Madeline Knava

1924 - 2014

Madeline (Speer) Knava, 89, of Stafford Springs, CT, loving wife of George J. Knava, passed away on Thursday, February 13, 2014 at Johnson Memorial Hospital. She was born in Stafford Springs, CT on September 25, 1924, daughter of the late Peter and Helen (Demopoulos) Speer. She was elected Valedictorian of her Stafford High School class and received her Bachelor's degree with Honors and her Master's degree in French from the University of Connecticut. While a senior, she was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and the following honorary societies, Gamma Chi Epsilon, Phi Kappa Phi, and Phi Alpha Theta. Madeline also received the E. Henry Stevens award for attaining the highest scholastic rank as a freshman and the Ambassade de France award for excellence in French language and literature. She taught French and Spanish at Stafford High School. She was a member of the Scholarship Awards Committee, Citizens' Scholarship Foundation of Stafford, charter member of the Stafford Historical Society, St. Luke Greek Orthodox Church, Grace Episcopal Church, and an Honorary Trustee of Stafford Savings Bank. Madeline was predeceased by her brother, Dr. Christopher S. Speer; and her sister, Harriet McFarland. Besides her loving husband George, Madeline is survived by her sister, Barbara Speer; nieces, Elizabeth Grenham and her husband Kevin and their children Mary, Anne, and Christopher; Rebecca Zhukov, Katrina Cubina and her husband Luis and their children Julian and Christopher; her nephew and niece, Paul and Zdenka Balatka and their children Andrea and Peter; her god-daughter, Theresa (DeNardis) Schrader and her parents Steven and Donna DeNardis; and many devoted friends. Calling hours will be held on Sunday, February 16, 2014 from 2-4 P.M. at Introvigne Funeral Home, Inc., 51 East Main St., Stafford Springs, CT. Her funeral service will take place on Monday, February 17, 2014 at 11:30 A.M. at St. Luke's Greek Orthodox Church, 400 Prospect St., East Longmeadow, MA. Burial will be in Stafford Springs Cemetery, Stafford Springs, CT. Memorial donations may be made to the Citizens' Scholarship Foundation of Stafford, c/o Rose Roszczewski, P.O. Box 25, Stafford Springs, CT 06076. For online condolences or directions, please visit: www.introvignefuneralhome.com