Jo Frances Kniejski

Jo Frances “Jody” Kniejski, loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother passed away late Wednesday, November 14, 2012. She was with family at her passing. Jody was born in Las Cruces, NM on September 6, 1940 to Dudley H. and Mary E. (Mannix) Fryar. She was one of 15 children. Jody graduated from South San High School in 1958. She was an excellent student. Her interests in school included dancing, going to football games and participating in intramural volleyball games and she was a Duchess on South San Homecoming Court in 1958. Jody was fiercely protective of her younger siblings to the extent that she was a surrogate mother and even fought off bullies and other potential harmful types. She and her life-long best friend would often sneak onto the Lackand AFB swimming pool during summers and had many adventures in the community as teenagers. Jody was especially attentive to the poor and those students who were socially awkward. This core trait of helping and befriending the poor and marginalized people, continued throughout her life. As a young mom and wife, she was dedicated to her children. She was especially attentive to her children’s education and served simultaneously as Room Mother to each of her 4 children’s home rooms! When there was no tradition of Room Mother in each of her children’s home room, she started it and became the first Room Mother. She was active at the South San Recreation Center’s volleyball leagues. After her children started elementary school, she complained to her husband of boredom. This led to her involvement with her children’s PTAs at their various elementary schools. In Eagle Pass, Jody was instrumental in creating the first PTA Association for Webster Elementary. Many local businesses actively supported this effort by providing refreshments for the inaugural PTA meeting. In 1970 Jody was nominated by her Mother in Law and then elected PTA President for Athens-Fleming Elementary School. As President, she was instrumental in raising the needed funds to have air conditioning installed in the Athens-Fleming Elementary Schools cafeteria. Jody organized the various South San PTAs as coordinator for the “Appreciation of Mexican-American Cultures”. For this effort she won the highest state PTA award – the Florence Danforth Award. In 1976 she served as chairman of the South San Antonio Council of PTA’s Bicentennial Program. This patriotic achievement won the second place award from the Texas Congress of PTA. In 1977 Jody was selected as PTA Woman of the year by the San Antonio Express. Incredibly, during the active PTA years, in 1971, Jody became very involved with local Bexar County Democratic politics. This led to Jody being quite instrumental in having numerous candidates elected to the Bexar County Courthouse, the State Legislature, and the US Congress. In 1976 Jody served as a delegate to the State Democratic convention where she formed and coordinated a voting bloc in order to nominate and elect a worthy person to the State Democratic Executive Committee. Jody served as Bexar County’s Lobbyist in the 1980s which was an added responsibility that she assumed as a Bexar County employee. In this role, she monitored and advocated the County’s interests in bills that would eventually become law. Her 20 plus years involvement in local, state and national politics brought her numerous awards and recognitions. She was a sought after advisor for many who aspired to elective office. There were many meetings that took place over a cup of coffee so that she could map out a strategy for all her friends who needed her help. The high point in Jody’s political activities was when she was the Bexar County Coordinator for the successful 1990 election of a democratic governor. She later served in that governor’s administration. One of Jody’s proudest moments outside of PTA and politics occurred in 1987. Jody served as Bexar County’s representative in coordinating Pope John Paul II’s visit to San Antonio. She worked closely and diligently with city and county officials to assure a successful and memorable spiritual event. Jody was so honored and humbled to be a part of the local delegation who greeted Pope John Paul II at Kelly AFB and escorted the Pope to the various festivities and masses. She was also granted an audience with Pope John Paul II and was forever changed by this experience. In her home and wherever she resided, she proudly framed and displayed the documents and mementoes she saved from that effort. Jody was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. More than any of her professional accomplishments, Jody devoted her life and heart to being a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She was the center of her family providing compassion, understanding, patience, a never-ending supply of love and so many hugs. She was dedicated to her family and loved each of them unconditionally. Jody is preceded in her passing by her parents. She is survived by her loving husband of 54 years, Bobby Kniejski; her son Robert and his wife Irma and their children Kate and Stefan; Jody’s daughter Paula and her daughter Serene Diaz and husband Anthony, their children Alexander and Adam, Paula’s daughter Morrhyah Martinez and her partner John Jackson and their children John Patrick, James Ryan, and John’s younger brother Cal Ethan Jackson and his younger niece Kim Rae Jackson; Paula’s daughter Felicia Martinez and her partner Tosha Kennedy, Paula’s son LCpl. Miguel Martinez; Paula’s son LCpl. John Martinez, and Paula’s daughter Hali Gonzalez and her partner Cameron Stanley; Jody’s daughter Cynthia DK Mallory and her husband Frank and his children Roman and Romeo; and Jody’s daughter Tammy Perlman and her husband David and Tammy’s children Jessica Mirr, Brandon Mirr and David’s daughter Emily Holmes. Jody is also survived by numerous siblings, nieces, nephews and other relatives. She is lovingly remembered by her life-long best friend Annette Anasti and her many friends from her days in the PTA and local politics. The family has held a private memorial service and asks that in lieu of flowers, you honor her memory by placing a donation to the Alzheimer’s Association (www.alz.org). The family may hold another memorial service in the future and will communicate its details via the website listed below. The family is very grateful for your prayers and thoughts and memories in this difficult time.

The family has chosen to have a private service.