Folsom Funeral Service

Agnes H. Pilot (née Knopp), 93, was called home to our Lord on Tuesday, February 8th, 2022 at her home in Westwood, MA. She is survived by her siblings Hermann Knopp and Berta Knopp (Schega), her sons, Christopher and Stephen Pilot, and her grandchildren: Kira, Juergen, and Henry Pilot . She joins her beloved husband of 41 years, Herbert Pilot, and her siblings, Franz Knopp, Maria Knopp (Borgs), Brigitte Knopp (Komocki), Werner Knopp, Gertrude Knopp (Diakun), in Heaven.

Agnes was born on January 31, 1929 to Eduard and Johanna Martha Knopp (née Wolle), in Sankt Goar, Germany on the Rhein. On the date of her birth, in a rare event, the Rhein froze across its width. The 6th of 8 children, she immigrated to Ontario, Canada with her husband in 1952, before moving to Montreal, Quebec, where she lived for 12 years. She worked there with her husband, he, as an engineer, and she, in a bank, in the accounting department. They also built a house from scratch, and raised a family. In 1963, Agnes and her family relocated to Boston, MA, where she would live and serve her community until her passing. Agnes proudly assisted Dr. Stephen Jay Gould as his personal secretary at Harvard University, transcribing his numerous publications and books into finished works, and delaying her retirement in order to help him finish his final work. She loved her job and working with him, in the department of paleontology. She served as a former president of the BSV Sängerchor Boston for many years, an honor which she cherished. She also sang in the German-American chorus, and traveled many places in that capacity. She served as a former trustee of the German Aid Society of Boston, and the Deutsches Altenheim assisted living facility. She loved being a member of Boylston Schul-Verein: a German-American club, and was very proud of her German roots and to be able to serve the German community.

Agnes was also a lifelong member of the Catholic church, and served where she could, for example, as a liturgist at Saint Denis Catholic Church. Her faith was of extreme importance to her. As she often admitted, it guided her throughout her life. Agnes will be remembered for her love of family, her devotion to the church, her love of America and Germany, her willingness to help others, and her always being there if one needed help or consolation. She especially loved singing within a choir, holidays such as Christmas, gardening, and her grandkids. Her gift of storytelling, the tenacity of her faith and spirit, her unfailing kindness and patience, will be remembered by all who came in contact with her.

Agnes’ wake will be held at Folsom Funeral Services in Westwood, MA, at 649 High St. from 6-8 PM on February 14th. On February 15th, following a 10 AM Mass at Westwood’s St. Denis Church, Agnes will be laid to rest beside her husband at St. Joseph Cemetery in Boston. After the funeral, there will be a brief reception, from 12 to 2, in the BSV club center at 8 County St, in Walpole, MA. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Deutsches Altenheim, 2222 Centre St., West Roxbury, MA 02132

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