Judith Redmond

Anchorage resident Judith Kay Redmond, 63, died peacefully Oct. 18, 2009 at the Providence Extended Care Center after a three-year battle with cancer.

A celebration of life is being organized by the family.

Judith was born Aug. 16, 1946 in Billings, Mont. to Michael and Marian Redmond. She grew up in Minneapolis, Minn. and graduated from the Academy of Holy Angels in 1964. After graduation Judith traveled to Ireland to visit family and friends.

Judith attended the University of Minnesota and received a B.A. in Liberal Arts/Anthropology in 1971. She later obtained a M.A. in education from the University of Alaska in Fairbanks in 1980, followed by a M.A. in Library and Information Science from the University of Arizona in 1998.

Judith enjoyed traveling and adventure. She was an original participant in Volunteers in Service to America program completing a two-year assignment in St. Croix, Virgin Islands, as a teacher in 1966; deciding to return after graduating from the University of Minnesota and staying until 1976 working as a teacher and a travel agent. She also had the enjoyment of traveling to many countries including Ireland, Italy and Papua New Guinea. Judith came from a family of pilots and received her private pilot's license and enjoyed flying.

In 1976 Judith moved to Alaska where she first worked at the Fairbanks North Star Public Library as a librarian, beginning her love of Alaska. She lived in many locations after this, both in the United States and overseas but the San Francisco Bay Area always stayed particularly special to her; often returning over the years to visit friends and family.

Judith always kept her love of Alaska; returning in 1990 to live in Kotzebue, Fairbanks, Galena and eventually Anchorage in 1996 where she worked for the Loussac Library, University of Alaska Consortium Library and the Anchorage School District where she eventually retired as the school librarian at the Russian Jack Elementary School.

Judith will be remembered as a loving sister, mother and grandmother. Judith will also be remembered for her love of books and the enjoyment they brought to others. She instilled these values into everyone she met including her family and friends. She will also be remembered for her love of all wildflowers and palm trees.

Judith was preceded in death by her nephew, Brian Redmond, and parents, Marian and Michael Redmond.

She is survived by her sons, Adam and Ethan Eley of Anchorage; brothers, Bill and Dan Redmond of Anchorage; brothers Bob and Mike Redmond of Minneapolis; sister-in-law, Kelly Redmond; daughter-in-law, Kayla Eley; and grandson, Cavan Eley; step-son, Paul Eley and step-daughter, Ann Eley; and an abundance of cousins and friends who were more like family than friends.

Arrangements are with Janssen's Evergreen Memorial Chapel.