A Mass of Christian Burial for Father William J. “Bill” Snyders, SJ, was to be celebrated on Oct. 3 in the chapel of St. Ignatius Hall, the Jesuit Community at Garden Villas North, in Florissant. Father Snyders died Sept. 22 in Florissant. Remembered for his kindness and dedication to service, he was 94 years old, a Jesuit for 72 years and a priest for 60 years.
Bill Snyders was born June 12, 1932, in St. Louis, the son of Leo H. Snyders Sr. and Henrietta Geers Snyders. He graduated from Saint Louis University in 1954 before entering the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits) at St. Stanislaus Seminary in Florissant on Aug. 8, 1954, and pronounced his first vows on Aug. 15, 1956. He was ordained a priest on June 8, 1966, at St. Francis Xavier (College) Church in St. Louis and professed final vows in the Society of Jesus at De Smet Jesuit High School in Creve Coeur on February 2, 1972.
Father Snyders earned a second bachelor’s degree from Saint Louis University following his seminary studies. He studied theology at St. Mary’s College in St. Marys, Kansas (1963-67), earning a master’s in education and a licentiate in sacred theology through Saint Louis University and received certification in counseling.
His first assignment to teach was at Rockhurst High School in Kansas City, Missouri (1960-63), where he taught mathematics.
He served at De Smet Jesuit High School from 1968-81 as a teacher of math and religion, a guidance counselor and director of counseling, and for six years (1975-81) as rector of the Jesuit community.
He was then assigned to Belize, where he taught English, math and religion and provided counseling at St. John’s College in Belize City for 15 years, while also ministering to the people of Caye Caulker as pastor. A successful college counselor at De Smet Jesuit, Father Snyders brought that skill to St. John’s College, where he prepared students going to the U.S. for studies so well that students from other schools in Belize began to ask for his help.
He returned to De Smet Jesuit as a counselor (1996-2002), before returning to his beloved Belize for 17 more years (2002-19), serving in several roles, including pastoral minister at St. John’s College, pastor at Caye Caulker and a minister in Belize Central Prison.
His final assignment was as a pastoral minister in Grand Coteau, Louisiana (2019-26). He moved to St. Ignatius Hall in Florissant to pray for the Church and the Society in May 2026.
He loved serving in Belize and felt that the people there were part of his life, and he part of theirs, such that he was “bound by strings, if not ropes.” He was a beloved weekend pastoral minister, first in rural villages and later in Caye Caulker. He ministered in Belize Central Prison at the drug and alcohol rehab center, where he loved teaching about forgiveness and redemption. He was revered by the inmates and later commented, “It was the most joyous environment I’ve ever taught in! … The misery and self-hatred that develops under addiction and the release of them through seeking forgiveness from God and others is profoundly moving.” Former prisoners and others in need often came to the Jesuit community in Belize City looking for money, advice or prayer, and he always dropped what he was doing to respond.
Recently, as he reflected on 60 years as a priest, he wrote, “I’m profoundly grateful to God for His call and for the capacity to respond, which is itself a grace. It’s been an incredible ride, a terrific life with many twists and turns.”
In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by Leo H. Snyders, Jr., Dr. Robert V. Snyders, Dorothy Jane “Dede” Snyders Muldoon and Edward Snyders. He is survived by his sister Mary Ann Esson of Glendale, John P. Snyders of Germantown, Tennessee, and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.
