Monika Knudson

Monika Knudson went to be with the Lord on June 2, 2017. Born on March 19, 1950 in Kreis-Strausberg, Monika lived in Germany until the age of seven, when she emigrated to the United States on the ocean liner S.S. America, arriving in New York in 1957 with her extended family, including her parents (Roman and Erna Pross), brother (Heinz Dieter Pross), grandmother (Julia Pross), aunts (Wanda Sage and Lucy Pross), uncles (Esko Sage and John Pross), and cousins (Alex Sage, Gretchen Sage, and Angie Pross). The family was sponsored by the Mayflower Congregational Church in Detroit, Michigan, the city where they chose to settle.

Monika began her formal schooling while still in Germany and continued her education in the American public school system, where she attended primary school at Emerson in Detroit, followed by high school at Detroit Redford High School, where she graduated in June 1968. Although the previous summer, 1967, became known nationally as the “Summer of Love,” it was truly the summer of love for Monika, as she met the love of her life, Charles Knudson, at the beach at Camp Dearborn. She and Charles, a student at Michigan State University at the time, were married the next year following her graduation from high school, a relationship that brought four children (Brigitte, Lisa, Erika, and Lori) and five grandchildren (Jacob, Amanda, Alexandra, Benjamin, and William). She and Charles were married for nearly 49 years.

Throughout her life, Monika was a dedicated daughter, wife, mother, and grandmother who valued her belief in God and the strength of family ties. Over the years, she was active in a number of churches, pursuing Biblical study, teaching Sunday school to children, and participating in church functions. In the 1970s, Monika was active in the La Leche League, an organization that provided support, encouragement, and education to women who want to breastfeed. Her advocacy resulted in creating a private space at church for nursing mothers to be able to both feed their children and enjoy the church service. At home, she always had a stack of books she would be working through and particularly loved reading her daily devotions as well as inspirational stories, which fed her sweet and positive spirit.

In addition, Monika was also a skilled craftswoman who excelled at photography, design, gardening, and cooking. Whether she had an old Kodak Instamatic or her trusty Minolta with its various lenses, she loved to capture the joy of everyday life, whether that meant setting up an in-studio to take modeling photos of her girls, snapping shots in grandpa’s cornfield up north, or documenting the beauty of travel. She was also a skilled seamstress, who would design her own clothing patterns and sew unique clothing for both herself and her girls. Her sense of style was fresh and fun. It was not uncommon for the Knudson girls to be outfitted in one-of-a-kind Halloween costumes, bathing suits, skirts, dresses, pajamas, and robes. Not to be left out, Monika also sewed extensive clothing for dolls, from miniscule Barbie clothing with teeny-tiny snaps to elaborate head-to-toe American Girl doll outfits that she created for both her own dolls – she loved collecting and playing with her dolls – as well as her daughters and granddaughters.

Before it was fashionable, Monika was active in the healthy-living movement. She loved to garden and throughout the years maintained beautiful vegetable and flower gardens. Each spring, with help from Charlie and the girls, she would plant extensive vegetable gardens – and for a time simultaneously maintained gardens in the Detroit area and up north – and then spend much of late summer and fall canning, pickling, and freezing the harvest to be used for family meals throughout the winter. It was from the garden bounty that she made baby food for the girls as well. Monika enjoyed the satisfaction of knowing that she could produce healthy food for her family. For that reason, she eschewed going to restaurants, much preferring to make meals at home. She was a master at making bread, her pizza dough absolutely rocked, and she made wonderful desserts. It was not uncommon for her to have an endless supply of freshly cut fruit or vegetables on the kitchen table for the family to snack on. Every meal – breakfast, lunch, and dinner – was created by her for those she loved. Oatmeal, pancakes, grilled cheese, spaghetti, meatloaf, pork chops, fish on Fridays … you name it, she made it and it was enjoyed by all.

Monika Knudson was a vibrant woman who made a positive impact on everyone she touched – family, friends, and strangers. While cancer cut her life short, her legacy will live on. She is survived by her husband of 48 years, Charles Knudson; daughters Brigitte Knudson (Randy Tessier), Lisa Knudson, Erika Forster (Daniel Forster), and Lori Knudson, and grandchildren Jacob Forster, Amanda Nowicki, Alexandra Forster, Benjamin Knudson, and William Garason.

Funeral mass will be held on Monday, June 5th, 11:30am at St. Colette Catholic Church 17600 Newburgh Rd, Livonia with family receiving friends beginning at 11:00am until time of mass.

Visitation will be held at the Schrader-Howell Funeral Home 280 South Main St, Plymouth on Sunday, June 4th from 2:00pm-9:00pm. Interment St. Hedwig Cemetery. Memorias may be made to : Food for the Poor Inc. 6401 Lyons Rd, Coconut Creek, Florida 33073.