History & Staff

The year was 1884 when J. William Snyder, the first generation of Snyder funeral directors came to Irwin as a young man and began an apprenticeship with his uncle. L.H. Taylor, who conducted a furniture and undertaking establishment.  The business was located in the 400 block of Main Street and moved to its present location 521-527 Main Street in 1918. The undertaking establishment itself started in 1869. L.H. Taylor purchased the business from Samuel Critchfield who occupied a building in the 300 block of Main Street. Mr. Taylor retired from the business and was succeeded by four different owners. Mr. Snyder remained with each firm and was in charge undertaking and funerals.  Eventually the business was owned by a man J.C. Snivley. Mr. Snivley incorporated the business under the name Peoples Furniture and Undertaking Co., at which time Mr. Snyder purchased half interest becoming sole owner after Mr. Snivley’s death.

J. William Snyder lived with his wife Mary in the Borough raising two sons the elder of which J. Howard Snyder, was the only Irwin resident killed in action during WWI. The local VFW Post 781 was named in his honor. J.W., as he was known, was a licensed embalmer and undertaker and worked well into his 80’s. He died in 1959 at the age 90.

In 1936, William N. Snyder, youngest son of J. William and Mary, became the second generation of the family to become a licensed funeral director. A graduate of Collier School of Embalming of New York City, he married the former Louella Beck of Youngwood and was a lifelong Irwin resident. He was active in the local civic and church affairs and the operation of the funeral home until his death on his 68th birthday in 1971.

Following WW II, William N. Snyder Jr., only child of Bill and Louella became the third generation funeral director of the firm. A graduate of the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science, he became a licensed funeral director in 1949.  He was married to the former Elizabeth C. Shaw of Irwin and they had eight children. He was also active in many local civic and church affairs as well as the daily operation of the funeral home into his 80’s. After having worked with his grandfather, father, sons, daughter, and grandson he died at the age of 87 in 2011.

In 1967 Snyder Funeral Home expanded their operations to include the E.A. Forgie Funeral Home in nearby East McKeesport. The Snyders operated the Forgie Funeral Home for Ruth L. Forgie until her death in 1986, at which time they acquired full ownership. The business is operated today as the Forgie-Snyder Funeral Home.

In 1983 William R. Snyder, oldest son of Bill and Elizabeth became the fourth generation funeral director of the firm. He also graduated from the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science becoming a licensed funeral director in 1983. Married to the former  Dawn Kisner of Sheridan Terrace, they have three children and reside in Irwin. Bill has been active in the community and manages the operations of both funeral homes.  He has assembled a unique and caring staff that includes his wife Dawn, Son J.W., and daughter Jessica, Forgie-Snyder Funeral Home Supervisor David Mahlstedt, Pre-arrangement Specialist Kim Cramer and assistant “Dutchy” Wojtowicz.

Bill and Dawn’s son J.W. Snyder, named after his great, great, grandfather, graduated from the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science in 2009 becoming the fifth generation funeral directors in the Snyder family.