Her body will lie in state in the Capitol until 2 p.m. tomorrow before being taken to her native Pittsburgh for a Funeral Mass and burial. She is only the second person to lie in state in this Capitol building since it was completed in 1906.
Standing next to Knoll's flag-draped casket, Clinton praised Knoll as a "pioneer and pathbreaker" for women in politics.
Clinton, whose relationship with Knoll dates back at least two decades, said she counted Knoll among her strongest political allies - particularly in her recent hard-fought primary battle in Pennsylvania for the Democratic presidential nomination.
Clinton drew applause from the 250 people in attendance when she considered what Knoll might be doing now: "Probably encouraging St. Peter to let women have more of a role," she said.
In life, Clinton said, "she shattered glass ceilings, and wanted to see others do that as well."
Clinton said her friendship with Knoll grew during the 2008 presidential campaign. She recalled that Knoll was among the first to endorse her presidential bid and someone who remained an "outspoken, passionate supporter."
"Even when the road became steep, she was there for me," said Clinton. "She campaigned even when some said the campaign was over. . . . Catherine had my back."
Rendell remembered Knoll, who was elected Pennsylvania's first female lieutenant governor in 2002, as an effective advocate for children, a caring and compassionate person, and a great partner.
He praised Knoll for creating the Tuition Account Program during her tenure as treasurer. He said the program, designed to make higher education more accessible to working-class families, became a model used across the nation.
What people didn't know, Rendell said, is that Knoll often made donations to the student accounts herself.
He said Knoll, a former teacher, always welcomed school groups who visited the Capitol. But, he said, few knew that she sometimes paid for the children's lunches.
