Patricia Ann Kniel, age 86 of Royal Oak, Michigan passed away on February 28, 2019 at William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak surrounded by her loving family. Beloved Wife of Jerry Gochnour. Amazing Mom of Suzanne (John) Skok, John (Lillian Dyer) Kniel, Jan (Bob) Berichon and Karen (Terry) Meden.
Loving grandmother of Sara (Wayne) Murray, Laura (Jason) Ihnat, Autumn (Andrew) Grover, Adam Kniel, Dylan Berichon, Lauren Berichon, Brandon (Valerie) Richardson and Jessica Richardson. Great-Grandmother of Juliet, Katherine, Gracelyn, Griffin, Kaiden, Makenna, Elliana and Maddox. Beloved sister of June DellaCasa and aunt to her loving niece Tina DellaCasa.
Pat was born on February 24, 1933 in Detroit, Michigan to Adam and Eva (Hubert) Schwall. Pat was a pioneer in life and in her work throughout her full life. She broke the glass ceiling decades ahead of her time, being named the Director of Security Operations in 1966 at the fledgling start-up MasterCharge (MasterCard).
In the 1970s she became the first female Officer at Ann Arbor Bank and Trust. In 1979 she left corporate life to fulfill her lifelong dream of owning her own bookstore and opened Pat’s Paperback Exchange in Utica, Michigan. Within two years she expanded to a larger storefront in Sterling Heights.
One particularly charming customer came in search of Sherlock Holmes books, and while he didn’t find the books, she found the love of her life, Jerry Gochnour. They were married June 30, 1984. In typical Pat Kniel fashion, while running a very successful business, she started making and selling specialty candy to a few customers.
Word soon got out and her side hobby quickly grew to become the first home based specialty candy company in Michigan. Naughty Nibbles became so successful that she sold the bookstore and became a full time wholesaler, and her unique products were distributed nationwide. She closed the business after 20 plus years, but didn’t retire.
She never retired. Pat was a life-long social activist and advocate for civil rights, women’s rights, and a champion for the most vulnerable among us. While raising her own family, she opened her home to other teens in need of love and guidance, and was called Mom and Grandma by many.
One of her grandkids, Adam, perfectly captured who this near-perfect woman was to all the people who she loved, and loved her. He had shared photos of Pat as a young girl and wrote: I absolutely love these pictures! !
That little girl that you see here turned out to be one amazing matriarch of a family that I wouldn’t trade for all of the gold in Fort Knox. She had a heart the size of the Pacific Ocean. Her brain was as sharp as a razor blade.
Her wittiness was that of a stand up comedian. This young lady seen here made sure she was able to make it to as many, if not all, of my sporting events, concerts, etc. She was there when I scored my first touchdown, when I hit my first home run, when I needed to be picked up from school, or just when I needed a voice of reasoning.
This innocent child turned out to be the strongest woman that I have ever known! ! This beautiful little girl was one of a kind.
A diamond in the rough. Compassionate, empathetic, sympathetic, honorable and beyond admirable! She looked out for others in need.
Always put herself second, if not third to others! It didn’t matter who you were or what color you are; she could be your new best friend without you even realizing it! Pat Kniel was the most outgoing, selfless, and by far the bravest woman I will ever know.
I couldn’t be more proud to call this beautiful young soul my grandmother! ! May you forever Rest In Peace because you deserve nothing less!
I cannot thank you enough for being our foundation; the rock that all of our family leaned and depended on! You’re knowledge and legacy has spread throughout all of us, and will continue to for many years to come. Our family wouldn’t have grown to be as solid of a whole that we are without you showing us how to lead the way.
You have steered all of us in the right direction! Now it’s on all of us to show you all of the skills, ambition, drive, determination and love that we all carry in ourselves in your honor! !
I will forever miss you, Grandma; but I will never forget you! ! ❤️❤️❤️ Visitation will be held on Tuesday, March 5th from 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Hopcroft Funeral Home, 31145 John R. Road, (1 block North of 13 Mile Road, West side of John R. Road), Madison Heights, Michigan.
Should friends desire, contributions may be sent to United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation at www. umdf.org, or to its advocacy group, MitoAction, PO Box 51474, Boston MA 02205. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Patricia Ann Kniel please visit our Sympathy Store.
If you found any mistakes, or you would like to add/remove to this obituary, please contact us by email: info@obituary.memorial. We never ask money for this.
