South Yarmouth, MA – Irene Mary Bridget Sullivan Knapp – Pommy to everyone and Pom Pom to her (great) grandchildren – of South Yarmouth, MA, previously of Fort Lauderdale, FL and Greenfield, MA; passed away on Thursday July 16, 2026 at the age of 93. She will be remembered always as an incredibly strong, smart, witty woman, with a boundless ability to make things happen.
Born in Boston on August 12, 1932, she was raised predominantly in Worcester, MA. She is predeceased by her beloved older brother Delabarre Sullivan, her mother Irene Hickey Sullivan O’Connor, and her father Dr Edward Sullivan, who passed away at a young age, but left her with the nickname that has stayed with her throughout her life – Pommy, from the French word “pomme” for her rosy, apple cheeks. She was also deeply fond of her aunt, Mary B Hickey, who helped raise her while her mother was working.
She graduated from the Academy of Notre Dame Tyngsboro in 1952 prior to attending Worcester City Hospital School of Nursing, where she obtained her RN before working as a traveling nurse for several years, as well as working as a nurse at Franklin County Public Hospital. She met her husband and partner in all things, Horace Kendall “Ken” Knapp when he came to install new carpets at her family’s house in Greenfield, MA; marrying him on New Years Eve 1956 at Greenfield, MA’s Holy Trinity Church. They were married for 44 years before his death in 2000.
From a young age, she was a committed civic and community leader… and an unstoppable tennis player, who was for a long time considered one of Franklin County’s outstanding players. She kept playing well into her 90s, inspiring many of her children and grandchildren to take up the sport. She also had a real love and talent for sewing, knitting and needlework; she always had a project on the go.
Her social and charitable work continued throughout her life including multiple term appointments as Chairman of Towns and Residences for the United Fund; and service for the Greenfield Girl’s Club, the Franklin County SPCC, and Greenfield’s Holy Trinity Church. When she moved full time to Hyannis, MA, she worked for many years at the Hyannis Chamber of Commerce as an information specialist and loved the role, the people, and being part of the incredible community.
She was always the life of the party – from her annual Mardi Gras parties in Fort Lauderdale to her unmissable birthday Clam/Lobster bakes on The Cape, she brought people together, and loved celebrating great times with her friends and family.
She was incredibly proud of her family. She is survived by her 6 children – Gretchen (Todd) Zelek, Santa Monica, CA; Hilary (Reynold) Mooney, Waitsfield, VT; Horace Gregory “Greg” Knapp, South Yarmouth, MA; Kathryn (John) Ambler, Lovelady, TX; Claire (Michael) Macchi, Bethel, CT; Rebecca (Peter) Tsao, Marina del Ray, CA – 11 grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.
She was a fighter who wanted to keep going until the very end and she always lived with a spark of fun that touched everyone around her. We are holding her memory close and celebrating the wonderful life that she lived. Services will be private in the fall in Greenfield, Massachusetts.
Every Thursday evening throughout their marriage, Pommy and Ken would go out – it was an unmissable ritual. Pom left us late on a Thursday afternoon. We are confident she had a date to keep.
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