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Myrle Knapp Obituary
"Yai Yai"
Was born February 10, 1925 in Silvara, PA, the daughter of the late John F. & Essie C. (Grose) Place. She went home to be with her Lord on Sunday, August 24, 2014, peacefully at St. Josephs Hospital (SNF) surrounded by her family. She was greeted at Heaven's gate by her loving husband of 59 years, John (1/4/2008), beloved daughter, Jackie (4/5/2013), and was the last of eight sisters and one brother. She is survived by her children: Jaynie Laprade, John & Lesley Knapp, and Judi & Paul Bedzyk; grandchildren: Dan (Olga) Knapp, Jack Knapp, Amanda (Caleb) Drake, Allison Knapp, Ashley Knapp, Matthew (Brianna) Bedzyk and Mitchell (Sarah) Bedzyk; great-grandchildren: Lily Grace Knapp and Joshua Lucas Drake; along with several nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, and a host of others who referred to her as their "Yai Yai". Myrle was a faithful member of Elmira Christian Center and retired from the Elmira Christian Academy as a kindergarten teacher in 1987, after 18 years of dedicated service. She was a die hard Boston Red Sox fan, loved chocolate, coffee, and her word searches. Myrle had an intense love for music, especially when it was sung or played by her children or grandchildren. Family and friends are invited to gather at Elmira Christian Center, 235 E. Miller St., Elmira, NY on Thursday, August 28, 2014, from 3:00 - 6:30 p.m. Funeral services celebrating her life will follow the visitation. Rev. Dave Leandre, Rev. David Cook, and Rev. Brian Harris will officiate. Interment will take place at the convenience of her family in Woodlawn Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be directed to Elmira Christian Center c/o Bereavement Fund. Envelopes will be available at the church. Arrangements have been entrusted to Olthof Funeral Home, Inc. Myrle's guestbook may be signed in obituaries at www.olthof.com.
Thank You
The Knapp family wishes to express their sincere gratitude and appreciation to Dr. John Schiavonne and the 3rd floor staff at St. Joseph's Hospital (SNF) for the outstanding love and care shown to their mom during her stay.
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Memories and Condolences
for Myrle Knapp
Susan Mick
September 18, 2014
Dear Knapp Family,
Please excuse my lateness of sending my prayers for your family in the loss of Myrle. My mother has been friends with your family for years. Florence Mick passed away too on August 26, 2014. I am sure Myrle and my mother are walking through God's Garden together. Sorry for your loss. Like you there is happiness in knowing we will see them again in heaven.
May God bless you all, Susan Mick
Annette (Ingham)Southard
September 9, 2014
Mrs. Knapp was a wonderful and caring person she cared about her students when she taught and remembered them after they moved on from her class. She was loving and had a heart of gold. She will truly be missed.
Kaylee Carrigan- DePue
September 4, 2014
Mrs. Knapp was a wonderful lady. I have used all her life lessons that she taught me over the years. I will miss her laughter and smile that always seem to have, even at 7 am when she greeted me at the door. The Knapp family is in my thoughts and prayers.
chrissy weber
September 2, 2014
Love you yai yai! never forget our nights we spent together I learned so much about you and you me, tears&smiles we had fun... as I told you...Love you as my own grandma!! you are special just as so is the rest of your family has always and will always be to our Osterhout Family
Love,you all Prayers, Chrissy
Kay Roof
August 28, 2014
I am so sorry for your loss. My family only knew Mrs. Knapp for a short time. Her smile for everyone around her knew, she was happy to serve our Lord.
Tonia Lovelace-Poss
August 28, 2014
Elmira will not be the same without her! I pray that our Heavenly Father wraps His loving arms around all of you during this time of your loss. May you all be comforted in knowing that Yai Yai is not in your past, but she will be in our future when we meet again on that wondrous shore! Love and prayers to you all!
Sharon Brugler Becker
August 27, 2014
My thoughts are an extension of Sandy's. When we were kids living in PA and then NY, a visit from Aunt Myrle and Uncle John was the highlight of our day. Their love was very special and just kept growing over the years. How blessed we were!!
