Joan Marie Snow, 79, passed away Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024, at her home in Lewiston.
Joni was born in East Cleveland, Ohio, to Willian Joseph Szabo and Catherine Ann Palley on June 14, 1944, Flag Day. When she was about 10 years old her father’s career moved the family to San Diego. She was the oldest of five kids and while her parents worked she would babysit her brothers and sister. She loved her brothers and sisters deeply. As they grew up she was always there for them giving advice, guidance and support anyway she could. She loved spending time with them and as a family we often would travel to visit them. Family was important to Joni and she always made sure the families would gather for holidays, birthdays and special events often hosting and cooking for all.
She graduated from Kearny High School in 1962. After graduation she attended and completed Grossmont Vocational School of Nursing and work at a nursing home for few years. She then started waitressing at Vicaro’s Restaurant in San Diego. While working there she met the love of her life Leonard E. Snow. He asked her out on a date to a New Year’s Eve Party, then proposed to her on the following Valentine’s Day. They married August 24 of the same year.
They were married for 55 years. They had a blended family: Richard A. Snow and Kathi Lanel Paris (Snow) from Leonard’s first marriage and together with Lowann L. VanLeuven (Snow) they lived in Santee, Calif., and Joni began working at Bob’s Big Boy Restaurant. She waitressed for 12 years until they moved to La Grande, Ore., in 1975. Joni’s parent’s Bill and Catherine had found the town of La Grande and loved it so much they encouraged all their children to join them in Oregon.
Once in La Grande, Leonard was hired at Boise Cascade Sawmill plant. Joni was also hired at the Boise Cascade’s Particle Board plant. She decided she wanted to find a job with more stability for their family. She was quickly hired and work for Keith O’Brien’s, a clothing store in downtown La Grande. In 1977, they had decided they wanted to buy a home and toured the new Hutson Homes in Elgin, Ore. Leonard loved Elgin and soon they were having a house built for them. Joni didn’t like the drive in the wintertime, so she found a job as a custodian with the Elgin School District. Soon an opportunity came open at Peoples Savings and Loan in La Grande she applied and was hired. She worked there until Peoples Savings and Loan dissolved and then went to work at Payless Drug Stores (currently Rite Aid); by this time they had moved back to La Grande so, no more winter driving back and forth to Elgin.
In 1997, Leonard had retired from Boise Cascade Sawmill. He had always wanted to live on the Oregon Coast and Joni’s sister and parents lived in Coos Bay, Ore., so Joni was very excited about living there and being close to her family especially her sister. In 1999, their twin grandbabies Haley and Hunter were born and Joni couldn’t stand the thought of not being close to them, so they moved to Lewiston to help out as much as they could and spoil them like crazy. Grandma Joni was an incredible grandparent. She was very involved in all her grandkids did, sports, special events, school events, and she loved to take them to church with her. When she would watch them she would plan fun-filled days at the park, library visits, playing in the yard, games and puzzles and she would take them to feed the ducks, one of their favorites. She always bragged about them any chance she got.
When they moved to Lewiston, Joni had transferred from Coos Bay Rite Aid to the Lewiston Rite Aid, but quickly got a job at LaMonts, a clothing retailer. Soon after LaMonts was bought out by Gottschalks, a California-based clothing chain, and she worked there until she retired. They built a home in Lewiston and lived there for 18 years. Another bonus of living in Lewiston was that her stepson Rick lived in Spokane, and would often come to visit and help out. She liked her visits with Rick especially when he spent Christmas with her this past year after Leonard had passed. It meant so much to her and she loved that he would bring her all her favorite foods and snacks.
Joni was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2009. In 2019, when Joni’s Parkinson’s progressed they moved into Brookdale Assisted Living. Joni never knew a stranger. She loved to talk with people and shared her kind heart and beautiful smile with all those she encountered. If you were special to her she would always show how much she cared by doing a little something for you. It might have been a little gift, or a coffee or lunch. She loved to show love for all those around her. She made lifelong friends wherever she was at work, at church, through her daughters’ friends, at her grandkids’ school, and her favorite coffee place, Java Stop. It was important to Joni that her family and friends knew she loved them, so she would always make sure to tell them and give them endless hugs. She instilled this in her family as well and watching her turn a non-hugger into a hugger was such a testament to who she was and how she loved.
Joni was raised in the Catholic religion, but started attending Elgin Baptist Church with her daughter 1980 where she was baptized. In Lewiston she attended Orchards Community Church. She loved working in the office and visiting those who couldn’t get out and about. She loved the Lord and wasn’t afraid to talk about and show her love for Jesus. Even through the Parkinson’s her love for the Lord was strong and unwavering. She is rejoicing with the Lord and her husband Leonard who passed away last November.
Joni is survived by her daughter Lowann VanLeuven (Snow) and Ricky VanLeuven; grandkids Haley and Hunter VanLeuven, all of Elgin; stepson Richard Snow and stepdaughter Kathi Paris (Snow), both of Spokane; brother Robert G. Szabo and Terrilee, of Phoenix, (nephew Robert Szabo) sister Judith A. Smith and Tony, of Charleston, Ore., (nephew Stuart and Jessica Smith; niece Maggie (Smith) and John Shultz, brother Thomas T. Szabo and Susan, of Peachtree, Ga.; in-laws Marge (Snow) and Larry Sisco, of Imperial Beach, Calif., Martha (Snow) Cotney, of Owasso Okla.; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.
Joni was preceded in death by her husband Leonard Snow, parents, William Joseph and Catherine Ann Szabo; brother William George “Speedy” Szabo; in-laws Peggy (Snow) Warren, Carroll (Snow) Gregory, Roy Snow and David Snow.
There will be an informal memorial service for Joni at 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 16, at Orchards Community Church, 822 Bryden Ave., Lewiston. If you would like to send flowers they can be delivered to the church starting at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 16. Condolences may be sent to 71250 Palmer Junction Road, Elgin, OR 97827.
