Theresa Knight

WILLIAMSTOWN – Theresa “Terry” Knight, 90, of Spider Web Farm Road passed away on Saturday, October 19, 2024, at her home after a short battle with cancer.

Born on July 28, 1934, in Passaic, New Jersey, she was the daughter of Michael and Maria (Puzio) Czerniewski. She attended local schools in New Jersey. In August of 1957 she met the love of her life, Willet Knight of Brooklyn, New York on a weekend getaway to Hypoint, Pennsylvania. They were married on February 1, 1958, and had 59 years together before Will passed away in June of 2017.

They started their life together in New Jersey, then Brooklyn, NY raising their four children. In 1969 they moved to Vermont where they spent the rest of their years in various jobs but most notably running the Small Cabinet Store and Spider Web Farm in Williamstown. Terry was the one who came up with the idea of collecting spider webs as a background for the beautiful flowers she painted. They have been purchased by people from all over the world. Unfortunately, the Spider Web Farm barn and store burned down in October of 2016 and left a big hole in both their lives.

Terry was a lifelong learner and dedicated worker.  She went back to school late in life, and graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Johnson State College, Johnson, VT. She worked at the Williamstown Elementary School, Community College of Vermont, Very Special Arts, and Washington County Mental Health, where she worked with the developmentally disabled, finding jobs they could participate in. It was there that she became guardian of Bruce Braun, someone who remained very special to her until his death.  Eventually, Terry got into the property valuation world for the town of Barre. Then, at an age when most people are thinking of retiring, she took a job as Deputy Director of Property Valuation for the State of Vermont. This was a job she loved and an inspiration to those who worry they might be too old to make a valuable contribution to the world. She proved them all wrong! After holding that job for ten years, she then went on to become the Town Lister for Williamstown and held that position until a few years ago.

She was an active member of the Friends of the Ainsworth Public Library in Williamstown and of the Barre Opera House. In her spare time, she enjoyed painting, reading, gardening, listening to opera music and reading the New York Times. And of course, going out to lunch or chicken pie dinners with her close friends. She was very interested in current events right until the end of her life.

Survivors include her children Celeste Pitts and her husband, Tom;  Willet Knight and his girlfriend, Kim Bottiggi; and Maryanne Knight and her husband, Paul Watson; her four grandchildren Avery and Jekyll Knight; Eric Pitts and his wife, Sarah and Lisa Pitts and her husband, Nathan Hebert. She also leaves behind four great-grandchildren, Ben, Luke, Rosalie and William and her niece, Sue Chandler, who was like a third daughter to her and her beloved daughter-in-law, Melinda Moz-Knight.

In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her husband Willet Knight, her son Michael Knight, and her ward Bruce Braun.

There will be a celebration of her life on Sunday, November 3, 2024, at 4:00 p.m. at The Den in Williamstown, VT. There are no calling hours.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Ainsworth Public Library, PO Box 236, Williamstown, VT  05679.