Jeanette B. Knapp

Jeanette Brune Knapp, age 96, died at the Little Sisters of the Poor, in San Pedro, California, on March 29, 2017, where she had lived since August 1, 2012. Jeanette was born on September 3, 1920 to the late Marie and Alois Brune. The third of eight children, Jeanette was raised in the neighborhood surrounding St. Boniface Catholic Church and graduated from the parish school in 1934. She then attended Reitz Memorial High School and was a proud member of the graduation class of 1938. Jeanette first worked as a billing clerk at Hancock Truck Lines and then in the office at Universal Furniture. On May 7, 1942, she married John H. Knapp and together they raised two daughters, Jeanne Marie (Peter) Celiberti of Dover, Delaware and Joanne Isabelle (Paul) Helfrich of Topanga, California. Mr. Knapp died in 1985. World War II saw the newlyweds living in Chicago and Waukegan, Illinois, Long Beach, California, and Seattle, Washington. In Chicago Jeanette worked for Montgomery Ward and in Waugekan she worked for the Sager-Barrows Lock Company, which overlooked the Naval Base. When her husband shipped out for overseas duty, she returned to Evansville and worked as a secretary at Mead Johnson Company. After the war, Jeanette worked as a typist for Maumee Collieries, a coal mining operation in Terre Haute, Indiana (1945-1948) in order for John to finish college. His work with General Foods took them near the Canadian border to live in LeRoy, New York and to Dover, Delaware. In 1979, she and John returned to Evansville. Jeanette worked from 1982 to 1986 as the parish secretary at St. Joseph Catholic Church on Virginia Street. When she left that job in 1986, she worked as a skilled typist and proofreader for various individuals and companies including Dean Bosler’s Furniture Company, and provided her typing abilities free of charge to help many of her friends, until January 21, of 2005, when she moved to the care facility operated by the Little Sisters of the Poor on Lincoln Avenue. Jeanette was an extremely optimistic woman who loved life and lived it to the full. She loved people and engaged them in conversations, which would stretch the understanding of both parties on the subject being discussed. She always rooted for the underdog. A loyal friend to so many, Jeanette could always be counted on, especially when someone was going through a life-struggle. Always ready to help, Jeanette would respond with what the person needed most, a prayer, a meal, a visit, a paper or letter typed. Several of her closest friends hosted a major birthday celebration for Jeanette every five years. This began when she turned 70 and continued until she moved to California. For her 80th birthday, she went for a hot air balloon ride over Evansville! Surrounded by family and friends Jeanette was at her best. Laughing, hugging, and telling stories, she was a witness to a life well lived. Jeanette was most proud of her work for justice. As a young mother, she was a charter member of the Dover, Delaware League of Women Voters and worked as a volunteer there 14 years. The fact that she was born the year American women won the right to vote was a sign to Jeanette that she was called to help defend the rights of women and of minorities. Throughout her life, Jeanette always stood up for justice. She also served as a volunteer private reading tutor to young children. She found great joy in knowing she made a difference in the hundreds of hours she gave helping children with their learning. A lifelong and faithful Catholic, Jeanette was an ardent supporter of Vatican II and the renewal it brought to the Church. She was 42 when the Council opened (1962-1965) and was fond of telling her friends that even as a young girl at St. Boniface she knew it was wrong that only boys could serve Mass and be permitted in the sanctuary. She was pleased to see that the Church she loved so much changed for the better in so many of these customs. In 1990 Jeanette moved downtown Evansville and joined St. Mary Catholic Church where she was an active and involved parishioner. She was a Lector, Eucharist Minister, and served as an adjunct member of the Liturgy Committee. Each week for 21 years, Jeanette prayerfully composed and typed the General Intercessions for use at each weekend Mass, holy days, and special occasions. After moving to the Little Sisters, the intercessions she prepared also were used at Sunday Eucharist there. At St. Mary, Jeanette also supported Congregations Acting for Justice, the St. Vincent de Paul Society and the parish food bank. She is survived by her daughters and sons-in-law, Jeanne and Pete Celiberti, Joanne and Paul Helfrich, and by her grandchildren, Carol (Scott) Hedeen, Chad (Lori) Collier, and Erin (Thomas) Plummer; great-grandchildren Abbey and Ally Collier, Hayden Hedeen, and Brandon Plummer. All of her siblings preceded her in death: sisters, Lois Marie Brune, Elizabeth O’Daniel and Isabelle Preske; brothers, Paul Brune, (Rev.) James Brune, William Brune and Tom Brune. In the next few months the family will announce when the memorial Mass will be celebrated at St. Mary Catholic Church, 613 Cherry Street, Evansville. Rev. Stephen P. Lintzenich, Rev. Ted G. Tempel and Rev. William A. Traylor, will preside. Burial will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery. “Lord, for your faithful people life is changed, not ended.” - First preface of the Eucharistic Prayer for the funeral liturgy. To express your sympathy to the family, please write to Joanne Helfrich, 1189 Aztec, Topanga, CA 90290, or send a gift to honor Jeanette’s memory to the Little Sisters of the Poor, 2100 South Western Avenue, San Pedro, CA 90732. Condolences online at www.pierrefuneralhome.com. Arrangements by Pierre Funeral Home.

Jeanette B. Knapp

September 3, 1920 - March 29, 2017