Josephine Snow Farnandez

Josephine Snow Farnandez, 88, of Lynchburg passed away on July 3, 2016 at Lynchburg General Hospital.  For 42 years she was the wife of John Corry Farnandez, living in Lynchburg, Ramsey, NJ and Warrenton, VA and returning to Lynchburg in 1995.   Throughout their marriage they spent as much time as possible at their much-loved Smith Mountain Lake home, with a series of much-loved dogs.

Jo was born April 14, 1928 in Huntington, WV and raised in Raleigh, NC.  She was the daughter of the late Mary Josephine LeSage Snow and Raymond Anthony Snow and is survived by a sister, Martha Snow Coffey, also of Raleigh.  Jo attended Agnes Scott College and graduated from Meredith College, moving to Lynchburg in 1952 with her first husband, the late Robert Isaac (Rock) Lee.   In her early years in Lynchburg, she served as a Girl Scout Leader, president of the E.C. Glass PTO, the president of both the Lynchburg Junior Women’s Club and the League of Women Voters, followed by multiple positions on the State LWV Board.  In her years on the V.E.S. campus, she enjoyed acting in numerous dramatic productions.

Jo continued her education with the UVA Extension Reading Specialist Program, followed by a Masters’ in Education from Lynchburg College and further certification in Special Education.  She taught in the Lynchburg City Schools, as well as public schools in Ramsey and Warrenton.  Upon her return to Lynchburg, she was an active volunteer with the CASA program, Meals on Wheels and served in numerous capacities on the board of Opera on the James.

A voracious reader, Jo was deeply involved for forty years with her book clubs and amassed a library of carefully cataloged books, which she happily lent to many.  Her love of music ranged from Harry Belafonte and Miriam Makeba to Puccini and she and John became avid opera-goers during their New Jersey years.  After retirement to Lynchburg, she took great joy in a return to playing the piano.

John and Jo made the most of their many travels – viewing museums, galleries and operas throughout Europe, hiking the Great Wall of China, touring the Australian outback, followed by two memorable trips to Russia, as well as to Africa and India.  For several years they especially enjoyed a summer home in Nova Scotia.

In addition to her husband, John, Josephine is survived by a host of loving family: Linie Frankfort (Mac) of Lynchburg, Patrick Lee of Asheville, NC, Jodie Patterson (Stuart) of Williamsburg, Donna Farnandez and Susan Craighill (Ed) of Lynchburg, John Farnandez of Chesapeake, David Farnandez (Tina) of Huntingtown, MD, twelve grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren, and a devoted foursome of Coffey niece and nephews.  Mama Jo’s special love of children made her home a favorite destination for all the “little ones” in her life and led to multiple summer sessions of Grandmas’ Camp at Smith Mountain Lake, held with a wonderful circle of her dear, Grandma Friends.

A heartfelt thanks from all her family to Felecia Scott, for her love and service, and to the staff at The Elms of Lynchburg for their professional and dedicated care.

A Service of Witness to the Resurrection for Josephine will be held at First Presbyterian Church, Lynchburg, VA on Friday, July 8 at 11:00am.  Family will gather for the Committal in the Columbarium at First Presbyterian before the memorial service and will receive friends in the narthex following the service.

Those wishing to make memorial contributions should consider Opera on the James (PO Box 1450, Lynchburg, 24505) or Meals on Wheels (PO Box 1388, Lynchburg, 24505.)  Tharp Funeral Home and Crematory, Lynchburg is assisting the family.  To send condolences, please visit obituaries.tharpfuneralhome.com.