Joan Marie Knapp

Joan Marie (Barney) Knapp (82), of Newark Valley, NY, passed away peacefully on July 1, 2025, after a brief battle with a very rare brain disease. She was born August 24, 1942, in Mexico, NY. 

Joan was raised on a family farm where she spent many hours caring for the animals but especially enjoyed training and grooming a Jersey cow for 4-H shows. Later she studied teaching at SUNY Geneseo, and then taught second grade in Syracuse NY, 30 years. Joan had high expectations for herself and her students and worked hard to help them reach their potential and loved sharing the latest in good literature with them. Joan grew from a country girl, to one that loved being the height of fashion. She loved to tell about having an “appointment” on Friday so she could have a long weekend to fly to New York City to go shopping and see the city with friends.

After her marriage to Dr. Paul Knapp, they moved to Newark Valley, NY, where they renovated and restored the Dr. Knapp Homestead. Gradually they developed formal gardens befitting the elegant home. Here, she loved entertaining others and sharing the history of the historic home. Joan loved to be involved and contribute to the betterment of her community. In its early days, she chaired, and then later volunteered with the Tillers and Toilers Garden Club, NV Historical Society and worked on a committee to have the Dr. Knapp Historic Home, NV Municipal Building and Tappan Spaulding Memorial Library added to the National Register of Historic Places, as a wonderful legacy to the village she grew to love. For many years Joan shared her love of learning as a member of the Berkshire Reading Club.

Joan had a passionate love of historic architecture, art, and the healing beauty of creating an artistic garden. She knew every plant by name. Joan loved to create beauty and had a keen eye for what worked, whether it was for a luncheon, putting together a classy outfit, decorating a home, or designing gardens or jewelry. Joan was also known for her quick wit, adventurous spirit (loved flying) and love of children and animals (particularly elephants and horses). In her later years, she loved to read (especially James Herriot’s animal stories) and tell stories of her travels and days teaching, hosting fancy teas and luncheons, and going to Annie’s Place, for friendship and delicious food. She was just as comfortable inthe height of fashion as she was in her housedress and “wellies” working in her English cottage gardens.

Joan was married to Paul, the love of her life, for almost 30 years. She continued her love of travel after she was married, and they made lifelong friends wherever they went. Joan kept close ties with friends and family, enjoyed meeting new people, and cherished her local friends and families. She had a way of “making you feel like you were the only person in the room!”

Joan leaves behind her beloved companion, Welsh Terrier, Prim, the two were inseparable; sharing meals, her lap and riding in the car wherever she went. “Queeny”, as Paul affectionately referred to her, particularly loved watching the Kentucky Derby with Joan. As Joan sipped her Mint Julep and cheered, Prim barked and lunged at the television.

After three months of hospitalizations and spending five weeks at Upstate Medical University Hospital, looking for answers, it became clear that Joan wanted to be an anatomical gift. The doctors and students were unrelenting in looking for a diagnosis, and that she valued. She always had a keen interest in the latest medical research and sought and encouraged others to seek the best treatment available. She was also particularly passionate about mental health and encouraged others to seek care, as it was a battle she fought her whole life.

Joan will be greatly missed for all her exuberance and zest for life. She loved traditions and celebrating. She had a very high standard and lived her life to the fullest. Joan has left us with so many wonderful memories. At the start of her illness, she shared that she was grateful for the beautiful life she had lived. What more could one ask for?

Joan was preceded in death by her husband Paul, her sister Katherine (Barney) Browne, and brother’s Dick Barney and Robert Barney.

Joan is survived by sister-in-law Debbie (Robert) Barney, and nieces and nephews Matthew (Alexa) Barney, Holly Barney, Kathryn (Joseph) Berry, Richard (Doreen) Barney, Robin Barney, Jolene (Mike) Roberts, Daniel Barney, Gregory Browne, Kim Browne and Lisa (Browne)Lillis. Joan will be greatly missed by her “chosen daughter and family”, Sylvia, John, Heidi, Leanne, Allison, Colleen and Renee, her good friends the Tornatores, the Knapp family and a handful of other dear friends.

A memorial gathering will be held on Sept. 21 at 2pm, at the Newark Valley Train Depot for light refreshments and a time of sharing. In honor of Joan’s love for fashion and fun guests are encouraged to dress in garden party attire, including hats. The design for the Memorial Garden will be on display. A Dr. Paul and Joan Knapp and Family Memorial Garden will be established in their memory and honor, in the village of Newark Valley. In lieu of flowers, donations toward the Memorial Garden can be made to the Tillers and Toilers Garden Club; c/o Cheryl Finch 3699 NY-38B, Newark Valley NY 13811.