Helen I. "Dolly" Kniess, 72, of Zelienople died Monday at her home.

Born April 7, 1931, in Chicora, she was the daughter of Harold and Helen Stoughton Barnhart.

She had been a nanny for the Passavant family while she attended high school. She also had worked at the Seneca Valley High School cafeteria.

Mrs. Kniess enjoyed bird watching, reading, local history and gardening. She belonged to the Home Grower's Club, and she attended the Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, Fombell.

Her husband, Charles "Ducky" Kniess, died May 11, 2002.

Surviving are two daughters, Donna Gail Fischer and her husband, Ralph, of Evans City and Karen E. Kniess of Zelienople; a son, Aaron David Kniess of Zelienople; five grandchildren, Anthony Charles and Michael H, Fischer, Paul Michael and Abigail "Abbey" Meyer and Brandon David Thomas Walsh; and three great-grandchildren, Alex M., Samantha A. and Austin A. Fischer.

She also is survived by five sisters, Audrey Altemus of Harrisville, Evelyn Semel, Jackie Nickita and Dixie Leonard, all of Fort Myers, Fla., and Virginia "Ginny" Mang of Zelienople; and five brothers, Eugene Barnhart of Portersville, Karl Barnhart of Jackson Township, Walter Barnhart of New Sewickley Township and Gary and Larry Barnhart, both of Zelienople.

KNIESS - Friends of Helen I. "Dolly" Kniess, who died Monday, March 1, 2004, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at BOYLAN FUNERAL HOME, 324 E. Grandview Ave., Zelienople. Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home. Burial will be at St. Peter's Reformed Church Cemetery, Zelienople.Memorial donations may be made to Zelienople Area Public Library, 227 S. High St., Zelienople, PA 16063; or the American Cancer Society, 320 Bilmar Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15205.