Amalia Kneifel

Amalia Agnes Kneifel, 94, of Pipe Creek, passed away Saturday, July 29, 2023.   
Amalia was born May 6, 1929, in DeWitt County to John and Francis Caka Zissa.
Amalia married the love of her life on June 8, 1948, at St. Ann’s Catholic church and they moved to San Antonio. After all their children were born, they moved to a small 45-acre farm near Somerset and retired to Pipe Creek.  
Amalia enjoyed canning and sewing.  When the garden had an abundant harvest, she was freezing or canning vegetables. She was best known by her family for her canned pickled cucumbers, okra, and beets. Amalia had a passion for sewing and was known as a proficient seamstress even to the point where she had the ability to modify a sewing pattern.  
She sewed clothes for all her daughters as they were growing up and even continued to sew dresses for her granddaughters. Over the years, she sewed evening gowns, bridesmaid dresses and even wedding dresses. In addition to sewing and canning, Amalia was a homemaker till 1973 when she became employed by a Temporary Agency to drive test cars for Southwest Research Institute in their Fuels and Lubricants Research Division for 34 years till age 78.  She drove countless car routes around San Antonio with a perfect driving record.
Amalia was rooted in faith of God and love of family. She cherished her time with family and loved family gatherings.  She was known for her cornbread dressing and cranberry sauce at Thanksgiving and Christmas.  She always placed the needs of her family before her own. Taking care of her grandchildren and seeing pictures of her great-grandchildren brought joy to her life.  
Amalia was a devoted Catholic finding joy in singing hymns during weekly masses. Even when she was homebound during her later years, she attended a televised mass with her late husband or her children. She lovingly cared for her dog, Dottie, which was the light of her life.  
Amalia is survived by her daughters, Diana Frances Snell (Michael) of Montclair, VA, Darlene Marie Hicks (Ken) of Boerne, and Danette Marie Sampeck (Joseph) of Blanco; son, Dennis Michael Kneifel of San Antonio; grandchildren, Dustin, April, Chantal, Jessica, Nathanael, Amanda, and Nicholas; great-grandchildren, Silas, Casey and James; and sister,Helen Plasczyk of Terrytown, LA.
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Edwin Louis Kneifel Sr.; infant son, Edwin Louis Kniefel Jr.; four brothers, Joe Zissa of Yoakum, John Zissa of Shiner, Alfons Zissa of Houston and Lambert Zissa of Oklahoma City, OK.
A Holy Rosary will be recited at 10 a.m. Friday, August 11 at Sts. Cyril and Methodius Catholic Church in Shiner.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Friday, with the Rev. Michael Odartey-Lamptey celebrating.
Interment will follow in the Shiner Catholic Cemetery.
Pallbearers are Michael Snell, Ken Hicks, Joesph Sampeck, Dustin Kneifel, Nathanael Sampeck, and Nicholas Sampeck.
Honorary pallbearers are Silas Kneifel, Casey Riddle and James Weiss.
Memorials may be made to Alzheimer’s Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave., Fl. 17, Chicago, IL 60601.  
Friends may leave their condolences to the family by visiting www.shinerfuneralhome.com.  
Services are under the care and direction of Shiner Funeral Home.