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Helen Knedler Obituary
June 7, 1927 - August 24, 2021
Helen died in Portland OR, where she lived with her daughter Ann. Son Jeremy, traveled to Portland from his home in New York City to spend nine months and into the last days of Helen's life.
Helen was so many things to so many people. Wife, mother, daughter, aunt, teacher, mentor, and such a good, good friend.
Her life accomplishments were diverse and exciting; traveler the world 'round with Marvin (Ned), her husband; music teacher and pianist for most of her life; chemist in St Louis and Boulder CO, after graduation from Baylor University; mountain hiker in Colorado and the Himalayas.
Care was one of her great strengths. Her immediate family, but also her mother for the last years of her long life of 99+ years. Helen stepped up for everyone, always with encouragement, enthusiasm, and humor.
Helen and Ned were great world travelers, visiting China and Russia in the first days of tourism there. Cities in Europe and Scandinavia were visited many times, but the favorite location for Helen was Nepal and the Himalayas.
One of the great enjoyments of Helen's life was live music; Aspen Music Festival, Red Rocks amphitheater, the pipe organs in some of the worlds' great cathedrals, symphony orchestras in Denver and Portland, and making music with her students at her home studio.
One of the things she enjoyed most during her last years was Saturday frozen yogurt. She'd finish a spoon-full, raise her face up, close her eyes and say, "I always say there are worse ways to spend a Saturday afternoon!" Amen mom!
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Helen Knedler
Sponsored by The Denver Post.
3 Entries
Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer
December 29, 2021
I was a student of Helen's for several years in the mid- to late 1980s. I loved how she was so very much her own person. I admired her for that and she inspired me to become my own person, too. I hope to be as full of life, passion, curiosity and affirmation as she was. Though I was a terrible player, she convinced me to play duets with her (those double grand pianos!!) and I remember finding real joy in that.
Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer
ERIN NELSON
September 5, 2021
I'm sorry to hear of your mother's passing. I was a piano student of hers, as was my sister. I fondly remember recitals at your house and piano lessons with the distraction of Jeremy practicing tricks on the trampoline outside for his freestyle skiing competitions. Not only did you mother teach us music, but she taught us the history behind it. My not so fond memories of Mrs. Knedler were when she thought it was a good idea that my sister and I play duets :-). We were not that compatible to sit on the same bench. Two pianos (which you had) was much more suited to us. She was quick to figure that out. Thank you Mrs. Knedler for everything you taught me! -Erin Nelson, Seattle, WA
Patrick Shannon
September 2, 2021
Ann: I don't know if you remember me from college or not, but by complete happenstance, I ran across your mom's funeral notice. Passing on my sincere condolences in this difficult time. God Bless.
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