St. Johnsvlle - Frances Knop (Arca) was born on St Patrick’s Day in 1927.  She used to say her Irish friends were jealous because a Sardinian stole their thunder.   And each year, she celebrated both, her birthday and St Paddy’s Day.  She was born and educated in Herkimer, and moved to St Johnsville in 1974 spending the rest of her life in a house she helped build, along with her husband, son, daughter, and the many cousins who spent many a day pounding nails into the flooring.    She loved those days.  Nobody was better than she when it came to understanding the mind of a child.  She would roar with laughter at their perspective of how things are in the world. 

She kept track of everyone even when they grew up and moved away.  Michael was her first ‘baby’ as she would tell it and each day she would run home just to rock him.  She loved Marlene whom she doted on as the ‘prettiest little girl’ you ever saw, and Debbie with her pigtails and cowboy boots.  She even read Danny a book on statistics because not only did it quiet him, but he would listen very carefully and roll his eyes as if he fully understood the content.  She always looked forward to when the ‘Arca’ clan from Baltimore came into town because they were like a team of small entrepreneurs and if they read this they need to remember when they put her house key in her boot.  Billy, mom got the biggest kick out of your sense of humor.  I named a few but Mom loved each and every one of you with unconditional love and when life took the wrong turn she was always there to help you.  She told it like it was, never held back the truth, and she loved you all equally. 

Not many people know the long journey she walked in her 90 years. She grew up with no indoor heat or plumbing and said nobody back then even knew they were poor. They lived in diverse neighborhoods, played together, shared whatever food they had and even called each other names but nobody took offense.  She would always say, ‘you can call me anything you want, just don’t call me late for supper’. 

During the 1960’s Civil Rights Movement she coined the phrase, “Black is beautiful”.  She danced with Malcolm X at a school dance when she was a teenager.  She cried every time she watched Spike Lee’s movie and she always believed he was the only one who knew how to heal this country.  She believed in education and faithfully donated to the Sheriff’s Association youth camps, and the St Joseph’s Indian School; she was even learning to speak Lakota.  She taught Sunday School and was a member of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary.  She was one of the people who fought to allow Viet Nam Vets membership into the VFW.  When the RNC called her about Donald Trump running for president she said, ‘America first’.  She was a steadfast believer in the American Flag and all that is stands for, flaws and all.  She firmly believed all people are equal.  Her faith in God and this country never wavered.

One of the biggest joys in her life, aside from her own children, nieces and nephews, great-nephews Eric and Jay was her grandson Jeffrey and her great-grandson Drew.  She was lucky enough to have spent a lot of time with Jeffrey.  She always said Jeffrey got the best part of her and his grandfather.  As God would grant, the day before she fell ill, she got to speak to Drew and he told her he loved her and missed her.   She loved her new granddaughter Laura and so admired her gift as a physician. 

On August 30, 2017 mom closed her eyes and her days walking this earth were over.  I wonder what Statement of Work she has God writing up now.  She never stopped missing her brother John and her father, so I suspect they are together catching up. 

Per her wish there will be no service.  Instead she wants her ashes scattered in the Ocean in Cape Cod.  One last dip with the dolphins.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Vincent A. Enea Funeral Service, next to the Masonic Lodge), 20 Bridge St., St. Johnsville NY 518-568-7040.

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