Wenona Lachance

Palmer resident Wenona Anita Lachance, 94, died March 4, 2010, at the Alaska Veterans and Pioneers Home in Palmer.

A memorial service will be held at 2:30 p.m. July 25 at the Pioneers Home. A visit to the cemetery and a short service will follow, with her grandson, Rob Teeling, officiating.

Wenona was born March 3, 1916, in Interprise, Ore.

Wenona was married to her sweetheart, Clarence, for 55 years. He died in 1991.

Wenona became an Alaska resident in 1970, living in Palmer. She was a caretaker at Independence Mine in Hatcher Pass with Clarence and also ran the cafeteria there. She and Clarence also did janitorial work for Hartley Motors.

She belonged to the Adventist Church.

She won a ribbon at the Alaska State Fair for her knitting. She was also Queen at the Palmer Home in 1992. Her special interests were yard work, and knitting bedspreads, sofa backs, covers and arm covers, many doilies of all sizes and colors, and pillow cases with nice trim.

Her family wrote: "Dear Mother was always a loving and giving person, as was dear Daddy. Her greatest loves were her children, family, and dear friends. When she was younger, she enjoyed her trips, rides and special dinners at the senior center and with family. In recent years, she spent her days at the Palmer Pioneer Home. Many fond memories and dreams will live on in the family and friends who loved her. Dear Mother (is) loved and will be deeply missed, until we meet again at the close of time."

The family wishes to thank all her caregivers for many years who showed their love and kindness even when she got upset with them. But she truly didn't mean it, her family said; a stroke changed her personality somewhat.

Wenona is survived by her daughter, Marion and son-in-law Bob Teeling of Palmer; sons and wives, Frank (Evelyn) of Palmer, Darold (Nancy) of Fresno, Calif., and Gordon Lachance of Tacoma, Wash.; grandchildren, Bob (Sandy) Teeling of Wasilla, Betty Zimmer of Kington, Wash., Dale Lumpkin and Linda Colemen and family, Melissa (Randy) Amge of Palmer, Michelle Dykman of Wasilla, Chester McKeabe of Palmer, Franky Jo and Stephen Lachance, Tammy (Tom) Chandler of Wasilla, Cathy Kedwell (Carl), and Jennifer Lachance; great-grandchildren, Jim (Lisa), Rob (Jasmine), Michael Teeling. Chris (Karolyn) Edwards, Brady and Vicky Kedwell, Hannah and Nick Edwards, Tyler and Sarah Chandler; great-great-grandchildren, Taylor (Don) Miner and Devin Teeling; great-great-great-grandchild, Larkynn Marie Miner; loving sisters, Jerry Towle and Nadine Bemrose; and many nieces and nephews.

Wenona was preceded in death by her husband of 55 years, Clarence Joseph; and brothers, Joe, Tom, Robert and Bill Bales; sister, Dorothy Miller; and grandchildren, Ron Ralston, Mona McKeabe, Timothy Lachance, Autumn Dawn, William Wayne Teeling and Frances Lee Anderson.

Arrangements were entrusted to Legacy Funeral Home-Kehl's Palmer Chapel.