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Obituaries » Helen L. Snape
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Show Obituaries Show Guestbook Show Photos QR Code PrintA celebration of Helen’s life will be held in the spring. Memorial contributions may be made to Park Village Pines, Kalamazoo, MI, c/o the funeral home. JOLDERSMA & KLEIN 917 S. Burdick Street Kalamazoo, MI 49001 343-2628
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Helen Lorraine Snape, age 95, of Richland, Michigan went to her heavenly home on January 3, 2021 following a long illness. Helen was born in Chicago, Illinois on August 28, 1925, the daughter of Herbert and Anna (Molitoris) Todd. When she was a child, Helen’s family moved to Cressey Michigan. Helen graduated from W.K. Kellogg High School in 1944. Subsequently, Helen joined the Army Cadet Nurse Corps and became a Registered Nurse after graduating from Nazareth’s School of Nursing in Kalamazoo, Michigan. As a young nurse, Helen worked in Clearwater, Florida and in Los Angeles, California where she worked at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Upon her return to Michigan, Helen found her calling as a labor and delivery nurse and spent over thirty years at Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo, Michigan fulfilling this purpose. Helen enjoyed her privilege of helping to bring thousands of babies into this world. She was known for her calm, confident, and comforting manner by her patients and their families. By her family, Helen was known for these qualities and so much more. She was indeed, the very best mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. Helen met the love of her life Donald Snape and they married on October 17, 1953. They built their home in Richland, Michigan where they lived their entire marriage. Upon retirement, Helen and Don enjoyed twenty years being “snowbirds” spending winters at their home in Vero Beach, Florida. Don preceded her in death on July 30, 2012. Helen is survived by her children, Bill (Tammy) Snape of Otsego, Michigan, Cindy (Don) Mackley of North Street, Michigan, and Tim Snape of Vicksburg, Michigan; grandchildren Nicholas (Renee) Snape of Richland, Michigan, Benjamin (Brandi) Snape of Otsego, Michigan, Sarah (Johnny) Wagner of Portage, Michigan, Trevor Snape of Austin, Texas, Kyle (Kimberly) Snape of Roy, Utah, and Erin Mackley of North Street, Michigan; six great grandchildren; sibling Robert (Delores) Todd of Olympia, Washington, sister in law Ila (John) Todd of Portage, Michigan, as well as many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband Don, her sisters Dorothy, Marian, and Frances, her brothers Herbert and John, and her daughter in law Margie (Eldridge) Snape.