FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED FUNERAL HOMES SINCE 1881
| Renate A. Knaak |
| June 27, 1939 - March 27, 2026 |
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Public Events and LocationsVisitation - Saturday, April 11, 2026, 10:00 to 11:00 AM at Sunset Memorial Park, Huntingdon ValleyFuneral Service - Saturday, April 11, 2026, 11:00 AM at Sunset Memorial Park, Huntingdon Valley |
ContactsFuneral Home - Wetzel and Son Funeral Home - 501 Easton Road, Willow Grove, PA 19090 - 215-659-0911 - Map |
| Clergy - Tabor Lutheran Church - 4860 North Howard Street, Philadelphia, PA 19120 - 215-455-1706 - Map |
| Place - Sunset Memorial Park - 333 West County Line Road, Huntingdon Valley, PA 19006 - 215-352-4045 - Map |
| Family Florist - Domenic Graziano Flowers & Gifts - 73 York Road, Warminster, PA 18974 - 215-355-1550 - Map |
| Donation - Tabor Lutheran Church - 4860 North Howard Street, Philadelphia, PA 19120 - 215-455-1706 - Map |
| Donation - Shriners Hospitals for Children - 3551 North Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19140 - 215-430-4000 - Map |
The following obituary was composed by Renate’s family:
Renate Auguste (Elfeld) Knaak, 86, passed away after a brief illness on March 27, 2026. Renate was born June 27, 1939, in Düsseldorf, Germany. After the Second World War, she moved by herself to the United States at age 16 to work as a governess in Pennsylvania. She met her husband Roland at the Cannstatter Volksfest-Verein German club in Philadelphia and married him on September 16, 1961. They were married for 63 years until Roland’s passing last year.
Renate is survived by her daughter Monika (Alex) and son Karl (MaryAnn); her grandchildren Martin (Ashlin), James (Amanda), Peter (Kayla), and Laura (Joe); great-grandsons Frederick and Austin; and new baby great-granddaughter Margaret Renate.
An excellent cook, Renate will be remembered for the many German recipes she perfected over the years. She loved caring for others, entertaining friends, growing flowers, and bird watching. She and Roland traveled frequently, including annual visits to Germany for many years and excursions to the Caribbean. She delighted in babysitting her grandchildren in their younger years and in visits from her great grandchildren and growing family.
Even as Renate endured many hardships during the war, overcame breast cancer in the 1980s, and battled several health issues in her later years, she radiated warmth, strength, and love throughout her entire life. There never was a kinder, gentler friend, mother, and grandmother, and she will be missed by her many friends on both sides of the Atlantic whom she considered as family.
Relatives and friends were invited to her visitation on Saturday, April 11, 2026 from 10:00 to 11:00 A.M. and funeral service at 11:00 A.M. at the Mausoleum Chapel of Sunset Memorial Park, 333 West County Line Road, Huntingdon Valley, PA 19006.
Religious services were conducted by Rev. Jane Marston, pastor of Tabor Lutheran Church, 4860 North Howard Street, Philadelphia, PA 19120.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to Tabor Lutheran Church, 4860 North Howard Street, Philadelphia, PA 19120 or Shriners Hospitals for Children, 3551 North Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19140.
Family flowers arranged by Domenic Graziano Flowers & Gifts 215-355-1550.
www.wetzelandson.com
Renate Auguste (Elfeld) Knaak, 86, passed away after a brief illness on March 27, 2026. Renate was born June 27, 1939, in Düsseldorf, Germany. After the Second World War, she moved by herself to the United States at age 16 to work as a governess in Pennsylvania. She met her husband Roland at the Cannstatter Volksfest-Verein German club in Philadelphia and married him on September 16, 1961. They were married for 63 years until Roland’s passing last year.
Renate is survived by her daughter Monika (Alex) and son Karl (MaryAnn); her grandchildren Martin (Ashlin), James (Amanda), Peter (Kayla), and Laura (Joe); great-grandsons Frederick and Austin; and new baby great-granddaughter Margaret Renate.
An excellent cook, Renate will be remembered for the many German recipes she perfected over the years. She loved caring for others, entertaining friends, growing flowers, and bird watching. She and Roland traveled frequently, including annual visits to Germany for many years and excursions to the Caribbean. She delighted in babysitting her grandchildren in their younger years and in visits from her great grandchildren and growing family.
Even as Renate endured many hardships during the war, overcame breast cancer in the 1980s, and battled several health issues in her later years, she radiated warmth, strength, and love throughout her entire life. There never was a kinder, gentler friend, mother, and grandmother, and she will be missed by her many friends on both sides of the Atlantic whom she considered as family.
Relatives and friends were invited to her visitation on Saturday, April 11, 2026 from 10:00 to 11:00 A.M. and funeral service at 11:00 A.M. at the Mausoleum Chapel of Sunset Memorial Park, 333 West County Line Road, Huntingdon Valley, PA 19006.
Religious services were conducted by Rev. Jane Marston, pastor of Tabor Lutheran Church, 4860 North Howard Street, Philadelphia, PA 19120.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to Tabor Lutheran Church, 4860 North Howard Street, Philadelphia, PA 19120 or Shriners Hospitals for Children, 3551 North Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19140.
Family flowers arranged by Domenic Graziano Flowers & Gifts 215-355-1550.
www.wetzelandson.com
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