Celesta L. Snyder

Celesta L. (Gascho) Snyder, 88, of Goshen, died Tuesday morning, December 8, 2015 at Greencroft Healthcare.

She was born March 2, 1927 in Pigeon, Michigan to Nicholas J. and Melinda (Brenneman) Gascho.

On September 8, 1950 she married Kenneth E. Snyder in Pigeon, Michigan. He died April 30, 2015. Celesta was a devoted, loving wife to her husband Kenneth.

Celesta worked on her parents’ farm and in their general merchandise store in Pigeon until age 20. She attended a Special Bible Term at Eastern Mennonite School in 1948 and Winter Bible School at Goshen College in 1949 where she met Kenneth. After marriage Celesta worked at the Goshen College Snack Shop as manager while Kenneth finished his studies at Goshen College and Mennonite Biblical Seminary.

From 1952 to 1961 Celesta and Kenneth became parents to a daughter, Miriam and four sons, Merle, Lester, Keith and Dale. Celesta was a very caring mother.

Celesta served as a pastor’s wife in Beaverdam, Pennsylvania for five years from 1952 to 1957. From 1966 to 1976 Celesta ran a childcare service in her home for several mothers who taught school. Celesta also delivered Meals on Wheels in the Goshen community for over 25 years.

Celesta and her husband Kenneth joined College Mennonite Church, Goshen on August 28, 1960 where Celesta was involved in the children’s Sunday School program, the church library, and WMSC.

Those who preceded Celesta in death were a son, Keith; her parents; step-mother, Mary (Reber) Gascho; brothers, Gerald Gascho, Stanley Gascho and Leon Gascho Gunden; and foster brother, Dellit Auvil.

Celesta’s survivors include a daughter, Miriam Snyder of Goshen; three sons, Merle (Mary Alderfer) Snyder of Denver, Colorado, Lester (Kathy) Snyder of Newton, Kansas and Dale (Anita) Snyder of Goshen; seven grandchildren, Chase, Sophie, Nicholas, Vanessa, Alisha, Andrew and Kyle; three great-grandchildren; and a sister-in-law, Goldie Swartzendruber of Pigeon, Michigan.

Friends may call Saturday, December 12, 2015, from 9 to 11 a.m. in the Gathering Room at College Mennonite Church in Goshen. A committal service will be held Saturday at 11:30 a.m. at West Goshen Cemetery. A memorial service will be held at 1:30 p.m. in the Koinonia Room at College Mennonite Church followed by an informal gathering time with the family to share remembrances.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be directed to The Window for the Meals on Wheels program.