Barbara Warden

Barbara Ann Warden, 50, died Aug. 8, 2007, at her home in Wasilla.

A memorial mass will be held 7-8 p.m. Aug. 27 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, located at 1201 Bogard Road in Wasilla. Visitation will begin at 6 p.m., and reception will follow.

Warden was born Jan. 15, 1957, in Blytheville, Ark. She came to Alaska in 1964 and graduated from Bartlett High in 1975. She lived in Anchorage, the Butte and finally Wasilla.

Warden worked at Carrs and the Wasilla Bus Barn, and was a member of Sacred Heart and St. Michael’s Catholic churches. She enjoyed sewing for her grandchildren, arts and crafts, gardening and scrapbooking. Warden was one of the kindest, gentlest people one could ever hope to meet. She loved her children and grandchildren with all her heart and soul. She enjoyed working with the special needs children she tended to on her bus. It filled her heart with joy and happiness to make a difference.

Warden is survived by daughter Stephanie (Steven) Humphreys of Wasilla; son Terry Warden and fiancée Amber Park of Sutton; mother Aline Rusnak of Wasilla; brother Jimmy Rusnak of Wasilla; sister Theresa R. (Rodney) Rainey of Eagle River; grandchildren Trinity, Jasmyne, Autumn, Brooke and Floyd Humphreys of Wasilla; niece Elizabeth Weyant of Anchorage; and nephews Chad Rushak of Oregon and Caelan Rainey of Eagle River. She was preceded in death by her father, Martin J. Rusnak; brother Stephen; and sister Susan Weyant.

Memorial contributions may be made in her name to Sacred Heart Catholic Church or Providence Children’s Hospital. Her ashes will be placed at Valley Memorial Park in the Butte.

Valley Funeral Home and Crematory is assisting the Family.