Margaret Alta Lewis

March 25, 1931 - May 22, 2020

Margaret Alta Snyder Lewis, 89, formerly of Sunbury and Selinsgrove, passed away peacefully on May 22, 2020, in Hawaii, a few days after a sudden cardiac incident. She had been living her best life in Mililani, Hawaii with her daughter and family. Margaret was born on March 25, 1931, in Porterville, California to the late Robert William Joseph Harmon and Esther Alta Harmon. She was raised during World War II on her grandparents' farm along with her three sisters, Patricia, Roberta, and Teddy June while her father served our country on a U.S. Navy vessel in the Pacific. Margaret was a 1949 graduate of Porterville High School. She started nurse's training at Saint Elizabeth's Hospital in Yakima, Wash., but years later finished a practical nurse program in Pennsylvania. She had a wonderful career at Sunbury Community Hospital, mostly working as an LPN in the Emergency Room. Her coworkers became lifelong treasured friends. In 1953, while living and working at a lodge outside Seward, Alaska, Margaret met and fell in love with Gene Snyder. They married on June 9, 1956, while in Alaska, and in 1959, traveled back to Gene's hometown of Trevorton, Pa. In 1965, Margaret and Gene moved to Sunbury where they raised their four children: Theresa, Thomas, Kirk, and Kim. Margaret and Gene enjoyed 25 years together until his death in 1981. On Jan. 20, 1990, Margaret married James E. Lewis. They shared many adventures together, traveling to the Netherlands, Italy, Russia, Alaska, and Hawaii. During the holidays, they enjoyed portraying Mr. and Mrs. Claus for many children at various community gatherings. Margaret embodied a quirky and joyful spirit, with an enormous smile and infectious laugh that would fill an entire room. At home, she would often have classical music playing while reading her 1,000th book, putting together a jigsaw puzzle, or just doing things around the house. In her social life, she exercised her love of singing as a member of the Not So Serious Singers, enjoyed monthly dinner dates with her ER group from the hospital, participated in card clubs, and the Red Hat Society. Also, an avid bird watcher, she would stand at the back door or patio, admiring the multitude of birds that found their way to the bird feeders sprinkled among her yard. When she would encounter a new bird, she was eager to discover what it was by searching through one of her many bird books. In Hawaii, Margaret enjoyed the ocean, sunshine, beautiful flowers and scenery. Margaret was deeply devoted to the Catholic faith, and always said that her life was in God's hands. She regularly attended Saint Michael's (Saint Monica's) Church in Sunbury, where she sang in the choir for many years. Later in life, she attended Saint Pius X in Selinsgrove. Even when she could no longer drive herself, her friends and family made sure she made it to Sunday Mass. She loved her church and church family. Margaret is survived by a sister, Patricia Kamppi of Yakima, Wash. She is also survived by three of her children, Theresa "Terri" Noa and husband James "Butch" Noa, of Mililani, Hawaii, Kirk Snyder and wife Terri of Stafford, Virginia, and Kim Cellitti and husband Michael of Sunbury; 10 grandchildren, Jason Noa and wife Sara, Justin Noa and wife Michelle, Kehau Carrillo and husband James, and Jacob Noa, all of Hawaii; Brianne Allison, Cody Snyder, and Kelsey Snyder, all of Virginia; Ashley Cellitti Rebuck and husband Adam, Kristi Cellitti, and Nikkole Cellitti, all of Sunbury; eight great-grandchildren, Aili, Gene, Alia, Tyler, Camden, Dylan, Cole, and Kobi. In addition to her parents, Margaret was preceded in death by two sisters, Roberta Beaudry and Teddy June Hergesheimer; two husbands, Gene Snyder and James Lewis; and by one son, Thomas C. Snyder. There will be no formal services at this time. A celebration of life will be held at a future date when friends and family can safely gather together in her memory.