On Wednesday, June 2, 2021, Paula Sullivan (Donat) Snyder passed away. Each of her surnames were sources of pride and joy. Paula was born in Abington on April 6, 1943, to Emily O’Neill Sullivan and Paul Sullivan and grew up in Abington. She graduated from Melrose Academy in Elkins Park and attended Georgetown Visitation in Washington, DC, a two-year administrative school.
On May 12, 1966, she married Robert H. Donat also of Jenkintown and set up home in Maple Glen, PA. There, they welcomed two children, Robert H. Jr. and Julie. After the passing of Bob in 1977, she took immediate helm of his company, Huff Paper Co. in Philadelphia until she sold it to her brother Phil and partners.
On August 26, 1978, Paula married John D. Snyder, of Crittenden Street and LaSalle College. John was stationed with the United States Air Force at Offutt Air Force Base in Omaha, Nebraska. As an officer’s wife, she accompanied John to many military events, dressed to a “t”, or in the appropriate costume befitting the themed event that she helped create as a member of the Officer’s Wives Club. While in Bellevue, Paula became fluent in American Sign Language and was an aide at a nearby school for children with special needs. In 1981, Paula, John, Bobby and Julie came back to the east coast, settling in Rye Beach, New Hampshire near Pease Air Force Base. Paula was active in their golf club, Abenaqui, planning dinner dances, ladies league lunches, and holiday parties. She worked with the Seacoast Hospice, as a volunteer lead for their annual Christmas Bazaar fundraiser. Her conviction to care for people led her to run twice, and win, as Selectman for the town of Rye, and was never deterred by her opponents. She and John also chaired the Red Ribbon Ball, an annual event to raise money for AIDS awareness. Paula and John purchased a home in Tequesta, Florida, in 2002 where they retired to a golf community surrounded by new friends, but also dear ones from Philadelphia, Beach Haven and New Hampshire.
Paula embraced Turtle Creek Club and every aspect of their events. She designed décor and flower arrangements, chose menus, dictated attire or costumes, and enjoyed dancing to oldies with John as he provided smooth leads to her adept moves on the dance floor. She received accolades in 2015 for having served on the club’s entertainment committee for ten years – always a grand hostess.
Paula’s loves were flowers – peonies foremost, also mid-Atlantic azalea and rhododendron, but above all else the beach hydrangea prevalent in Beach Haven, NJ, which was in many ways her first home having purchased the house in 1972. Paula and John spent summers in Beach Haven, and were fixtures on the big, welcoming porch. She was very proud to be a fixture in the kitchen at Little Egg Harbor Yacht Club, making sandwiches for competing sailors during dozens of regattas.
She was called “Bear” by her grandkids. Bear was an affectionate name used by John through her all of her days. And Bear was a source of love, grace, and giving beloved grandkids – Charlotte, Dylan, and Danielle. “Peeyabo”, a tender morph of her name, was given by her granddaughter Francey who made it up at age 2 and its significance was heartfelt daily ever since and forever will be.
Paula is pre-deceased by her mother Emily O’Neill Sullivan, and her first husband Robert H. Donat.
She leaves her devoted husband John D. Snyder, of 43 years, who admired and loved Paula for her beauty and heart. She leaves family to carry on her spirit, in brothers Philip A. Sullivan (wife Margot) and Stephen J. Sullivan (wife Sarah), son Robert H. Donat, Jr. and wife Leah, daughter Julie Donat Woldin and husband Matthew (daughter Francey), stepdaughter Jennifer Snyder and husband Jeff Duckworth (daughter Charlotte), and stepdaughter Kirstin Snyder Mitchell and husband Michael Mitchell (children Danielle and Dylan). She will be missed by her nieces and nephews, and of course, the O’Neill clan of cousins, and extended Snyder family.
The family will be planning a private graveside burial at Holy Sepulchre in Philadelphia in the future, and a memorial mass in Beach Haven this summer. In lieu of flowers, a donation to the Hospice of Palm Beach County in her honor is welcomed. Above all else, a toast in her honor, around whatever table your find yourself among friends and food, would be fitting for your celebration of Paula. Rest in peace and beauty, dear Paula, P-Bear, Bear, Peeyabo, Mom. Death leaves a heartache no one can heal; Love leaves a memory no one can steal.
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