Noreen May Rizzo Knowles

Warren Holloway Ward

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Posted by: Warren Holloway Ward FH
[email protected]
334-684-9999
Date: Mar 13 2019 4:57 PM

Noreen May Rizzo Knowles (died March 11, 2019); loving wife, mother, grand and great grandmother, Youth Minister, innovator, and friend to everyone who knew her.

Born the 5th of November 1939 to the late Thomas Rizzo and Dorothy Elizabeth Retz in Benton Harbor, Michigan. She married Gerald D. Knowles (1938-2015) on November 4th, 1964. They moved to Samson in 1989 and joined the New Life Worship Center where they celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary in 2014.  

She was very involved in youth ministry there as well.  In 1995, she volunteered to start a class for the young girls of the church called "The SonShine Girls" and pioneered the city-wide youth groups’ participation in the Samson Christmas Parade.   She was a faithful member of the Praise and Worship Team and Sound Booth Operator.  She was the love behind birthday cards sent to church members so nobody felt forgotten and innovated Christian Calling Cards that she handed out to everyone she met, all at her own expense.  Her church family honored her in a Celebration of Life for 30 Years of Service on February 17th, 2019 where she was able to confer words of wisdom to friends and family.

In 2016, she was crowned "Senior Miss Tomato Festival Queen" where she represented Slocomb at the 2017 Tomato Festival, the 2017 Peanut Festival and the 2016 and 2017 Samson Christmas Parades.

She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Gerald D. Knowles, both of her parents, and one grandson, Michael Arnold of Okeechobee, FL.  She leaves an only brother, Norman Rizzo of Sodus, MI; five children: Dianne Freeman of Wichita, Ks, Thomas Knowles of Samson, Timothy (Rebecca) Knowles of Daleville, Tammy (Edward) Johnson of Archer, FL and Tarry (Becky) Knowles, Sr. of Montgomery, AL; ten grandchildren, 23 great grandchildren and 4 great, great grandchildren.

The family would like to express their deep appreciation to the staff of DaySpring Hospice of Enterprise for making her transition as comfortable as possible and all of the friends and family who called or came by to express their love.  There are no current plans for another Celebration of Life; in lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Hospice or New Life Worship Center.  

 

Warren~Holloway~Ward Funeral Home (334) 684-9999, is in charge of arrangements. "Continuing The Trust You’ve Placed In Us” To sign a guest register, please visit: www.whwfuneralhome.com

 

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