Tsune passed peacefully at the blessed age of 97, surrounded by her loved ones, while in the compassionate and loving care of The Hospice House of Williamsburg.

Tsune was predeceased by her parents Juzabaro and Kimi Shimamura, sisters Akiko and Machiko and her brother Ichiro.

Tsune was born to Juzabaro and Kimi in Irumagawa, Saitama-ken Japan. She met her husband of 72 years, James Robert Snyder, while she was working at Johnson Air Base Japan.

As an “Army wife”, deployments and transfers moved her and her family to new and unfamiliar places beginning in Hannibal, MO, to New Jersey, Germany, Kentucky and ultimately to Virginia where they decided to stay after retirement, residing in Newport News for most of that time.

Tsune became a citizen of the United States in 1959, and of that she was immensely proud, but not as proud as she was of her children and grandchildren. She was an example of love, perseverance, and strength to her family. She stressed the importance of education with the reminder that, “No one can ever take away what you learn in school.”

She loved working and meeting new people. Her mantra regarding work was to be the best at whatever job you undertake and be proud of what you do. She certainly led by example.

She loved music, especially that of Wayne Newton, Patsy Cline, Patty Page and Elvis, and dancing to it with her kids when she had the chance.

She loved to knit, crochet, and sew often recreating pieces without the aid of a pattern, but merely from sight.

She loved gardening, whether fruits and vegetables for pickling and canning or flowers, like daffodils, tulips, and peonies which were among her favorites. “She could put a stick in the ground and make it grow” was once said and she did just that with the stick from a fig bush which grew to be quite prolific. She had a green thumb to say the least.

She probably enjoyed cooking the most. She made traditional Japanese, German, and American dishes more often than not from scratch. She enjoyed challenging herself to recreate restaurant dishes at home. Guests never went without a snack and drink and her grandkids never went without popsicles and hugs.

Tsune will be cherished in memory by her husband James, her daughters Betty Snyder, Peggy Meyers (Mike), Connie Schiller, Norma Kempton (Mark), her son James E., her grandchildren Dana Spence, Ashley Pels (Mike), Erin Miller (Don), Kara Eckert, Michael Meyers, Hope Weller (Andrew), Christopher Schiller, Zachary Pero-Schiller (Darrell), Casey Capps (Ronny), Joshua Kempton and her great grandchildren Sam, Gabe, Ella, Addy, Miley, Maeve, Mason, Joanna, Isaiah and by nieces and nephews here and in Japan.

The family would like to deeply thank Tanya Williams of Nurturing Hearts N Care for the compassionate and loving care of our mother, treating her like family. They would also like to thank the wonderful staff at The Hospice House of Williamsburg for making her transition a peaceful one.

A family memorial celebration will take place at a later date. If you feel so led to honor Tsune, please donate to The Hospice House of Williamsburg, 4445 Powhatan Pkwy, Williamsburg VA 23188, williamsburghospice.org, the Alzheimer’s Association or to your local church’s mission ministry.

Online condolences may be expressed to www.vacremationsociety.com