Nancy Elizabeth Knapp

   Nancy Elizabeth Knapp, 66 of Poughkeepsie, NY; formerly of Red Hook and Livingston, NY, passed away on July 5, 2015 at Vassar Brothers Medical Center.  Born in Poughkeepsie, NY on August 30, 1948 she was the daughter of Antoinette Louise DeBello and John Guy Knapp.  Attending “Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Elementary School”, she was a participant in the many of the annual school plays and chorus performances.  In 1967, she graduated from Poughkeepsie High School after pursuing a curriculum in “Business Office Skills”. Nancy first worked in the Business office of the “Standard Gauge Corporation” before becoming an employee of Dutchess County in a civil service capacity.  She worked in several different positions within Dutchess County until her retirement in 2008.

   On May 28, 1977, Nancy married Harold William Rugar Jr., at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in Poughkeepsie, NY.  The couple resided in Red Hook, NY where they had 3 Sons; Harold William Rugar III, Christopher John Rugar and Justin Dean Rugar.  In 2003, Nancy moved with her 3 sons and granddaughter Renee Rugar to Livingston, NY.  Her former husband predeceased her in 2013.

   Nancy received her religious education at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel School and was a devout member of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish, receiving her “1^st Communion and Confirmation” as an elementary school student.  Throughout her teenage and adult years, Nancy served on many volunteer groups in her parish that provided clothing and nutritional assistance to needy families, raised funds through special events, demonstrated recreation arts and crafts activities for children and directed the teenage choir which sang and played various instruments at Sunday Masses and on “Holy Days” such as Christmas Midnight Mass until the 1980’s.  Nancy continued to participate in limited parish activities such as visiting Nursing Homes for song sessions with the patients, prayer groups, clothing and food drives until 2013 when her failing health prevented her further participation.  She remained a member of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish throughout her entire life.

   Nancy was pre-deceased by her maternal grand-parents; Joseph and Annunziata DeBello; her paternal grand-parents; Edward and Helen Knapp; her youngest brother Thomas Allen Knapp; her uncle and aunt; Edward and Margaret Knapp; her cousins Richard and Gary Knapp as well as some of her mother’s relatives in the State of New Jersey and her father’s relatives in the State of Louisiana.

   Nancy is survived by her sons; Harold William Rugar III, Christopher John Rugar and Justin Dean Rugar.  Also surviving are her brothers, Edward J. Knapp and John Guy Knapp Jr. and her sister Frances M. Jecen and husband Jack.  Nancy is further survived by her nieces, Andrea (Knapp) McGehee and Kelly (Knapp) Groves and their children.  She also leaves her only grandchild, Renee Rugar and her “significant other person” Donald Will. 

    There are no calling hours; a Mass of Christian Burial will take place at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, 11 Mt. Carmel Place, Poughkeepsie, NY on Monday July 13, 2013 at 9:30am.  Interment to follow at St. Peters Cemetery.  Arrangements are under the direction of Joseph J. Darrow Sr. Funeral Home, 39 South Hamilton St. Poughkeepsie, NY 12601.  To send online condolences please visit our website at www.darrowfuneralhome.org

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