Had a talent for drawing and painting
Published April 15, 2020
CHELMSFORD — Ann L. (Pribil) Knower, 101, passed away peacefully on Thursday, April 2, 2020, at her home in Chelmsford.
She was born February 6, 1919 at home outside the city of O’Neill, Nebraska. Her birth order was being one of the middle children, having three older sisters, and four brothers. The Pribil children, including Ann, attended a rural one-room country schoolhouse that their mother had also attended. Ann and her siblings rode to school in a horse-drawn buggy, with the eldest as the “driver.”
After her country schooling, Ann was privileged to attend, and graduate from St. Mary’s Academy in O’Neill, where she became a resident student. This environment developed and enriched her Catholic faith. During this time at St. Mary’s, Ann also displayed a talent for art with drawing and painting. After graduating in 1937, from St. Mary’s Academy, Ann went to Teachers’ College.
Miss Pribil’s first teaching assignment was in a rural one-room schoolhouse south of O’Neill. She had room and board with a student’s family and her new mode of transportation was riding a horse to school. In cold weather, Miss Pribil would “fire up” a wood-burning stove for classroom warmth. Miss Pribil especially enjoyed involving her students in performing theater shows for families.
Ann met her future husband, Russell S. Knower in Lincoln, Neb., where he was stationed before being deployed to Europe during World War II. After the war, Mrs. Knower moved east to Massachusetts. She gave birth to four children, two girls and two boys.
Ann stayed connected with her rural Nebraska roots by attending “Pribil Family Reunions.” This summer event involved a long road trip, in a non-air conditioned car. At 98 years, Ann planned and managed their “50 Year Pribil Family Reunion” in her hometown of O’Neill, Nebraska.
Ann’s social life always focused around the church. She was active with Our Lady of the Assumption Parish, especially the Women’s Sodality, eventually becoming its president. In the 1980’s, Mrs. Knower became involved with the Charismatic Prayer Group at St. Agnes Catholic Church in Reading.
Ann sold her Lynnfield family home in 2009, and moved to live with her daughter, Betty, in Chelmsford. She was able to continue praying with a Charismatic Prayer Group at St. John the Evangelist Parish in North Chelmsford. Her life of faith led Ann to many church ministries of being a Eucharist Minister, teaching religious education, Bible study, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, family pilgrimage to the Basilicas of St. Joseph, Montreal, Canada and St. Anne de Beaupre, Quebec, Canada. Mrs. Knower was a communicant of St. Mary’s Church in Chelmsford who lived her faith to the end.
Ann leaves her children: Barbara A. Champagne and her husband Michael of Newburyport; Betty L. Kerr of Chelmsford; and Thomas M. Knower of South Chesterfield, Virginia. Her grandchildren Tia E. Costello, Deveka M. Scoglio, Glenn L. Kerr, Adam N. Knower, and Heather E. Knower also survive her. She is also survived by her great-grandchildren Ellie, Rosie, Tyler, Tristan and Hayden. She also leaves many nieces and nephews.
Sadly, she is predeceased by her son John Paul Knower, and her siblings; Elsie Shaw, Raymond Pribil, Angela Denesia, Margaret Sladek, Francis Pribil, Leonard Pribil and Larry Pribil.
Due to the circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 virus, funeral services and interment will be held privately. Memorial donations may be made in Ann’s name to St. Mary’s Academy, O’Neill, Nebraska, at stmarysoneill.org. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Blake Chelmsford Funeral Home, 24 Worthen St., Chelmsford. For online condolences, visit ChelmsfordFuneralHome.com and find the funeral home on Facebook.
