Virginia Mary Knapp

Virginia Mary Knapp (Horak), a dedicated teacher, mother, church leader, and professional organist and choir director, died on Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025. She was 90.

Virginia discovered her two greatest joys–teaching and playing music–early in life, and her work and church ministry touched thousands of lives over many decades. For more than 20 years, she served as organist and choir director at Grace Episcopal Church in Allentown, cheerfully leading the congregation in songs both traditional and contemporary.

At Grace Church she lived her dream–to run a parish side by side with her husband, the late Rev. Donald H. Knapp. During their 57 years of marriage, they served the church and the inner-city community with a deep dedication to social justice and compassion for people in poverty or crisis.

Virginia fulfilled her other passion as a long-time teacher at the Jewish Day School in Allentown, where she was beloved by students and faculty. After retiring from the Day School and Grace Church, Virginia continued to serve as organist at various churches, including St. Anne's Episcopal Church in Trexlertown. She also volunteered as a reading tutor for various nonprofits and as an instructor at the Da Vinci Science Center in Allentown.

Virginia "Bunny" Knapp was diminutive in size yet possessed an outsized vision for how she could make the world a better place. She will be remembered for her virtue and kindness, her tireless work ethic ("I'm so busy!" she always said) and her infectious smile and laughter.

Virginia was born in Akron, OH, on Oct. 12, 1935, but lived most of her life in Allentown, PA. She is survived by her three children, Lorraine Frycki, Mary Giannelli, and Donald Knapp and their spouses, Kevin Frycki, Dan Giannelli, and Cristina Palomo, respectively; her grandchildren, Stephanie, Rachel, Matthew, Elena, and Adelina, as well as her great-granddaughter Annie; her sisters Marianne Braddock and Shelley Gause, and her brother Rick Horak (predeceased by her brother Alan Horak and her sister Janice Romanoski).

Services: A viewing will be held on Friday, December 5, 2025 from 6-8 p.m. at Bachman, Kulik & Reinsmith Funeral Home, 1629 Hamilton St., Allentown, PA. A funeral will be held on Saturday, December 6 at 11 a.m. at St. Anne's Episcopal Church, 6667 Lower Macungie Road, Trexlertown, PA. www.BKRFH.com

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the American Diabetes Association. https://diy-diabetes.donordrive.com/campaign/Virginia-Mary-Knapp