Esther Gage

Anchorage resident Esther N. Gage "Tunlugaan," 76, died of natural causes on May 4, 2011, at home.

A visitation will take place at 11 a.m., followed by the service at noon, at Anchorage First Covenant Church on Thursday, with Senior Pastor Max Lopez-Cepero officiating. A potluck celebration will be afterward in the Fellowship Hall.

Esther was born March 30, 1935, in Unalakleet to Josephine Panipchuk "Napaayunaq"

of Unalakleet and Carlson Norman "Miitiyaaq" of Shaktoolik. She attended school at Unalakleet, Wrangell, and Mt. Edgecombe, graduating in 1955.

In 1955, when traveling through Anchorage to her first job in Sitka, she met her future husband, Frank V. Sambo, who worked in Surgery at the Alaska Native Medical Center (ANMC). In October 1955, they married and she took a position at ANMC.

After the first of their five children was born, Esther devoted her time to raising their kids.

In 1970, they bought property on Snowbird Drive and later built a log home there. When her youngest was finally in school, Esther returned to work at ANMC, retiring in 1994. Frank and Esther were married until his death in May 1978.

In July 1982, she married Jay Gage and they remained together until his death in 2004.

Esther was an expert seamstress who could sew items ranging from sealskin vests and three-piece suits to parkas and prom dresses. In addition to sewing, she enjoyed crocheting, berry picking, Native food, dancing, camping, biographies and history books, and traveling.

She had an intense love for her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She could shut a kid up with just one look. Despite her strict nature, her children are thankful for how she raised them all. Though small in stature, she was a very tough Inupiaq woman. This fiercely independent and extraordinary woman lived a hard life but rightfully took pride in the fact that she did extremely well against all odds.

Esther was a tribal member of the Native Village of Unalakleet and a shareholder of both Bering Straits Native Corporation and Unalakleet Native Corporation.

Esther was also preceded in death by a son, Frank Sambo Jr.; and brothers, Ambrose, Clarence "Poisey," Carlson Jr. and Ullah Norman.

She is survived by her children, Gary Sambo (Colleen) and his daughter Sophia, Darlene "Dalee" Sambo Dorough (Luke) and their daughter Hannah, Eugene Sambo (Thea) and his children Frank, Tamara and Maddelynn; daughter, Lorraine Sambo; granddaughter, Kristy Almon; and numerous great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

She will be laid to rest at Angelus Memorial Park Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to the American Heart Association at www.heart.org or by mail to 3700 Woodland Drive, No. 700, Anchorage 99517-2567.