Obituary of Helen M Knapp

Knapp, Helen M. (nee Dempsey) age 88, long-time resident of Paterson, currently of Boonton, died Saturday night, Jan. 3, 2015 in St. Joseph's Hospital, Wayne, following a massive stroke on Christmas Day. Born in Paterson, Mrs. Knapp was a life-long resident of Paterson until recent addresses of Sparta and Boonton. Helen was baptized and confirmed at St. Mary's R.C. Church in Paterson and was a long time member of the church. She graduated from St. Joseph's High School in Paterson and later graduated from the School of Nursing at Paterson General Hospital, class of February 1944. Helen later retired as a Registered Nurse in Paterson's public school system in 1996 after twenty five years. Helen was predeceased by her loving husband Joseph P. (1988) and two of her daughters, Mary Knapp (2002) and Helen "Lynn" D. Knapp (2010). Helen was a devoted mother of thirteen children, eleven of whom are surviving: Joanne Cholewin and her husband John of Wayne, Theresa Robinson and her husband Peter of Lincoln Park, Joseph P. and his wife Juanita of Hopatcong, Steven of Forked River, Michael C. and his wife Lisa of Parsippany, Timothy and his wife Cindy of Bothell, WA, Catherine Andre and her husband John of Lake Hopatcong, Margaret Edwards and her husband Mark of Sparta, Dolores Leba and her husband Ronald of Lancaster, PA, Charles and his wife Joell of Riverdale, and Susan Rizzi and her husband Nicholas of Bloomfield. Helen has one surviving sister, Noreen Ward of Little Falls. Helen also has twenty seven surviving grandchildren and seventeen surviving great-grandchildren. Relatives and friends are invited to attend the funeral from the Festa Memorial Funeral Home, 111 Union Blvd., Totowa on Wednesday at 9:45 AM. Funeral Mass of the Resurrection to follow at St. Mary's R.C. Church, Pompton Lakes at 10:30 AM. Interment at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Totowa. Friends and relatives may visit Tuesday 2-4 & 7-9 PM.