Obituary of Kathleen P. Knowles

Kathleen Patricia Knowles (nee Armour) passed away in her sleep on Tuesday, 23 June 2026 at the Waterview Hills Rehabilitation Center in Purdys, NY.  She was a long-time resident of the Heritage Hills community in Somers, NY.

Kathleen was born on 7 October 1927 in Manhattan to Joseph and Catherine Armour.  She spent her childhood in Highbridge, Bronx and Armagh, Northern Ireland. She was the youngest of three children – the troublemaker of the family.

She graduated from the College (now University) of Mount St. Vincent in 1948 with a BA in French.  She was one of the first American students to visit Europe after World War II as she studied abroad.  This began her love of France and French literature/culture.  She continued to travel to France well into her 90s and speak, read and watch French television.

Kathleen enlisted in the US Army in 1952 and was honorably discharged 2 years later when she started a family.  She returned to the College of Mt. St. Vincent in the mid-1960s as an Instructor of French.  Kathleen advanced at the Mount until she became Dean and Academic Vice President in 1976.  She retired from the college in 1994.

Kathleen lived in the Heritage Hills community for over 30 years.  She was active in numerous community organizations including the Heritage Hills Women’s Golf League and Gaelic Club, the Twigs of Northern Westchester Hospital and St. Joseph’s Church.

She is survived by her three children (Kevin, Brian and Eileen), nine grandchildren (Adam, Eric, Allison, Colleen, Gregory, Kristen, Joey, Meaghan and Connor) and seven great-grandchildren (Leo, Sienna, William, Bella, Paige, Lily and Audrey).

Her family will receive friends on Monday, June 29 at Clark Associates Funeral Home, 4 Woods Bridge Rd, Katonah, NY from 2-4 and 7-9 pm.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, June 30 at St. Josephs RC Church, 95 Plum Brook Road, Somers, NY at 10:00 am

Interment will follow at the Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Hawthorne, NY.

Memorial contributions may be made to the general scholarship fund at the University of Mount St. Vincent, 6301 Riverdale Ave., Riverdale, NY 10471.