Alliene Henriette Snelling Thym passed away peacefully in her own home surrounded by loving family on February 10, 2020, at the age of 94. Alliene was born June 4, 1925 to Howard and Irene Snelling on what is now the Mandarin Hill Orchards in Penryn. She grew up there and attended grammar school in Penryn, a largely Japanese community. All but 2 of her school friends were Japanese, which lead to her deep affinity for Japanese-American culture. She attended Placer High School where she was active in sports, music and theater and graduated in 1943. At College of the Pacific in Stockton she majored in music, voice and choir conducting. After earning her teaching credential she went on to teach music and physical education at Shandon High School near Paso Robles. In 1950 she met her future husband Al Thym at the Stockton folk dance camp. They were married at her home in Penryn on May 5, 1951 and moved to Auburn, where Al worked for the Soil Conservation Service. There they raised their two children Nancy & Howard. Alliene loved to take her children and grandchildren fishing, camping, swimming in the river and skiing and instilled in them a love for the outdoors. Alliene substituted as a music and physical education teacher at Placer High School and went on to teach special education there. Her passions were music and sports and a desire to serve the community. She conducted the Pioneer United Methodist Church choir for over 20 years and continued to bless the choir with her beautiful soprano voice up until her death. She directed several women’s singing groups, such as the Songspinners, which performed at DeWitt and for senior care facilities and she served as president of the Community Concert Association. But it is as a swimming teacher that she is most well known in Auburn. In the pool at her home, Alliene taught generations of Auburn residents to swim. It was a great pleasure for her to have people walk up to her in the grocery store and say, “You taught me to swim and then my children and my grandchildren!” She continued to swim, play tennis and cross country ski into her 90s.
She is survived by her sister Dr. Janet Bell, her daughter Nancy Thym-Hochrein (Rudolf), grandchildren Alfred (Emily), Rudi (Sophia), Robyn (Bernadette), Alliene (Travis) and great grandchildren Cora and Henry plus two more on the way, as well as by her son Howard Thym (Joy), two grandchildren Heather (Derick) and Ryan (Jackie) and great granddaughter Madelyn who is expecting a sibling.
A memorial service will be held Friday, February 28, 2020 at 11am at the Pioneer United Methodist Church, 1338 Lincoln Way, Auburn, CA 95603. Alliene loved her garden and her flowers. Please support your local family owned plant nurseries and florists. We welcome flowers or you can plant flowers or trees in her memory.
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