Lydia M. Snell
August 24, 1921 - March 3, 2020

Lydia Mary (Edmonds, Kellogg) Snell, 98, of Syracuse passed away during the early morning hours of Tuesday, March 3, 2020 at St. John's Home in Rochester where she had been a resident since February 2015.

She was born in Amsterdam, N.Y. August 24, 1921, the daughter of Gilbert and Ethel Edmonds. She spent her childhood growing up in Amsterdam and spent summers on the family farm in Broadalbin N.Y. Her father ran a small family business, and her mother was a homemaker. Besides her parents and younger sister, she lived with nine other family members under one roof, comprised of grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Lydia enjoyed school and was a good student. She graduated from Amsterdam High School in 1939. Her first job was working as an assistant in the Advertising Department of the Mohawk Carpet Mills. While finishing high school Lydia met and fell in love with a man two years her senior, John D. Kellogg Jr. They married shortly after her graduation. They spent much of their early marriage being shipped around to various military bases by the Navy, to which her husband joined just prior to WWII. Eventually they were stationed in Corpus Christi, TX were Lydia served in the Red Cross helping to care for soldiers and their families. It was during that time that Lydia gave birth to her first beautiful child, Linda Lee. After the war, their small family settled in Amsterdam NY but shortly thereafter, they moved to North Syracuse N.Y. where John worked for General Electric as a radio technician. Wanting to work herself, Lydia took advantage of an on-the-job training program offered at G.E. She began work on the production line but with training she soon advanced her skills and became a bookkeeper. It was approximately 10 years later, and after giving birth to two more daughters, that Lydia became a stay-at-home mother. The family lived a wonderful life, which ended tragically in 1964, when John died from injuries sustained in an automobile accident. Lydia and John were married for 23 years.

In 1966 Lydia married her second husband George L. Snell of Syracuse, New York. They were happily married 36 years until his death in 2002. Together they owned and managed a successful automotive parts business, Syracuse Automotive Warehouse. They had a large circle of close-knit friends and were active members of the Daughters of the Nile, Eastern Star, Masons and Shriner's Organizations. He was a past potentate (1980) of the Shriner's Tigris Temple and she was a past queen (1964) of the Daughters of the Nile, Ilderim Temple # 15. Lydia loved knitting, sewing, and donated much of her time involved in charitable activities that included sewing patient gowns and quilts and knitting slippers for the children at the Shriner's Hospital located in Springfield Massachusetts, where she and George visited often. They both played important roles in helping to organize and run the annual Tigris Shrine Circus, which proceeds went to caring for the hospitalized children. Together they loved spending time with friends, ballroom dancing, attending Syracuse University football games, couples bowling, and traveling. She enjoyed and was talented at knitting beautiful afghans, sweaters, hats and mittens, planting flowers in her garden, and playing solitaire. She also had a passion for playing bridge and she was an active member in several woman's bridge clubs throughout the years. Her grandchildren often reminisce about happy memories of her teaching them how to play various card games and what fun it was.

She always made the holidays joyous and memorable with her attention to carrying on family traditions and presenting her excellent baking and cooking skills. Her holiday dinners including her savory turkey sausage stuffing, pies, and cut-out Christmas cookies remain legendary. Later in life her interest turned to playing bingo at St. John's which see enjoyed, attending faithfully, with her family and friends every Saturday afternoon. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and friend to all that knew her, and she will be greatly missed.

Lydia is pre-deceased by her parents, husbands, younger sister Jane W. Edmonds, son John D. Kellogg III, daughter Linda L. Lewis, stepson James P. Snell, son-in -law Dennis P. Kurtz, and step grandchildren Todd Schooley and Robyn R. Lewis.

She is survived by her daughters Susan K. Kurtz, of Milton, G.A., and Laura J. Kellogg (Richard Capobianco), of Rochester, N.Y., her stepdaughter Sueann (Joseph) Accardi, of Fort Walton Beach, FL., son-in law Ronald L. Lewis, of Clay, N.Y., and daughter-in- law Barbara J. Snell, of Camillus, N.Y.

She also leaves to cherish her memory her beloved grandchildren, William (Jennifer) Johnston, Wendy (Michael) Johnston-Waldrup, Heather (Chip Woodard) Johnston, Jonathan (Jennifer) Lewis, Douglas (Kristin) Bell, Julie (Andrew) Ballerstein-Finer, and Andrew Finer, and her treasured step-grandchildren Gregory (Sarah) Snell, Meghan Snell, Jennifer (Ken )McCullough, Ricky (Lucy) Accardi, Scott Accardi, Eric (Sloan) Accardi, and Amy-Jo (Ricky) Clark; along with 19 beautiful great-grandchildren and 8 great-great grandchildren.

Unfortunately, due to the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions, Lydia's religious funeral service was delayed. It is now scheduled for Saturday, May 15, 2021, 11am, at the Immanuel Lutheran Church, 4947 State Route 31, Clay N.Y. Sadly, because of ongoing constraints, the service will be limited to family members only. Pastor Richard S. Yost will officiate. Interment of ashes to follow at Green Hill Cemetery Amsterdam, NY.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to the Shriners Hospitals for Children online at https://donate.lovetotherescue.org in Lydia's name. The family would like to especially thank the entire staff of Reservoir 6, Yellow Rose House, at St. John's Home for providing Lydia with such wonderful care. Their love and support were immeasurable.

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