Sylvia Jane Knowles

In Loving Memory of Sylvia Jane (Hoffman, Pennypacker) Knowles
April 21, 1951 – June 18, 2025
Sylvia Jane (Hoffman, Pennypacker) Knowles peacefully passed away on June 18, 2025, surrounded by her family and loved ones, after battling Angiosarcoma, a rare and aggressive cancer, with unwavering strength and grace. She was 74 years old.
Born in Northampton, Pennsylvania, on April 21, 1951, Sylvia was the beloved daughter of Stanley Ralph and Helen (Ziatyk) Hoffman, and the cherished older sister of Mitchell Hoffman. Sylvia and her brother grew up in a small suburban neighborhood, where her boundless imagination led her to discover her first love-literature. The seasons passed alongside the pages of Nancy Drew and Little House on the Prairie, and she delighted in the magic of the written word-a thread of constant joy woven throughout the chapters of her life.
Sylvia valued her education intrinsically and earned a B.A. in Elementary Education from Kutztown State College in 1972, followed by a Master's Degree. She had a knack for connecting with children, as if she spoke their secret language, and served as a public elementary school teacher for 30 years. She began her teaching career in the Central Bucks School District, where she taught from 1972 to 1977, before joining the Neshaminy School District in 1984. For the majority of her career she was a beloved first-grade teacher at Oliver Heckman Elementary School, retiring in 2009. Over the years, Sylvia inspired an untold number of children to read independently, count to 100, and learn how to tell time, while also teaching them about the importance of empathy and kindness. She was adored by families and faculty alike, and her work as an educator gave her life a sense of purpose and meaning.
Sylvia married the love of her life, Kevin Knowles, in 2005 and they were seemingly inseparable for the rest of their days-traveling the globe from Machu Picchu to the Galápagos Islands, from Kenya to Australia, and glamping throughout North America in their RV. She was by Kevin's side through his struggles with Polycystic Kidney Disease and she held him in her heart until her last breath.
Sylvia is survived by her loving children, Erin (Pennypacker) Barr and Ethan Pennypacker; her stepchildren, Patrick and Daniel Knowles; and her adored grandchildren, Chase and Shawn Pennypacker and Audrey Barr, who brought a pure light of happiness to their "Mimi's" eyes.
Sylvia will be remembered for her enduring warmth, grace, and sense of humor. She will be missed by her family, friends, colleagues, and countless former students and cookie lovers world-wide.
Guests are invited to arrive and greet the family on Saturday, June 28, 2025 from 10:00am until Sylvia's Life Celebration and Memorial Service at 11:00am in the Joseph A. Fluehr III Funeral Home, 800 Newtown-Richboro Road (at Holland Rd.) Richboro, PA 18954. Immediately following the Memorial Service, there will be a procession to Union Cemetery, in Richboro, for Interment of Sylvia's Cremains.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Sylvia's memory to the Fox Chase Cancer Center, benefiting scientific research and discovery or clinical care. FAQs and links to donation options can be found at https://www.foxchase.org/giving/giving-faqs