Virginia Mae LaRose Maleski passed onto eternal life, while surrounded by family members and loved ones, in Wrangell on June 9, 2008 after a courageous battle with cancer. She was born Oct. 11, 1929 in Phillips, Wis., to Henry and Clystia-Etta (Hill) LaRose.

Excitement of available land for homesteading in Alaska brought the LaRose family to the Matanuska Valley in 1935, making them one of the original Colonists in the Palmer area.

Much of her youth was spent farming on the family homestead on Farm Loop Road off Fishhook Road, about five miles out of Palmer.  It was during her time working on the homestead that she met and married a young soldier, Marion Stockman. Together they had three sons, Robert (Bob), Terry and Billy. They later separated. In 1952, while working as a cook on the Alaska Railroad, she met, fell in love with and married Chester Rhodes Maleski. The family grew larger as they added three sons and a daughter, Chet Jr., Daniel, Mark and Suzette.

In 1957 they made their move to Wrangell, where Chet Sr. took a job at the lumber mill. In Wrangell, they added the last two children to their family, son Michael and daughter Diana (Kay).

“Even though a large family meant lots of extra work, she always found time to play with her children and later, her grandchildren. This was her greatest joy,” her family wrote.

She took pride in her baking and cooking, as enjoyed all sorts of dishes, including Polish cusine. Her home was always well-stocked with homemade baked goods. She also enjoyed cake decorating, crocheting, sewing, painting, playing Scrabble, and loved reading a good book, her family wrote.

“Her joy was contagious to all, and our lives have been so blessed and enriched by her goodness,” they wrote. “We thank God for sending His angel from Heaven. She will be greatly missed by all.”

Maleski was preceded in death by her husband, Chet Maleski Sr.; brother Don LaRose; and sons Terry Stockman and Michael Maleski.

She is survived by brothers Floyd (Marge) LaRose of Anchorage and Gary (Rosemary) LaRose of Palmer; sister-in-law Florence LaRose of Palmer; sons Bob Stockman of Palmer, Bill Stockman of Wasilla, and Chet Maleski Jr. of Kennewick, Wash.; daughters Suzette Habig and Diana (Kay) Gadd of Wrangell; 22 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and numerous nephews and nieces.

Services were held in Wrangell.