Jennie Larson

1931 - 2018

On Feb. 15, 2018, Jennie Larson passed away at home in Anchorage, Alaska, after a long battle with cancer. With help from her hospice nurse Jodi, she died on her terms: in her own home, surrounded by her loved ones and in no pain. She remained feisty and stubborn until the end.
She was born Jennie Tsingun Wasillie on Dec. 31, 1931, to Wasilie Tshungauyaq and Elina Miknayak in the village of Tshukfaqtulik near Bethel, Alaska. She met Alvin Larson in Sitka, Alaska, where they married and started a family. In 1968, the family relocated to Anchorage, where most remain today. She retired from the Alaska Native Medical Center after 30 years of service as a Certified Nursing Assistant. Her biggest joy in life was spending time with all of her children. She enjoyed doing the daily crossword puzzles in the paper, knitting, playing solitaire and collecting everything Christmas that she could.
She is survived by daughters, Lydia (Chris) Heyward, Margaret LaValley and Justina (Fred) Meyer; and son, David; grandchildren, Mike Heyward, Andrea Heyward, Lac'e Heyward, Litonya Garrett, Jamila Garrett, Aimee Verrone, Shane Nunn, Jenny Phillimore, Shannon Fisk, Devon Valentine, Malaya Meyer and Aaron Fisk; and great-grandchildren, Ana Garrett, Terrell and Marissa Heyward, Cha'Miya and Rodrick Hines, Dominic Fisk, Attalia Valentine, Payton Phillimore, and Jahzara, Loni and Jalila Harris.
She was preceded in death by her ex-husband, Alvin; her daughters, Mary and Joyce; grandson, Karyan; her parents; and all of her siblings. Jennie was the last of her generation.
Memorial services will be held at Evergreen Memorial Chapel on March 10, 2018, at 1 p.m., with a potluck in her honor at Cook Inlet Tribal Council's Rasmussen Conference Center, 3600 San Jeronimo Drive in Anchorage from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.