Nancy D. Snider

Nancy D. Snider, 82, of Robinson, IL, passed away on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, at Robinson Rehab & Nursing. Born July 1, 1944, in Paxton, IL, she grew up in Oblong and graduated from Oblong High School in 1962. She rarely wandered far from home—and she didn't really need to—because nearly everyone and everything she would come to love was close at hand. Chief among them was Russell Snider. The two were married on July 26, 1964, and built a life together that would last 61 years. As a young wife, Nancy watched children in her home, and years later she cared for her great-niece and great-nephew. She worked in the receiving department at Crawford Memorial Hospital and then as a CNA in long-term care. The settings changed over the years, but the job description never really did.

Nancy took care of people. It was simply who she was. She was always willing to give, and she put others ahead of herself throughout her life. Her family and friends came first, but truthfully, anybody who needed something could count on her. Of course, caring for people and going easy on them weren't always the same thing. Nancy had an opinion on everything, and she was more than happy to share it. She always had a comment—whether you asked for one or not—and she never once worried about speaking her mind. But her honesty was its own kind of care.

Nancy kept a small, tight-knit circle of friends, and that was about the extent of her social calendar. She liked it that way. She was something of a homebody, content with the people and places she knew, and her idea of a good time was a simple one. She had a real soft spot for Chinese food and loved sharing Yen Ching with anyone willing to join her. But if you really wanted to understand what made Nancy happy, you had to spend some time on her porch. Nancy spent hours out there feeding and watching the squirrels. She considered them her own, and she made sure everyone else knew it, too. "Did you put the corn out for my squirrels?" she'd ask, as if every squirrel in the neighborhood belonged to her. The porch also gave her a front-row seat to everything happening up and down the street, which served her well in her position as the neighborhood gossip. When the grandkids came over, that's usually where you'd find them, right there alongside her.

Nothing mattered more to Nancy than time with her family. When she was able, she loved taking them out shopping, and it didn't much matter where they went. Even a trip for groceries counted, because what she was really after was the time together. For a woman who rarely cared to leave the house, those outings said a great deal about where her heart was. In the quieter hours, Nancy turned to her solitaire, her crocheting, and her quilting. She made quilt after quilt over the years, and after carpal tunnel surgery, she switched to afghans and kept right on creating.

In the end, Nancy's life looked a lot like one of her quilts. No single piece of it was extravagant. But stitched together, those simple pieces made something beautiful. Taking care of her family and friends was all she ever needed. Hers was a simple life, but a full one, because every piece of it was sewn together with love.

Nancy was preceded in death by her husband of 61 years, Russell Snider, on August 9, 2025; her son, Greg Snider, on December 25, 2013; her parents, William Harmon "Bill" and Stella (Sondej) Burner; and her grandson, Stephen Postlewait. She is survived by her granddaughters, Katlin Snider and Harlei (Jon) Payne; her great-grandchildren, Haleigh Rios, Jay, and Madi Payne; her daughter-in-law, Rachel Snider; her brother, Wendell Roy Burner; her sister, Linda (Butch) Alford; her sister-in-law, Marcella Knell; and several nieces and nephews.

A graveside service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, October 19th, at White Oak Cemetery in rural Oblong, IL, with Celebrant Curt Goodwine officiating. The Goodwine Funeral Home in Robinson is assisting the family at this time.