Alice Litwiller

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/27562145
• Name: Alice Bender
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-28153
• Residence: 1978, New Hamburg, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada

Alice married Reuben Valentine Bender 1934. Reuben (son of Noah S. Bender and Magdalena Ruby) was born 23 Jun 1910, East Zorra Twp., Oxford Co., Ontario, Canada; died 21 Feb 1968, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Steinmann Mennonite Cemetery, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Doreen Ann Snyder
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-28857

Notes:

Snyder, Doreen (nee Bender) - Age 56 years, died at peace, at University Hospital, London, on March 1, 1998, after a brief battle with lymphoma and thankful for eight years of extended life after a single lung transplant. She was an active member of Erb St. Mennonite Church. Throughout her life she focussed her energies on school teaching, private art lessons, Christian Education and Art Therapy. She was also a loving wife, mother and grandmother. Her love and care were also felt in many close personal relationships outside her family. Doreen is survived by her husband, Doug Snyder; daughters, July Snyder-Penner and her husband Russel and Jane Snyder and her husband Karl Kessler; loving Nana to Vanessa Snyder-Penner; daughter of Alice Bender; sister of Miriam Higgins and her husband Don, Sandra Roth and her husband Armand, Karen Lebold and her husband Harold, Robert Bender and his wife Gladys; daughter-in-law to Alice Snyder; sister-in-law to Don and Katherine Snyder, Peter and Marilyn Snyder. Also lovingly remembered by nieces and nephews. Predeceased by her father, Ruben Bender and her father-in-law, Etril Snyder. Doreen's family will receive friends at Erb St. Mennonite Church, 131 Erb St. W., Waterloo, tonight (Tuesday) from 7-9 p.m. and Wednesday from 7-9 p.m. A memorial/worship service will be held on Thursday, March 5, at 7: 30 p.m. at Erb St. Mennonite Church, with Rev. Renee Sauder officiating. As expressions of sympathy, donations will be accepted to University Hospital London Transplant Unit, Mennonite Central Committee or a charity of one's choice. Donations may be made through the Edward R. Good Funeral Home, 171 King St. S., Waterloo 745-8445. Cremation has taken place.

The Record, March 3, 1998

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Remembering Doreen

Doreen was born at home in New Hamburg, the second of five children. Growing up in the hubbub of the Bender farm there were many special times with siblings, cousins and friends. We have heard many stories of silly play that ended in uncontrollable giggles. In her early years Doreen attended Steinmann Mennonite Church where she shared her creative talents by teaching Sunday School and Bible School from a young age.

Doreen's high school years were spent at Rockway Mennonite School where she participated in all school activities. Music was her specialty, however, and it was in a small singing group that she met Doug Snyder. Doug and Doreen were married in 1964 after seven years of courtship.

It gave Doreen great joy in life to care for and nurture her daughters. As Julie and Jane grew up, Willow Cottage, as the family home on Willow Street was affectionately known, became the gathering place for all of the neighbourhood kids as well as friends and cousins. Doreen loved having her children's friends around and was always ready with a special craft activity, juice and homemade popsicles.

Doreen's hospitality has been experienced by many over the years. During Doug's years with the Mennonite Central Committee and in pastoral ministry she graciously and joyously hosted many people overnight and for meals; it was rare to have a meal without at least one extra person at the table. During this time Doug and Doreen also committed themselves to living a simple lifestyle. They made their own bread, and Doreen experimented with soybeans and lentils -- a significant addition to her traditional Mennonite "home-cooking" repertoire.

As her children became more independent, Doreen returned to teaching. She began to give private art lessons to children out of the basement of her home. This program became so popular that she needed to move into a larger space and opened a private studio in 1980. Soon she was teaching 100 children a year and started an adult class as well. Personal relationships formed with students during that time have lasted through the years.

The church has always been a central focus of Doreen's life. Being a teacher by profession, and a creative spirit, she easily directed her energies to Christian Education. She taught Sunday School and Bible School and was one of the founders and leaders of the younger group at Erb Street Mennonite Church then known as Junior Church. She also wrote Sunday School and Bible School curricula for the Herald Press Series. Doreen also wrote devotions for Rejoice magazine and used her artistic gifts to write On the Line, a children's magazine.

In 1987 Doreen was diagnosed with a debilitating lung disease. There were many periods of grief as she gradually had to give up various segments of her life until, in 1989, she became totally bedridden. She was told that her only hope for life was a lung transplant which, at that time, was a rare and still very experimental procedure. Doreen embraced this hope whole-heartedly and once again drew on her creative spirit; this time for meditation and visualization as she struggled for survival. Finally, on December 1, 1989, a call came from University Hospital in London -- they had a lung for her. Doug has described how the news invigorated Doreen; it was as if her whole body suddenly came alive. It seemed that a current of energy moved all the way up through her limbs to the top of her head.

Although her body had been in an extremely weakened condition, Doreen's transplant was successful. To her family and friends it was a true miracle. In the years that followed she was an inspiration to other transplant candidates and recipients. She spoke in the community about donor awareness and in many churches about her spiritual journey through her illness.

Doreen's artistic talents and her unique ability to relate to many different people were united in a new vocation -- art therapy. For three years she commuted to University of Western Ontario in London to participate in its art therapy program. Occasionally this effort seemed to stretch her personal resources to the limit, but this was her way of insisting on living life to the fullest. She applied art therapy to assist many different people: at K-W Hospital, Family and Children Services, Pinehaven Nursing Home and with individual clients. However, it was not just the art that made a difference for these people, but the warmth of Doreen's gentle and generous spirit.

The last few months have been witness to a gradual decline in Doreen's health. Nevertheless, her love and her caring continued to be manifest in her many relationships. Toward the end of 1997 she planned a family trip to Florida that was to take place this past February. It had been a dream of hers to take a holiday in a warmer climate for some time. As it became evident two days before the trip that Doreen would be unable to travel she insisted that the rest of the family go on without her. She said she would be with them where ever they were. Doug and Doreen had hoped she would regain enough strength so they could join their family by the end of the week. Sadly, Doreen's condition took a sudden turn for the worse. Last Thursday she was diagnosed with lymphoma. She died early Sunday morning.

Doreen lived her life to her fullest potential until the very end. Although she faced many physical limitations these never limited the love and concern that she had for others.

Funeral Bulletin of Doreen Bender Snyder

Doreen — Douglas Noah "Doug" Snyder. Douglas (son of Etril Martin Snyder and Alice Alvina Weber) was born 14 Apr 1941, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 10 Mar 2019, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Erb Street Mennonite Cemetery, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Karen — Harold Elmer Lebold. (son of Elmer A. Lebold and Catherine G. "Katie" Leis) [Group Sheet]