Mary Hazel Knisely, 84, of Vero Beach, passed away on June 27, 2015, at VNA Hospice in Vero Beach. 86
She is survived by her three children, Bruce (Judy), Gail (Barry Fanaro) and Carol (Dennis Kramer); her stepdaughter Cathy Lahey; and her grandchildren Erica (Mike Sansone), Allison (Mike Hall), Olivia, Claudia and Joe Fanaro: Cressey, Camille and Coleman Kramer; and great- grandchildren Brittany Gage, Marisa Sansone and Tanner Hall.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 40 years, Dale Knisely, in 1992.
Knisely was one of three children, born to Ruthanna and Robert Hazel on Jan. 17, 1931, in Cleveland, Ohio. She grew up in Athchison, Kan., and later moved to Los Angeles where she met and married Dale Knisely in 1952.
In 1963, the Knisely’s moved to Vero Beach where, for a brief period, they operated Vero’s only toy store, the Toy Box. Their real adventure started in 1964 when they bought the franchise for Maryland Fried Chicken, Vero’s fast food landmark still operating successfully on Miracle Mile.
It was the beginning of Knisely’s many-faceted life. In addition to keeping the financial books for the chicken business and running a household with three children underfoot, she had a full-time job as secretary and bookkeeper for Carol Otto, philanthropist and founder of Riverside Theatre. She became privy to Mr. Otto’s goals for live theatre in Vero Beach and she helped carry them out.
She was a 10-year member of the Theatre Trust, an early president of the Theatre Guild and a charter member of the Friends of Riverside, the group that supported a belief that Vero could support a professional theatre. A business woman herself, Knisely also partnered in a chain of Laundromats with a close friend.
Knisely’s passion in life was to travel. Every September she and Dale took time off to travel the United States and abroad, including the British Isles, Europe and Africa. After Dale’s death, Knisely continued the travels, adding Australia, India and Nepal to her list. Her final voyage was an around the world tour by air, covering the few places she had missed, including Easter Island, Petra and Morocco.
We would be remiss if we failed to mention that, in Knisely’s “spare” time, she played an excellent game of bridge. In her last few years, her health, as well as her eyes, failed and she became housebound. Her mind, however, was working fulltime and she was able to explore her love of history listening to books on tape.
For her friends and family, it was never dull in Knisely’s company. At one time in their varied lives, she and Dale had raised racehorses and ran them at Hialeah. So it was appropriate for Knisely to have annual parties to watch the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness and the Belmont horse races. It was prophetic that her last social event was on June 6, when she watched the Belmont with her family and witnessed a beautiful horse break a 31-year record and win the Triple Crown.
Her fine intellect and practical nature were a rare combination that endeared her to friends and family. Memories are wonderful, but she will be greatly missed.
In lieu of flowers, please donate in Mary’s memory to VNA & Hospice Foundation for the Hospice House, 1110 35th Lane, or to The ARC of Indian River County, 1375 16th Avenue, both in Vero Beach, 32960.
