Frances Widmark Jr. Dies; Former Sitkan was Age 61
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- Created on Thursday, 25 January 2024 12:37
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Frances J. Widmark Jr.
Lifelong Alaska resident Frances J. Widmark Jr. passed away December 15, 2023, in Palmer after a long illness. She was 61.
Frances was born November 14, 1962, at Sitka Community Hospital, the daughter of Frances (Benson) Widmark Sr. and Lawrence Widmark Sr.
Frances graduated from Sitka High School in 1981. She began her career at the U.S. Forest Service while still in high school, and worked there for 30 years, until her retirement. She had lived in Anchorage several years.
She was very active on her high school basketball team; liked the Lakers; and was a huge Las Vegas Raiders fan. She also loved Rod Stewart, and when she had the opportunity, she liked to play pull tabs.
Frances is survived by her partner of 19 years, Tracy Shaffer; her sister Sally J. Gregory of Anchorage; and brothers Clifford Edenshaw of Anchorage and Woody Widmark of Sitka.
Her nieces are Tara Edenshaw, Kay-ci Lambert, Marissa Crabtree; Michelene Adams, and Abigail Ditullio-Edenshaw; and her nephews are Aaron Edenshaw of Seattle, Chad Edenshaw, Caden Robinson of Anchorage, Braden Gomez, Jaxson Gomez of Utah and Lester Widmark of Sitka.
Her friend Tammy Riel of South Carolina and her beloved cats Styker, Gracie and Baby also survive.
Frances was preceded in death by her mom, Frances J. Widmark Sr.; her dad, Lawrence A. Widmark; sister Stephanie Edenshaw; and her nephews Tony Pruss, Michael Widmark and Robert Widmark.
Funeral arrangements are being handled by Janssen Funeral Home. Per her request, Frances will be cremated and ashes will be spread in her hometown of Sitka as well as Anchorage. No services will be held in Sitka. A graveside service and celebration of her life will be held in the spring in Anchorage.
Honorary pallbearers will be Tara Edenshaw, Clifford Edenshaw, Harvey Kitka, Rachel Bourdukofsky, John Hammock and Wayne Marvin.
Cards of condolence or any correspondence to the family can be mailed to: Sally Gregory, 905 W. 29th Place, Anchorage, AK 99503.
Thanks to the generosity and expertise of the the Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska broadband department, Tidal Network ; Christopher Cropley, director of Tidal Network; and Luke Johnson, Tidal Network technician, SitkaSentinel.com is again being updated. Tidal Network has been working tirelessly to install Starlink satellite equipment for city and other critical institutions, including the Sentinel, following the sudden breakage of GCI's fiberoptic cable on August 29, which left most of Sitka without internet or phone connections. CCTHITA's public-spirited response to the emergency is inspiring.
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