August 27, 2014
How all the Brugler kids loved you, Aunt Myrle (and Uncle John). We loved the music, the humor and love you provided for us over the years and especially after losing our Mother in 1988 and you always made our Dad feel more like a brother than a brother-in-law. The Place reunions were wonderful and so special when we could be there, and it was you, Aunt Fran and our cousins who worked hard planning them and making them so special for which we have always been grateful. Our only regret at times like these is that we live so far away, but all the Knapps are in our thoughts and prayers. Much love from Sandy
Ricky M Wylie
August 27, 2014
Dear Knapp Family, So sorry for your loss...and you all are in my prayers at this time. Your Mom was a Saint and she Loved her Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ for sure and her countenance showed it. She is in Glory shouting and singing and smiling cause she is free indeed now.. Love, In Christ Ricky M. Wylie
Rev.& Mrs. Donald Paul Jr.
August 27, 2014
A wonderful Lady was called home from the mission field we are ambassadors of the King and at any moment He can summons us to come home and report to Him that is just what happened He called one of the most respected and earnest ambassadors home to report and rest in Him the celebration of her work is taking place both here and in heaven but the question needs to be asked who will step up and take her place on the mission field she has trained a lot of people to do just that but who will follow and fill her footsteps. Mrs. Knapp you will be missed here but We'll see you at home
John Jenkins
August 27, 2014
Dear John, Jaynie, & Judi,
We are saddened to hear of the loss of your Mom. She was a great example to everyone in her love for the Lord and hard work. We know the difficulty for you all as we have lost both of our Mothers recently and will keep you in our prayers. We look forward to seeing her again in Glory!
Love & Prayers, John & Janice Jenkins
Kristen Bianchi
August 27, 2014
Mrs. Knapp was my kindergarten teacher many years ago! I have fond memories of her. Condolences to the Knapp family.
August 27, 2014
She taught my children to love God. What can I say? She taught so many people's children to love God. I cannot wait to go to heaven and see her and my Kimberly smiling again! She's a very dear soul. God is rewarding her right now for her faithful love and grace poured out to all of us. The children and the parents and her family and the church. Such a beautiful, light-filled life.
August 27, 2014
John and family, I am sorry to hear of your loss. Thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Kathy Savon-Crooks and the Savon family
A flower for a lovely lady
Debi Karppala
August 27, 2014
What a blessing Mamma Knapp was as I was growing up and attending ECA at it's beginnings. God bless you Jaynie, John and Judi and the rest of the family during this time.
Laraine Zady
August 26, 2014
I will always remember her enthusiasm for God, church and family. Heaven is happy to have her!
August 26, 2014
Jaynie, John, Judi, and all the rest of you Knappykins...we are grieving the loss of a lovely lady here in Massachusetts, yet also rejoicing that Mrs. Knapp has been reunited with her Lord and with loved ones gone before. Love you all, Deb Savola
Kim Hover
August 26, 2014
Myrtle Knapp will be greatly missed. She was positive all the time and loved Jesus Christ with all her heart. Praying for the rest of us that are left behind. Say hi to my dad who I dearly miss. Praying for Jayne, Johnny , and Judy.my the God I serve Bless u durning this time of loss.
Debbie McKinney
August 26, 2014
Myrle was an awesome, Godly women. She loved deeply, she lived her relationship with Christ everyday. She was who she was and was not ashamed of whose (Christ) she was. Everyone was always welcome at her home, always loved, always made to feel like they had just come home. She will be deeply missed. Every time Roy and I come to Elmira, we always made time to visit with her and John. They were two of my most favorite people. I will always love your Myrle, always. Jayne, John and Judi, I know that your hearts break for your loss, and yet they are also rejoicing because you know that she is in a better place, and she is with the two loves of her life, Jesus, and your dad. You were blessed with awesome parents, awesome examples and that is what makes each one of you awesome too. I love you all, your sister forever, Debbie McKinney
pamela Francisco
August 26, 2014
I am so sorry for the knappys. I am going to miss.here so much I loved her I worked in Sunday school with her and had fun. She was a mom to me and I know she is happy now she is with the lord and with .Br Knappy and her sweet girl Jackie Knappy and everyone that was there be for her she was sweet and loved ever one and I miss her sweet kiss. Ever time I seen her. I. Love all the the family. Love all the Francisco family.
