Knopic, Brigid Ann

• Sister Brigid Knopic, SOS

Born 21 September 1911 in Renfew Ontario, daughter of Joseph Kenopic (Knopsick)) and Katherine Rouble (Wrobel); entered 21 January 1941; first vows 15 August 1943; final vows 15 August 1948; died 9 May 2003.

As the third of 11 children of Ontario-born descendants of Eastern European immigrants, Brigid grew up in the Ottawa Valley town of Renfrew. After attending local schools, Brigid graduated from the Lorraine School of Nursing at the Pembroke General Hospital in 1932 and completed the qualifications as a registered nurse. At the time of her nursing graduation, Irene, a younger sister, entered the Sisters of St. Joseph in Pembroke, taking the religious name of Sister Anthony. For eight years, she worked as a private-duty nurse for M. J. O’Brien, an industrialist, lumber baron and silver mine owner, who resided in Renfrew. Active in St. Francis Xavier parish and its sodality, Brigid wrote to Fr. George Daly about her rekindled vocation. After a novena at the shrine of St. Anne de Beaupre and a visit to the SOS women's residence in Montreal, she applied to join the Sisters of Service, but not until the death of Mr. O'Brien. In November 1940 and giving away her fur coat, Brigid at the age of 29 entered on January 21, 1941.

Professing first vows on August 15, 1943, Sister Knopic made final vows on August 15, 1948 in Edson. For the next 37 years, Sister Knopic intertwined religious life, daily joys and dedicated nursing at the two rural hospitals in Alberta. At St. John’s Hospital in Edson, she served for 27 years in two appointments (1943-1957, as superior 1951-1957; and 1967-1980, as superior, director of nursing 1969-1972). Between the Edson postings, she moved to Our Lady’s Hospital in Vilna (1957-1967, superior 1960-1967). During these years, Sister Knopic continuously upgraded her medical education with certificates in the care of communicable diseases, practical obstetrics, and a diploma as a radiology technician. She also completed courses in hospital administration and rehabilitation medicine.

Following retirement from nursing, she was appointed the director of the senior sisters at Niagara Retirement Manor (1980-1982) in St. Catharines, Ontario. For almost two decades, she lived at the Toronto Motherhouse (1983-2000) except for a year at the catechetical mission (1984-1985) in Clarenville, Newfoundland. For 15 years at the Motherhouse, she assumed responsibility of sacristan and wrote articles and arranged for contributions for the community's monthly newsletter of Here and There. Outside the Motherhouse, Sister Knopic coordinated the spiritual program for Catholic residents at Fudger House, a downtown nursing home.

Moving to Scarborough Court at the time of the Motherhouse renovations in 2000, she remained active until a few months before her death on May 9, 2003 at Scarborough General Hospital. She was 91. Due to the SARS epidemic, the wake service was held at Rosar-Morrison funeral home and was followed by the funeral Mass at St. Boniface church with celebrant Fr. Edward McGovern. Her body was buried in the community's plot in Mount Hope cemetery.

Created by F Rousselle June 25, 2025.
Revised by F Rousselle June 27, 2025.

Biographical sketch adapted for brevity from complete biography written by SOS congregational archivist MC Havey.