Grace Katasse Larsen
Grace Katasse Larsen “X’aa’tsei” Gaanaxteidee, Ishkahit, Ts’tweldee yadis joined our Lord and our ancestors on March 6, 2022. She passed away at age 84 surrounded by her family and loved ones at SEARHC Mt. Edgecumbe Medical Center in Sitka.
Services will be held Friday, March 11, starting at 11:30 a.m. at the ANB Founders Hall for a procession to St. Michael’s Cathedral. The funeral will be there at noon, followed by burial at the Russian cemetery.
At 3 p.m. family and friends will gather back at the hall for a 3:30 p.m. memorial service followed by a potluck. Food for the potluck may be dropped off at the hall after 10 a.m.
The family said masks are required for the service and asked that the rule be respected.
Grace Katasse Larsen was born Feb. 17, 1938, in Klawock, the oldest child of Elizabeth and Henry Katasse Sr.
Grace came to Sitka at a young age and has lived and been an important member of the community her entire life. She was raised in both Petersburg and Sitka, and attended Mt. Edgecumbe School and Sheldon Jackson School.
Grace K. Larsen lived an amazing life and touched communities and lives all across Alaska. Grandma Grace was and will always be remembered for her famous fried bread not just across Southeast Alaska but the entire state.
She was known as Sitka’s biggest University of Oregon Ducks fan as well as an avid professional wrestling enthusiast.
At a young age Grace worked in the medical field as well as helped create the first steps for the Raven’s Way program in Southeast Alaska. Grace also had numerous jobs around the community such as working at the Log Cache Store in downtown Sitka and at Mt. Edgecumbe High School as a dorm aide. The students and school looked up to Grace as their dorm Mom.
Grace was an honorary member of the Sitka Fire Department. On top of all of her career accomplishments, Grace was an active member, and president, of Alaska Native Sisterhood. She also was nominated as Sitka Woman of the Year in 2008.
Sitka, and much of Alaska, as well as the Larsen family will miss Grace dearly. Throughout her years and many roles across the community, as well as her work within the Alaska Native Sisterhood, the name Grace K. Larsen will be remembered as an amazing and inspiring woman. It can also be said that her fried bread and the smile that was given with each plate will remain a happy memory for all to enjoy.
Grace is survived by her children Carl Larsen Jr., Clarence “Buzz” Dick, Becky Larsen, Henry Larsen, Carlene Larsen, and Andy “Baby” Larsen, as well as numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren and others Grace called family, including siblings Irving Etta, Mary Garfield, John, Jimmy, Chuck, Jeff, Evanne Katasse-Roberts, Wilson and the twins.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Elizabeth and Henry Katasse Sr.; husband Carl A. Larsen Sr.; son William “Shorty” Larsen; daughter Carlene-Rose Larsen; grandson Terry Carlson Jr.; brother Henry Katasse Jr.; niece Dolly Mcvay; and great-nieces Melissa and Tami Mcvay.
Pallbearers will be Carl Larsen Jr, Adam Larsen, Olaf Larsen, Charlie Larsen, Eric Larsen, Chris Larsen, Andy (Baby) Larsen and Jackson Stein.
Honorary pallbearers are Becky Larsen, Carlene Larsen, Betty Brown, Henry Larsen, Anjanette Larsen, Kylee Larsen, Clarence “Buzz” Dick, Norman Kohler, Elisa Larsen, Anisha Strom, Elizabeth Didrickson, Nicole Sears, Jacqueline White, Wolfstar Duran, Norene Otnes, Brian Weddel, John Stein, Kathryn Mathews, Jade Nodes, Karimae Carlson, Sarah Carlson, Chad Titell, Grace’s beloved Mt. Edgecumbe former High School students and fellow dorm aides, Sitka Fire Department Chief Craig Warren and staff, Sitka Police Department Chief Robert Baty and staff, her beloved grandchildren and great-grandchildren and Alaska Native Brotherhood Camp 1 and Alaska Native Sisterhood Camp 4.
“The Larsen family would like to thank the staff of SEARHC Mt. Edgecumbe Medical Center as well as the numerous family and community members from across Alaska and other locations for coming together to help and support the Larsen family and to remember such an amazing mother and grandmother to us all,” the family wrote. “Thank you all very much for the love and support.”
