Sister Agatha Knittig, age 99, a member of St. Scholastica Monastery, died March 18, 2022, at Chapel Ridge Health & Rehab in Fort Smith, Arkansas, thirteen days before her 100th birthday. Anna Marie Knittig was born March 31, 1922, in Morrison Bluff, AR to Albert and Mary Neuman Knittig. She was the oldest of eight children. Sister Agatha entered St. Scholastica Monastery in 1940, made first profession on June 24, 1943 and final profession on June 24, 1946. She loved her 46 years teaching elementary students in Clarksville, Atkins, Fort Smith (St. John’s and St. Boniface), Russellville, Rogers, and Little Rock (St. Theresa’s) in Arkansas and in Moberly and Lebanon in Missouri. After retiring from teaching, she worked in the diet kitchen at St. Scholastica’s for seven years, then was director of religious education at Subiaco for four years. After retiring to the monastery in 2000, she helped in various household du-ties and was a regular visitor to residents in nursing homes.
She earned her Bachelor of Science degree at Incarnate Word College in San Antonio, TX and attended many workshops on religious education. As long as she was able, Sister Agatha enjoyed baking breads and cookies and making candy for the monastery’s bake sales. She faithfully kept in touch with family and friends through phone calls.
The Sisters at St. Scholastica Monastery thank Sister Agatha’s caregivers at St. Scholastica’s and at Chapel Ridge Health & Rehab for their loving care for her.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her sisters, Marie Zaloudek and Rose Enderlin; and her brother, Charles Knittig. She is survived by her sister, Lona Weisenfels; and three brothers, Edward Knittig (Annette) of Fort Smith, Eugene Knittig of Southfield, MI, and Louis Knittig of Conway; her sister-in-law, Mary Alice Knittig; her many beloved nieces and nephews; and members of her Benedictine family. Her brother, Eugene, died two days after Sister Agatha.
A Vespers Service will be Wednesday, March 23 at 7:30 p.m. The Mass for Christian Burial will be Thursday, March 24 at 10:30 a.m., with her former student, Fr. Jerome Kodell, OSB, as presider, Fr. Joseph Chan as concelebrant, and Deacon Greg Pair as deacon. Both services will be at St. Scholastica Monastery Chapel with burial in St. Scholastica Cemetery under the direction of Ocker-Putman Funeral Home of Fort Smith.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Scholastica Monastery Continuing Care Fund, P.O. Box 3489, Fort Smith, AR 72913-3489.
