Daily Sitka Sentinel

Norise Hanlon

    Services have been scheduled for Norise Jeanette Hanlon, a lifelong Sitka resident.
    A memorial will be 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 26, at St. Michael’s Cathedral. The funeral service will be 11 a.m. Monday, Feb. 27, also at the cathedral. A reception will follow.
    Norise died Feb. 23 at SEARHC-Mt. Edgecumbe Hospital. She was 76.
    She was born Aug. 5, 1935, in Sitka, the daughter of Peter Michael and Jeanette Church. She was a member of the Kaagwaantaan Clan and was Eagle-Bear. She attended Sheldon Jackson High School.
    She worked at the Chatham cannery and Sitka Sound Seafoods, before going to work at SEARHC. She retired in 2010.
    Among her hobbies were needlepoint, word finds and various arts and crafts created during every holiday. And she loved picnics, barbecues and birthday parties.
    A devout Christian, she was a very active member of St. Michael’s, helping in numerous fundraising events.
    “She enjoyed doing many church activities, and especially enjoyed baking an abundance of Easter bread for her many godchildren and children,” her family said. “Our mother was the best all the time, being strong in every aspect of her life.
    “Whatever she did she did it with all her heart and love.”
    She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, and was a shareholder of Sealaska and Shee Atika Inc.
    She was preceded in  death by her brother, Peter Church Sr.; her sister Mary Willard; and her beloved daughter, Christine Beth Howard.
    She is survived by her sons, Joseph E. Howard Sr. of Auburn, Wash., and Michael J. Howard Jr. and Noriss Sergius Howard, both of Sitka; daughters Eva Howard of Juneau and Nadine Jones and Twylia Osborne, both of Sitka; her sister, May Cropley of Juneau; 16 grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren; life partner Robert A. Nielsen; and many, many godchildren.
    Memorial donations may be made to an account at First National Bank Alaska.

    Pallbearers will be Norman Howard, Micheal Howard Jr., Leonard Nielsen, Sam Peyena, David Rice, Doug Bartels, Clyde Bartels and Jim Nielsen.

    Honorary Pallbearers will be "Uncle" Herman Davis, Ronnie James, Herb Didrickson Sr., Joe Howard Sr. Fred Hope, Chester Jackson and John Nielsen.