Dwayne & Tammy Eggers
August 26, 2014
We love you Mama Knapp. You will be missed here. Save a place for all of us left behind, we will be there soon.
Bishop Jim Pierce
August 26, 2014
The passing of someone who has been with us for what seems like forever makes our universe seem lacking--like a planet has disappeared. Life feels strangely different--even for those of us who have not been very close in proximity for many years. Something is missing that made our world what it was. That is how I feel about the home going of this dear saint. She was mother to some of my favorite people in the world. How we will miss her. God bless you Jayne, John & Judy and extended family. You are all in our prayers.
Caroline Hicks
August 26, 2014
I sit here with tears in my eyes because even though I haven't been around for many years, I feel as if I had never left. I loved Myrle so much and loved working with her at Elmira Christian Academy and being a part of the church family. She truly was a great lady and very loving to all the kids she had under her care. I will never forget the time in my life that included the Knapp family. My prayers are with you, John, Judi and Jayne. May God's peace and comfort be with you. God bless!
Joy Richards
August 26, 2014
To the entire Knapp family...my deepest and most heartfelt sympathy for your loss (once again) and heavens gain. I love everything about Myrle...her wonderful bright smile, her contagious laugh and her always speaking the truth in love. She was the very first to lead me to JESUS in Sunday school kindergarten class. I remember it like it was yesterday...a decision I will cherish till I see her again. Jayne, Johnny and Judi.....may the LORD send to you HIS mantle of anointing from heaven to carry on the LORD'S work and legacy your family has done. God bless you and keep you.....HE who called you is faithful to keep you and complete HIS purpose in you.
Ken and Bonnie Stone
August 26, 2014
No finer example of a Christian women. She was an Angel. She will be greatly missed. Our prayers are with the family.
Jan Bird
August 26, 2014
Another soldier gone home. Dearly loved,
she will be missed. What a homecoming!
Ginger Wood
August 26, 2014
Momma knapp u will be so very missed and love u are a great women I knew and loved momma knapp Love you momma knapp
mary carr
August 26, 2014
I am so sorry to hear about Myrle's passing...she was such a fun lady in our TOPS group....she has been missed ....Judi, Jayne, John and family - you must have some amazing memories from this wonderful lady!! she will always be with you in your memories...
Arlene Zawko
August 26, 2014
Loved reading this wonderful obituary and thinking of the reunion of Bro. Knapp, Sis. Knapp, and Jackie, in Heaven! Sorry for the loss of the Knapp Family but rejoicing in Heaven's gain!
Debie Jo Lusk Danna
August 26, 2014
I have no doubt that your sweet Mom will be as happy in Heaven as she was on Earth. I remember your parents fondly, and can only imagine how happy they will be together again, especially in the one place they've waited all their lives to live! Having your sister there with them will be the icing on their beautiful slice of Heaven.
May God Bless your family and loved ones in this difficult time.
Daniel Burgess
August 26, 2014
Such a faithful follower of God, what rejoicing must be going on in heaven.
Patricia VanGalder
August 26, 2014
Knapp Family,so sorry for your loss she was a sweet and wonderful lady.She is in a peaceful and wonderful place now and she is happy to be home.My thoughts and prayers are with you all.May God Bless and be with you all.
Toni Parker
August 26, 2014
An awesome lady, with a warm heart, genuine smile and the best hugger. Enjoy your journey. Love, Toni
David Stoughton
August 26, 2014
To me you were always " Myrle , Myrtle with no T Myrle " that's how John told me his wife's name..You both showed me so much that can never forget..Myrle asked my wife and I separetly if we wanted to work in Sunday school we both did....all I can say or think is WHAT A LEGACY. I carried Johns casket but I wanted him to drive !
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