TOM AND HEATHER SNYIR

Tom and Heather Snyir are the loving parents of their daughter, Katie Rae, whose radiant spirit, gentle heart, and unwavering faith in Jesus continue to shape their lives every day. Katie’s medical journey began early in life. At just four years old, she was diagnosed with leukemia, and in an extraordinary act of love, her little brother Jacob, only two years old, donated his bone marrow. Katie went on to live eleven beautiful, healthy years with no evidence of disease.

In the fall of 2020, at sixteen, Katie was diagnosed with diffused Stage 4 glioblastoma multiforma, a devastating and aggressive form of brain cancer. She faced this battle with remarkable courage, grace, and a deep faith that touched everyone around her. Katie passed away at seventeen on Thanksgiving Day in 2021, leaving behind a legacy of love, strength, and devotion to Christ that continues to inspire all who knew her.

Katie is forever part of a close, loving family. Heather and Tom are also parents to Jacob (18) and Daisy (11), who carry their sister’s memory in their own unique ways. Tom is also blessed with a stepdaughter, Jordan (32). Together, they continue to honor Katie’s life by loving one another deeply and keeping her light alive in their home.

Tom’s life of service began long before ministry. He is a combat veteran, having served in the United States Army from 1984 to 1995. His years of military service left lasting wounds, and he has walked through the challenges of depression and PTSD, experiences that have shaped his compassion for others who suffer. These struggles are part of his story, and they deepen the empathy he brings to the people he serves — especially those facing trauma, loss, or overwhelming pain.

Two years ago, their grief journey led them to Our Hearts Are Home, where they found a community of parents who truly understand the depth of child loss through one of Katie’s best friends, Taylor, who is attending Liberty University. Through this organization, they discovered connection, compassion, and a safe place to honor Katie’s memory while supporting others walking a similar path.

Tom and Heather have spent their lives serving the church with open hearts and willing hands. Over the years, they have been involved in every area of ministry — from children’s programs to youth, young adults, and adult ministries. Their service has included teaching, mentoring, leading, and participating in worship, with Tom joyfully playing the drums in the music ministry.

Today, Tom and Heather continue that calling by leading a bereaved parent group at Liberty Live Church in Hampton, Virginia, as well as a Believers class, where they walk alongside others with empathy, honesty, and a deep commitment to faith-based healing. They also extend their ministry beyond the church, helping first responders and families in the community who have lost children — no matter the circumstances of their passing. Their compassion reflects the heart of 1 Thessalonians 2:8, which speaks of sharing not only the gospel but their very lives with others.

Tom has been a Pastor since 1999. In 2010, he expanded his ministry by becoming a Chaplain to first responders in Pennsylvania, offering spiritual care and steady support during moments of crisis. When Tom and Heather moved to Yorktown, Virginia in 2015, they continued this calling, now serving the Newport News Fire Department and the York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Office. Tom is also a graduate of Liberty University and retired from the United States Postal Service.

Heather, a Penn State graduate, brings warmth, empathy, and a nurturing presence shaped by both her education and her lived experience as a bereaved mother. She is also a wellness advocate for doTERRA essential oils, using her passion for natural health to support others in their physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being.

Together, Heather and Tom are committed to honoring Katie Rae’s legacy by living out the values she embodied — love, faith, kindness, and unwavering trust in Jesus. They believe that healing does not mean leaving their daughter behind; it means carrying her forward, allowing her light to shine through their lives, and helping others feel less alone on their own journey through grief.