Roberta (Robbie) Louise Modrell, longtime Sitkan, passed away April 11, 2026, at Providence Hospital in Anchorage, Alaska, her son Josh by her side. She was 77.
Robbie was born May 18, 1948, in Seattle to Robert and Donna Ruth Modrell. While she was an infant the family moved to Mt. Edgecumbe, where her father taught boat building and later ran the Boat Shop and cared for the shore boats that carried passengers across the channel between Sitka and Japonski Island.
Robbie grew up as an “Island Girl." She attended Sitka Schools graduating from Sitka High in 1966. She received dental schooling, and worked in Sitka for Dr. Prewitt.
In 1970, she married and had two sons. They lived in several towns in Alaska and then settled in Snohomish, Washington.
In 1985 she moved back to Sitka to raise her two sons.
She worked at the Sitka Pioneers Home as a CNA and then as the assistant to the Pioneers Home’s physical therapist.
After she retired from the Pioneers Home, she took the position of office manager at St. Peter’s by-the-Sea Episcopal Church, where she also sang in the choir and directed many memorable Christmas Pageants.
She was a skilled seamstress and did beautiful embroidery work. Her crewel embroidery was especially amazing.
Family was important to her. She loved hosting tea parties and game nights with her grandchildren in Sitka and made many trips to Wasilla to see her grandchildren there.
She had many friends, and her three closest friends were very dear to her.
She was preceded in death by her brother, Jim Modrell, niece Heather Modrell, nephew Matthew Snelling, granddaughter Sabrina Fletcher, son Ian Fletcher Sr., and her parents Robert and Donna Ruth Modrell.
She is survived by her son Josh Fletcher, grandsons Logan and Triston Fletcher, and granddaughters Elizabeth and Lila Fletcher, all of Wasilla; grandson Ian Fletcher Jr. and granddaughters Justice and Qiana Fletcher, all of Sitka; brothers John Modrell and George Modrell, both of Lynnwood, Washington; and sisters Mary Bowen and Peg Livingston, both of Mill City, Oregon, and Kathryn Snelling of Sitka.
Also surviving are nieces Becky Tennant, Melissa Bowen, Jennifer Bowen, Melinda Modrell, Donna Modrell and Anjanette Modrell; nephews Kenneth Modrell and Ira Snelling; and many she loved in her extended family.
A celebration of her life will be held at a future date.
In lieu of flowers donations in her memory can be made to the Sitka Maritime Heritage Society Museum for the Boat Shop restoration.
