and pronounced vows.  

A talented musician, for the next years Sister Joyce taught piano and singing in schools sponsored by the Sisters of St. Anne. She taught at the elementary school level in North Adams, Holyoke, Easthampton, and Marlborough, and in Cohoes, New York. Sister Joyce was multilingual and throughout her years, used these gifts at the service of the Congregation’s needs. At the end of the ‘60s, she volunteered to teach and do pastoral work in the congregation’s missions in Chile, South America. Upon her return to Massachusetts seven years later, she ministered in Worcester’s Spanish Apostolate. She completed a Mission Renewal Program with Maryknoll. Following the renewal, she was assigned to Notre Dame 
convent in Central Falls, Rhode Island. There she served as a nurses’ aide at the Memorial Hospital in Pawtucket and as a recreational counselor at the 
Girls’ Club and the YWCA. She also served in Alaska for several years. 

 She was awarded an honorary degree from Anna Maria College in 2013. She continued her education throughout her years of active ministry and earned an registered nurse degree in nursing from St. Joseph Hospital in North Providence, Rhode Island, a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Worcester State University, a master’s degree in nursing from Simmons College in Boston and certification as a pediatric nurse practitioner. She served on Anna Maria College’s Nursing Programs Advisory Board.  

Sister Joyce returned to Chile in the 2000s and left a positive mark in all areas of the Sisters of St. Anne pastoral ministry programs and the people of Chile. 

In addition to her cherished religious family,  Sister Joyce leaves her cousin, Janet Schultz, and her dear friend, like a sister, Joann Chapel and her family, as well as friends, and professional colleagues in this country and throughout Chile.  

A memorial contribution may be made to the Sisters of St. Anne Retirement Fund, 720 Boston Post Road East, Marlborough, MA 01752, or to a charity of your choice. Arrangements were under the direction of Collins Funeral Home, (www.CollinsFuneral.com), 378 Lincoln St., Marlborough.