Vanessa Anne Reed-Knifel

Vanessa Reed-Knifel (Reed-Edwards) died on Wednesday, August 20, after battling Parkinson's disease for several years. She was 71. Vanessa was born in Billericay, Essex, England, on April 20, 1954. Early in her life, she appeared as an extra or in small parts in several films, including "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie." She moved with her family to Syracuse, New York in 1968 and graduated from Nottingham High School in 1971.
She acted in numerous community theater productions and sang in choirs throughout the years.
After moving to New York City in 1979, she became a medical copyeditor and worked for several large companies. Vanessa returned to the Syracuse area in 2018. Vanessa was an animal lover who adored her many pets. When she was a little girl in the English countryside, she rode horses and tended to everything from rabbits and guinea pigs to cats and dogs.
She was predeceased by her parents, Patricia and Cerid Reed-Edwards; her sister, Lynn Englefield; her brother, Simon Reed-Edwards; and her husband, Andrew Knifel. Vanessa is survived by her brother, Mark Reed-Edwards (Katherine Erickson); nephew, Kyle Reed-Edwards (Lizzy Williams); nephew, Ryan Reed-Edwards; niece, Emily Reed-Edwards; nephews, Paul and Mark Englefield; brother-in-law, David Englefield; mother-in-law, Claire Cohan; sister-in-law, Tammie Jeffrey; brother-in-law, Merrill Knifel; and numerous grandnieces, grandnephews, a great-niece, and a great-nephew; as well as friends around the world. In addition, she is survived by her beloved dog, Lulu.
To honor Vanessa's passing, the family asks that you donate to a charity that supports animal rights, listen to or sing a song, or tell a joke to a friend and have a good laugh. If you knew Vanessa, you'll remember she was great at trivia and puzzles, so think of her the next time you watch Jeopardy, do a crossword, Wordle, or Spelling Bee (Vanessa was a Queen Bee!).
The family will plan a memorial at a future date.