Paulette James

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Category: Obituaries

Created on Wednesday, 26 June 2013 13:53

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Good friend of the community and devotee of the Lord, Paulette Marie Elizabeth James passed away unexpectedly on June 20, 2013, at Northern Prince of Wales Island.
Paulette Marie Elizabeth James (Sindi.aa from Daginaa Hít and Guna sháa) was born on Oct. 6, 1995, at Mt. Edgecumbe Hospital in Sitka to Annmarie (James) Dick and Roy Kyle. Paulette was raised by her grandparents Lana (James) Williams and Randy Williams from 1998. Although she lived in Sitka with her grandparents, she was well-loved by an extensive family network from across the state. 
Paulette was given Lingít names from two different clans, Sindi.aa from the L’uknax.ádi, and Guna sháa from the Teikweidí, due to some unique family history.
Paulette attended Sitka School District through the eighth grade and began her high school education as a freshman at Mt. Edgecumbe High School. She became involved in the statewide Stand Up Speak Up campaign which included a photo shoot and commercial that is now aired across the state as part of domestic violence awareness in Alaska.
During her sophomore year, she transferred to Pacific High School, where she quickly began to blossom into the person she wanted to be. There, she learned to express herself beautifully through her writing: writing about her life, her goals.
While at Pacific, she also found ways to express her love of community and the concern she had for others. There, after participating in a class about the effects of methamphetamines, she wanted to do more to educate others about the dangers and consequences of drug abuse. She organized a Resiliency Fair about the need for resiliency in all our lives.
Prior to her death, she also became very active in the United Pentecostal Church of Sitka, where she found a church home and also a new, Christ-centered direction for her life.
Paulette’s involvement in her culture started at a very young age. She participated in the Dog Point fish camp from the time she was a toddler; there she learned subsistence, and began learning some Lingít language.
She was also enrolled in the Sitka Native Education Program for most of her student life. During middle school and her first couple of years in high school, she was active in the Gájaa Héen Dancers. There, she regularly entertained her peers with the humorous things she would say, her contagious laughter, and her radiant smile
Ever since she was a young girl, she took charge and was always willing to help others when needed. These are the traits that all who knew and loved her will always cherish about her. This is perhaps best summed up by her grandmother, Kathy Kyle, who said of her, “This was the third summer that Paulette visited her dad in Port Protection and fished with him. Her special talent for connecting with all kinds of people of all ages blossomed there and she was loved by everyone in the community.”
Paulette is survived by her mother Annmarie (James) Dick and Albert Dick of Juneau; father Roy Kyle of Sitka; siblings Samuel, Johnathan and Margaret Dick of Sitka and Davlyn Sarabia of Juneau; grandparents Lana (James) Williams, Randy Williams, and Kathy Kyle of Sitka, and Kyril (Edward) Williams of Juneau.
Also surviving are her aunts Evengeline (James) Howard of Angoon, Leanna Williams of Sitka, Pamela Lestenkoff of Anchorage, Caroline Martin of Juneau and Arlene Buxton of Ketchikan; uncles Joe Johnson, Herman James, Elliott James, and David James of Anchorage, Russell James, Paul James, Allen James and Paul Thomas of Angoon, and Aaron Williams of Sitka; great-grandparents Isabel Chulik of Sitka, Elizabeth (Liz) and Pete McCluskey of Angoon, Jan Williams of Sitka and Segrid Edwards of Yakutat, Raymond Robert of Ketchikan; and a countless number of cousins.
She was preceded in death by great- grandparents Paul Chulik of Sitka and Paul and Maggie James of Angoon, Lucy Roberts of Ketchikan, and Thomas and Mona Jackson of Kake.
Apologies were offered to any family that may have been omitted.
Paulette James’ memorial service will be held at the Sheet’ka Kwaan Naa Kahídi (Community House) 5:30 p.m.  Thursday, June 27. Guests are asked to take a dish to share; this would also be the evening to share memories of Paulette, or for the Native community to do any cultural activities should they wish. The Gajaa Héen Dancers will host this event.
Funeral services will be officiated by UPC Pastor Chett at the First Presbyterian Church at noon Friday, June 28, after which her ashes will be taken to Sitka Memorial Park. A reception will follow at the United Pentecostal Church, 101 Cascade Creek Road.
Paulette James’ account is still open for donations. It’s activated through Wells Fargo and the account number is 1018266757 under Paulette James Memorial Fund.

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