Clella C. Snider

Clella Claire Carpenter Snider
June 24, 1928 to November 10, 2019

Clella lived fully with a vision beyond her times while constantly maintaining a positive attitude. She was committed and focused on her interests and enjoyed learning new things. Clella was born on June 24, 1928, in Azusa, California to Charles and Bertha Carpenter. She remembered fondly her early years growing up in Paso Robles from 1933 to 1938. As a child, Clella always wanted to be a park ranger, even though women were prohibited from ranger service at the time. She enjoyed the family pack trips into the Sierras and recounted sitting around a campfire and listening to the packers tales. She was living in Downey when WWII broke out and the events during this time remained a vivid image for her during her life.

Clella graduated from Pomona College in June 1949 with a BA in music (piano). She met William (Bill) Snider at Pomona College and they were married shortly after graduation. They moved into their home in Whittier in 1953 where she lived for 66 years. They had an active marriage raising three children and spending time at the beach house, fly fishing in the Sierras, camping in Baja California, courageously attempting to ski, and driving throughout Canada and Alaska in their Scout with a canoe on top. She touched the lives of many young women as a Girl Scout Leader for twelve years. Clella received her teaching credential through USC and a Masters Degree as a Special Education Teacher from Fullerton State College. After graduating she taught a class for children with special needs at La Colima School in Whittier. After retirement Clella became the accompanist for the New Century singers for 28 years. She enjoyed being active in PEO and was a member for 70 years. She also participated in a Red Hat group, a book club, a writers workshop, and her beloved swimmers/breakfast group. She attended Whittier First Friends Church.

As a young child Clella delighted in reading adventure stories that took place around the world (especially about Mandalay pirates). Her enjoyment of these books became an interest in traveling throughout the world. During her life she was able to travel throughout the United States (including Alaska and Hawaii), Africa, Egypt, Mongolia, Japan, Scandinavia, Russia, Ireland, China, and several mainland European countries.

Clella is survived by her brother and his wife (Charles and Alice Carpenter), three children and their spouses (Bonnie and Ramsey Johnson, Stan and Geralyn Snider, and Karl Snider and David Sateren), five grandchildren (David, Heather, Jessamyn, Sarah, and Adam), and five great grandchildren (Colter, Aspen, Claire, Adalynn, and Abigail).

Celebration of Life service will be held on Saturday, January 25th, 2020 at 3pm at the First Friends Church (13205 Philadelphia Street, Whittier CA 90601 (562) 698-9805

In lieu of flowers the family is requesting that donations be made to:
World Wildlife Fund:
1250 Twenty-Fourth Street, N.W.
PO Box 97180
Washington D.C. 20090
https://support.worldwildlife.org