Mrs. Jan Knight

Jan Knight passed away on Monday, January 1, 2024, just a month shy of celebrating her 96th birthday. Jan was born on February 10, 1928, in Holyoke, MA to Pearl Pollock Thomson Rich and Arthur Jesse Rich. Until February 1943 she lived in the Littleville section of Chester, MA on the middle branch of the Westfield River. In 1943 the government made her father get into war work; he closed his lumber mill and the family moved into her grandfather’s home in Holyoke, MA. Jan graduated from Holyoke High, class of 1945, and Northampton Junior College. She married Alfred James Rettie (deceased) on November 18, 1950, at the Second Congregational Church of Holyoke, MA. She worked at Massachusetts Mutual Insurance Company until 1951. In 1963, they moved from Feeding Hills, MA, to Pittsfield, MA. She worked at General Electric Company from 1973 until 1990 as an editor in the Ordnance Department. She was a Girl Scout leader and a member of Chapter L, PEO. She was also Vice President of the Navy League of the United States for over 25 years. On September 21, 1990, she married Albert Dwight Knight in Pittsfield. In addition to her husband, she leaves her son James Rettie of Huntington, MA; her daughter Alison Rettie Steinmiller and her husband Ron of North Chili, NY; her grandson Jared Steinmiller and his wife Katie of Greece, NY; her granddaughter Jenna Steinmiller Cappello and her husband Adam of Rochester, NY; and her great-grandchildren Ian and Gia Steinmiller and Angelo Cappello. She also leaves her daughter-in-law Georgia Johnston of Connecticut and step-grandsons Jameson Knight, Curtis Knight, and Christian Knight. She also leaves her niece Lynn Kupec Litchfield and her husband John; her nephew Roger Scott Kupec; and her grand-nephews Mark Litchfield and wife Sonia, and Scott Litchfield and wife Christina and their families. In addition to her parents, she is predeceased by her son Allan James Rettie, her sister Barbara Rich Kupec and brothers-in-law Jimmy and Jack Kupec, her stepson Steven James Knight, and great-grandson Kaius Lee Steinmiller. Funeral Notice: Burial will be in Norwich Bridge Cemetery in Huntington, MA at the convenience of the family. A memorial service will be planned for the spring. If friends wish, memorial contributions may be made to the Dalton Congregational Church, in care of the Dwyer-Wellington Funeral Home.

Mrs. Jan Knight

February 10, 1928 - January 1, 2024