Nora Arries
Nora Arries passed away peacefully on November 11, 2018, in Palm Springs, California. She was 81.
She was born to Patrick and Mary Murphy on January 8, 1937, in Dublin, Ireland. Nora Mary Murphy was the ninth child in a family of 16 children. She was raised in a strong Catholic faith that shaped the woman she became.
She went to work in London at the age of 17. There, she met her first husband, Charles Weddel. They married in Dublin on December 26, 1957. They lived in England for two and a half years before moving to Oregon on June 11, 1960. From there they came to Sitka, where she became an American citizen, in December 1966.
She married her second husband, Arden Arries, on August 11, 1967. Raising four children, she had a number of jobs ranging from waitressing, to working as a cab dispatcher at the old Anchor Cab company, eventually owning it for a spell. She also worked at First National Bank of Anchorage and National Bank of Alaska as a bank teller. Eventually, she worked her way up to become head teller/loan officer at the NBA branch until she retired in 1985.
After retirement, she and Arden moved to Tombstone, Arizona, where they owned a small motel business until 1995. From there, they lived in Silverdale, Washington, until 1999, and moved to their final destination of Desert Hot Springs, California, in 2002.
She was preceded in death by her first husband (Charles Weddel), second husband (Arden Arries), and her son Stephen’s wife Sherri Weddel.
She is survived by her dearest sister Margie of Dublin, Ireland; sons Stephen Weddel of Phoenix Arizona, and Robert Weddel of Sitka; daughter and son-in-law, Marie and Kerry Adler of Anchorage; and son and daughter-in-law Brian and Stephanie Weddel of Sitka.
Grandchildren include Aaron, Nolan and Kaylahni Weddel, Charity Wayne, Kieran, Natasha and Mariah Adler, Seth Swink, Patrick Moore Jr. and Christopher Moore.
Fifteen great-grandchildren as well as many nieces and nephews also survive. Nora was extremely fond of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, often times spoiling them with birthday gifts of a dollar for every birthday till they were 18.
She was an avid reader, card player, and knitter. She also bowled many years in various leagues wherever she lived. Once at a bowling tournament in Alaska, she danced with Alaska’s then Gov. Steve Cooper.
Funeral arrangements will be announced in the near future.
