A celebration of life for JoAnne Laura Chartrand, a former resident, will be held 6 p.m. July 3 at the Swan Lake Senior Center.
Her ashes will be spread with those of her daughter, Jodine Meacock.
JoAnne passed away Jan. 27 after a courageous battle with multiple myeloma at the Alaska Native Medical Center in Anchorage, her loving husband, family and friends by her side.
She was born Nov. 25, 1945, in Hoonah, to Harvey and Marietta Williams Sr. She was Raven, a member of the T’akdeintaan Clan, of the Kaa Shaayi Hit (Severed Head House) and her Tlingit name was Sakoone.
JoAnne grew up in Sitka and considered it home. After graduating from Sitka High she attended the University of Alaska.
She worked at the Southeast Alaska Health Consortium in Sitka for many years before moving to Juneau where she retired from SEARHC. She then moved to Wasilla, where she lived for the last five years of her life.
In 1983, she met Richard Chartrand and they were married in Juneau, in 1991. The love of their lives has been their devoted dog Tigger, who took care of her during her battle with cancer when Rich worked. Tigger made her feel safe and loved which was very comforting to her family and to Rich.
JoAnne loved her family and got to spend time with her daughter Glenda and her family when they moved to Wasilla in November 2011. Her daughter wrote: “My mom was the strongest..most beautiful woman in the world...I wanted to grow old together...I miss you sooo much....You are my Hero!!!! I love you...”
JoAnne was proud of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren; due to her illness she was unable to travel but kept in contact with them.
Joanne had a passion for softball, the Mariners, the Seahawks and the NBA. She loved playing softball in Sitka and Juneau and was well known for her pitching.
JoAnne was a member of Sitka Tribes of Alaska and Central Council Tlingit Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska, and a shareholder of Shee Atika’ Inc., Goldbelt Corp. and Sealaska Corp.
She is survived by her husband Richard Chartrand of Wasilla; daughter Glenda (Timothy) Drevas of Wasilla; grandchildren Jamailyn, Taylor and Isabella Drevas of Wasilla; Levi Harriman (Megan Rose), Jessica Meacock (Holden Bennett) and Krista Meacock of Goldendale, Wash.; great-grandchildren Marcus and Marcianna Harriman of Juneau; David and Kaylie Harriman, Natalee Meacock and Paige Meacock of Goldendale; siblings Esther Liberty of Juneau, Marion (Gary) Berry of Seattle, Harvey (Kathi) Williams Jr. of Pacific, Wash., and Walleen (Danny) Whitson of Sitka; aunts Mabel Moy and Virginia Moy of Sitka, Uncle Nick Derenoff of Wasilla, and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her daughter Jodine Meacock; her parents Marietta and Harvey Williams Sr.; brother George Williams; sisters Harvietta Olson and Dorothy Trivett; nephew Jay Liberty; and nieces LaVon Liberty and Amber Whitson.