Marilyn Jean (Garing) Knepshield, 84, of Gilpin Township, PA, passed away Tuesday, October 22, 2024.  A daughter of the late Ludwig Benjamin Garing and Dora Elisbeth (Lechner) Garing, she was born on August 8, 1940, in Donegal Township, Butler County, PA.

After graduating from Karns City High School, Marilyn attended Allegheny Valley Hospital School of Nursing where she graduated in 1961 and became a Registered Nurse.  She started working at Butler Memorial Hospital in the recovery room, then moved to the ICU.  She retired from the Visiting Nurses’ Association in 2002 after being a nurse for 41 years. After she retired from nursing, she spent the remainder of her time outside with her family, in her garden, bailing hay or canning vegetables.

Marilyn will be remembered by her grandchildren for spending hours building memories with them in her garden, taking them to work delivering flowers, and teaching them how to put smiles on other people’s faces.  If any of the kids had a sporting event or a concert, they could always bet on Grandma Knepshield being there.  She is also known to have enjoyed ice cream, dying Easter eggs and having purple fingers for Easter Sunday, and a TikTok dance or two.

Her kindness spread beyond her family, and many would stop and visit her just because they could. Marilyn loved spreading joy to all those she met. Her smile was contagious. She would put a pause in her daily plans just to catch up with an old friend.  She wouldn’t hesitate to pack a bag or two and go with whoever asked her. 

She is survived by her daughters, Beth Ann Talarico (Mark) of Gilpin Township, Susan Dawn Vigna (Jerry) of Gibsonia; eight grandchildren, Kristen Vigna, Estrella Talarico, Sarah Vigna, Jon Talarico, Brian Talarico, Emily Talarico, Benjamin Talarico, and Madelyn Vigna; siblings, Anna Truscott of Chicora, Joan Garing of New Castle, and John Garing (Harriet) of Chicora; numerous nieces and nephews; and her beloved dog, Spot.

Marilyn is predeceased by her loving husband of 51 years, Donald Eugene Knepshield; siblings, Dorothy Gallagher, Vemberline Sedwick, Jeannette McCollough, Alice Garing,  Herbert Garing, and  Lewis Garing.

Friends will be welcomed by her family on Monday, October 28, 2024 from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. at the Clawson Funeral & Cremation Center, 170 Main St., Leechburg, 724-842-1051.  Additional visitation will be held from 10-11 a.m. on Tuesday, October 29, at Forks Zion Lutheran Church, 253 Forks Church Road in Gilpin Township, immediately followed by her family honoring her life with funeral ceremonies beginning at 11 a.m. with Deacon Amy Santoriello officiating.  Interment will follow in Forks Church Cemetery in Gilpin Township.  The family wishes to acknowledge the loving care provided by Memory Meadows Personal Care Home.