Helen C (Nobbs) Knapp

Athol — Helen C. (Nobbs) Knapp, 100, a resident of the Baldwinville Nursing Home and formerly of 416 Main St., Athol, passed away peacefully on Saturday, May 4, 2013. Helen was born on Jan. 21, 1913, the daughter of the late Rev. William H. and the late Harriet (Cunningham) Nobbs. She graduated from Murdock High School with the class of 1930, and married Allen E. Knapp on Nov. 3, 1934. The couple enjoyed nearly 64 years together before Allen passed on Oct. 6, 1998. Helen and her husband lived in Petersham for 46 years before moving to Athol in 1980. For the last 30 of those years, they were the caretakers at the John L. Hall estate, also known as Chimney Hill Farm. For many years, she was active in numerous plays sponsored by the Petersham Orthodox Congregational Church and also co-chaired many church suppers. She also served as clerk of the church for many years and was a waitress at the Dairy Bar in Petersham, and a school bus driver. Helen was an instructor of Artex, which is a liquid embroidery type painting, for 12 years as well, and she held painting parties in the local area and would teach people how to use liquid embroidery paints. She also enjoyed writing poetry, reading, and crocheting Afghans and teddy bears, which she would donate to the hospitals and ambulances or simply give them to special little children everywhere. In addition to her husband, Helen was also predeceased by six brothers, Alfred (age 3), Ronald of Wilbraham, Paul of Granville, William of Claremont, N.H., Stanley of Springfield and Charles of San Clemente, Calif., and one sister, Gertrude (Nobbs) Butler of Maine. Her survivors include a daughter, Helen R. Harrison and Glenn of Montgomery, Ala.; two sons, Allen E. Knapp Jr. of Dalton, Ga., and Donald W. Knapp and his wife Linda of Athol; nine grandchildren and over a dozen or more great-grandchildren, and several great-great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. There will be no calling hours. A graveside service will be held Friday, June 14, 2013 at 1:00 p.m. in the East St. Cemetery, Petersham, MA.. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made in her memory to the Baldwinville Nursing Home, 51 Hospital Rd.., P.O. Box 24, Baldwinville, Mass. 01436-0024 or to the Petersham Orthodox Congregational Church, 21 Main St., Petersham, Mass. 01366 For more information or to sign the online guest book, visit fiskemurphymack.com. Fiske-Murphy & Mack, of Athol and Orange, is directing arrangements. $(document).ready(function(){ });