Maria Luisa Knapp

In addition to her parents Juan Santos Urbina and Luisa Llera Barrios, she was preceded in death by her husband, John Franklin Knapp and by her sisters, Ana Esther Malave, Hilda Freire and Irma Delia Malave.

Maria was born on November 18, 1929 in Cidra, Puerto Rico. She graduated from high school in Caguas, PR and studied at the University of Puerto Rico in Cayey, PR. She attended Temple University Hospital School of Nursing where she received her R.N. degree in 1951 and Teachers’ College, Columbia University where she received a B.S. in 1957. She also earned a Master’s degree in Counseling Education from James Madison University in 1979.

Maria dedicated over 45 years of her life to service as a nurse, which was her calling in life. Maria began her nursing career in 1951 as a Staff Nurse in Maternal and Child Health Nursing at Greenpoint Hospital in Brooklyn, NY and served as a visiting nurse with the Brooklyn Visiting Nurse Association. In 1957, she was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the United States Navy Nurse Corps and her first station of duty was at Pensacola, FL followed by duty at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. While in stationed in Cuba, she met the love of her life, Lieutenant John F. Knapp. They were married at the Naval base in Puerto Rico in November 1961. She was honorably discharged to inactive duty in 1962.

After four years of service to her country, Maria left the military to start her family. A nurse at heart, she continued her career of caring for others at various medical settings across the country, including as Director of Nursing Services and Nursing Education at Shenandoah Memorial Hospital in Woodstock, Public Health Nurse Supervisor at the Waynesboro Health Department; Nurse Director of the Monticello Child Development Clinic in Charlottesville, VA; Infection Control Officer at Western State Hospital in Staunton, VA, and she retired as Director of Nursing Services in 1995 from The DeJarnette Center in Staunton, VA. She was a member of the Beta Kappa chapter of Sigma Theta Tau, International Honor Society of Nursing.

After retirement, Maria remained active in the Waynesboro community as a Spanish interpreter for the Waynesboro Police Department, the General District and Circuit Courts, and the Waynesboro Department of Social Services. She served on several community boards and organizations in Waynesboro including as chairman of the Professional Advisory Council of the Valley Community Services Board and President of the Widowed Persons Service. She was a Clinical Instructor in Nursing at the University of Virginia School of Nursing and she taught conversational Spanish at Blue Ridge Community College. She was a long-time member of Main Street United Methodist Church.

She was an exceptionally loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend to all. She loved working with children and had a passion for education, traveling, and spending time with her family and friends.

She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Ana Maria Knapp Conrad (Michael Conrad) of Fredericksburg, VA, son and daughter-in-law, John A. Knapp (Angie) of Shelby, NC, and two grandchildren, Reagan Suzanne Knapp and John Michael Knapp. She is also survived by her brother, John Llera (Joanne), brother-in-law, Albert Knapp (Jean) and many very special nieces,

nephews and cousins that she loved and adored. She will be deeply missed by her family, extended family and friends.

Following cremation, a memorial service will be held at 1:00 pm on Friday, November 15, 2024 at Main Street United Methodist Church in Waynesboro, VA with Rev. Linda Kusse-Wolfe and Rev. Dr. Elizabeth Foss officiating. Following the service, there will be a funeral reception in the church fellowship hall.

A committal service will take place at Arlington National Memorial Cemetery at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Maria’s name may be made to the following organizations: The Cottages Memory Care, c/o Summit Square Retirement Community, 501 Oak Avenue, Waynesboro, VA 22980 or The Alzheimer’s Association. The family would like to extend a special thank you to residents and staff at Summit Square Retirement Community for their kindness and loving care.

The Waynesboro Chapel of Reynolds Hamrick Funeral Homes is assisting the family.

Relatives and friends may share condolences and memories of Maria with the family online by visiting www.reynoldshamrickfuneralhomes.com