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<p>WILKES-BARRE TWP. &#8212; It is said that a person&#8217;s life can change in an instant, and that certainly was the case Friday for Jo-Ann Snyder of Metcalf Street.</p><p>Until about 2:30 p.m. Friday, life was normal for Jo-Ann and her husband, Michael, both 72. Then a knock came on their front door.</p><p>In a split second, Jo-Ann Snyder was a millionaire &#8212; her life had changed forever.</p><p>After gathering at McCarthy Flowers, 308 Kidder St. in the city&#8217;s East End, the Prize Patrol from Publishers Clearing House headed out in a caravan with local media following.</p><p>They arrived on Snyder&#8217;s doorstep Friday afternoon to tell Jo-Ann that she had won the PCH&#8217;s sixth $5,000 A Week &#8220;Forever&#8221; Prize &#8212; $5,000 a week for the rest of her life, with the ability to choose a beneficiary to receive $5,000 a week for their life after that, plus bonus prizes: $1 million and a $35,000 car.</p><p>&#8220;Oh my God, is this real?&#8221; she asked as Dave Sayer, a 36-year member of the PCH Prize Patrol, stood holding three checks. &#8220;Do I have to move? I like it here.&#8221;</p><p>As Snyder trembled on her doorstep, Sayer and Howie Guja of the Prize Patrol explained what she had won, represented in three large pre-fabricated checks with large, very real numbers.</p><p>The most impressive presentation, however, was an actual check, payable to Jo-Ann Snyder for $1,000,000.</p><p>&#8220;How many zeroes do you see there Jo-Ann,&#8221; Guja asked. &#8220;There are a lot &#8212; this is a real check for one million dollars.&#8221;</p><p>Sayer said the check is drawn from Wells Fargo and will take a couple of days to clear.</p><p>&#8220;But you can go shopping tonight,&#8221; he said.</p><p>Snyder has two sons and three grandchildren.</p><p>&#8220;Those kids will be able to go to college,&#8221; she said, with tears in her eyes.</p><p>Snyder said she has been entering the Publishers Clearing House sweepstakes for years. She said she has watched on television as the Prize Patrol surprised past winners.</p><p>&#8220;I never expected them to knock on my door,&#8221; Snyder said.</p><p>Snyder said she and Michael have lived in their Metcalf Street home for 19 years. They will celebrate their 27th anniversary later this year.</p><p>Asked what she intends to do with the money, Jo-Ann said she hasn&#8217;t had time to even think about it, but travel would be one option.</p><p>&#8220;Yeah, Route 66,&#8221; Michael said, holding a dozen roses and balloons that came with the checks. Jo-Ann said she is allergic to roses. &#8220;We&#8217;ve always wanted to drive the entire length of Route 66. I know exactly where it begins in Chicago.&#8221;</p><p>Jo-Ann, who graduated from Marymount High School, is retired. She worked 40 years for an optical company. Michael is semi-retired, still holding a part-time job. Jo-Ann said she entered the sweepstakes via mail.</p><p>Before the small crowd dispersed from Snyder&#8217;s home, she asked, &#8220;Why couldn&#8217;t you have called me ahead of time? I would have been able to set my hair.&#8221;</p><p>Snyder called her son, Dennis, who was driving home from work, to give him the good news. She couldn&#8217;t reach her other son, David.</p><p>Publishers Clearing House is renowned for awarding more than $364 million in prizes to people all over America.</p><p>Winners have no idea the Prize Patrol is coming.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Publishers Clearing House prize patrol member Dave Sayer hands Jo-Ann Snyder, 72, a bouquet of flowers from McCarthy&#8217;s Flowers in Wilkes-Barre before awarding her three big checks on Friday afternoon, including one for $1 million. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/web1_TTL022418PCH1-4.jpg</photo0><caption0>Publishers Clearing House prize patrol member Dave Sayer hands Jo-Ann Snyder, 72, a bouquet of flowers from McCarthy&#8217;s Flowers in Wilkes-Barre before awarding her three big checks on Friday afternoon, including one for $1 million. </caption0><photoCredit0>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/web1_TTL022418PCH2-4.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Jo-Ann Snyder reacts when she sees the check from Publishers Clearing House at her home in Wilkes-Barre Township. Jo-Ann and husband Michael were home when the Prize Patrol arrived with balloons, flowers and three big checks. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/web1_TTL022418PCH2-4.jpg</photo1><caption1>Jo-Ann Snyder reacts when she sees the check from Publishers Clearing House at her home in Wilkes-Barre Township. Jo-Ann and husband Michael were home when the Prize Patrol arrived with balloons, flowers and three big checks. </caption1><photoCredit1>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/web1_TTL022418PCH3-4.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Jo-Ann Snyder is overcome with emotion when she sees the check from Publishers Clearing House at her home in Wilkes-Barre Township on Friday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/web1_TTL022418PCH3-4.jpg</photo2><caption2>Jo-Ann Snyder is overcome with emotion when she sees the check from Publishers Clearing House at her home in Wilkes-Barre Township on Friday. </caption2><photoCredit2>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit2></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/web1_IMG_4469-10.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Members of the Publishers Clearing House Prize Patrol surprised Wilkes-Barre Township resident Jo-Ann Snyder with a major cash award Friday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo3>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/web1_IMG_4469-10.jpg</photo3><caption3>Members of the Publishers Clearing House Prize Patrol surprised Wilkes-Barre Township resident Jo-Ann Snyder with a major cash award Friday. </caption3><photoCredit3>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit3></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/web1_IMG_6696-9.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Jo-Ann Snyder reacts to winning the Publishers Clearing House sweepstakes on Friday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo4>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/web1_IMG_6696-9.jpg</photo4><caption4>Jo-Ann Snyder reacts to winning the Publishers Clearing House sweepstakes on Friday. </caption4><photoCredit4>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit4></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/web1_TTL022418PCH4-4.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Jo-Ann Snyder and husband Michael open the door for Publishers Clearing House representatives at their home in Wilkes-Barre Township on Friday. Their lives were about to change forever. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo5>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/web1_TTL022418PCH4-4.jpg</photo5><caption5>Jo-Ann Snyder and husband Michael open the door for Publishers Clearing House representatives at their home in Wilkes-Barre Township on Friday. Their lives were about to change forever. </caption5><photoCredit5>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit5></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta>WB Twp. woman wins Publishers Clearing House prize</subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Bill O&#8217;Boyle</p><p>boboyle@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><factboxMeta><p>VIDEO</p><p>&#8226; <a href="https://www.facebook.com/timesleader/videos/10155951165182040/" target="_blank">Wilkes-Barre woman wins Publisher Clearinghouse Sweepstakes</a></p><p>&#8226; <a href="https://www.facebook.com/timesleader/videos/10155951159352040/" target="_blank">Wilkes-Barre woman tells her son she won the grand prize</a></p></factboxMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Bill O&#8217;Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Wilkes-Barre Township’s Jo-Ann Snyder wins Publishers Clearing House prize