Beatrice “Bea” Snyder Mattleman, passed away on Dec. 27, 2015, at her home in the Abramson Center for Jewish Life, North Wales, Pennsylvania. The funeral took place on Dec. 30, 2015, in Southampton, Pennsylvania.
Bea was born in Philadelphia to Abraham and Bertha Snyder on Aug. 30, 1925, and lived there until moving to Jenkintown, Pennsylvania, in 1963 where she resided until moving to the Abramson Center in 2013. Bea was a larger-than-life character, a devoted daughter, sister and wife, adoring mother, passionate teacher and loyal friend. She loved beauty and wisdom and sought those qualities in the people and places she encountered throughout her life. An avid traveler, Bea made and kept friends all over the world. After graduating from Olney High School for which she organized reunions well into her 80s, she attended Temple University, earning her bachelor’s and master’s degrees. She had a long career as a “teacher who changed lives,” working as a reading specialist at the Matthews School and South Philadelphia High School and as a tutor at Pennsylvania State University and Arcadia University. In 1952, she married Nathan (Tootie) Mattleman, a family physician who predeceased her in 1997.
Bea leaves her daughters Gwen H. Mattleman, of Washington, D.C., and Lauren Mattleman Hoopes (John) of Lawrence, Kansas, a granddaughter, Alexandra E. Hoopes of New York, New York, and a grandson, Nathaniel B.F. Hoopes of Lawrence, Kansas.
The family wishes to thank the staff of the Abramson Center and Joyce Gray for the wonderful care and commitment to Bea’s well-being during her last years.
Charitable contributions in Bea’s memory may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, the Temple University School of Law for the Eugene Gelfand ’49 Memorial Fund or to the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Kansas City.