Obituary of Lena I. Knieser

Lena I. Knieser "Loving Mother, grandmother and great-grandmother" Olean, NY—Lena I. Knieser, formerly of 313 ½ N. Union St. and later 11 Euclid Avenue died Tuesday (January 29, 2008) in Absolut Care Nursing Home in Allegany after a lengthy illness. Born February 20, 1919 in Spartansburg, PA., she was the daughter of Raymond and Grace Snapp Ehrhart. On August 12, 1940, she married Michael J. Knieser who died January 2, 1990. For more than 40 years, she and her husband operated Knieser’s Clothing Stores in Olean, a Knieser family business established in the 1890’s. An exceptional business woman, Lena achieved success while serving countless customers. In 1943, Lena gave birth to her beloved daughter, Anna May, a child with Down’s syndrome. Although she was told that her daughter should be institutionalized, Lean never considered that option and cared for Anna May until her death on January 4, 1997 She is survived by three sons Kenneth (Mary) Knieser of Belle Mead, NJ, Dr. Martial (Susan) Knieser of Indianapolis, IN., Paul (Sarah) Knieser of Olean; 10 grandchildren John and Kenneth Knieser of Belle Mead, NJ, Dr. Michael (Lisa) Knieser of Indianapolis, IN., Christine (James) Koers of Indianapolis IN., Paul Knieser of San Francisco, CA and Nigel, Abraham, Sarah “Missy”, Ruby and Jack Knieser, all of Olean; four great-grandchildren, Harrison and Rachael Knieser and Alex and Cooper Koers all of Indianapolis; five sisters Ida (Edward) Ross of Wisconsin; Alta Huff, Opal Smith, and Eloise (Glenn) Cook, all of Pennsylvania; and Helen (Richard) Woodcock of Florida. In addition to her husband and daughter she was predeceased by her brothers Frank, Maurice, and Roy Ehrhart and a sister Elizabeth King. Friends will be received at Casey, Halwig and Hartle Funeral Home 3128 W. State Road Olean today from 4-7pm. Funeral services will be held on Friday (February 1, 2008) beginning with a prayer service at 9:30am in the funeral home followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00am at St. Joseph’s Maronite Church. Father Joseph Akiki, pastor, will be Celebrant. Burial will be in St. Bonaventure Cemetery. An Incense service will be held this evening at 6:30 pm at the funeral home. Memorials, if desired, may be made to a charity of the donor’s choice.