Colleen Ann Benediktsson

Wasilla resident Colleen Ann Benediktsson, 66, died April 5, 2011, at her home.

Colleen was born Aug. 20, 1941, in Sacramento, Calif., to Charles and Theresa (Burke) Curtis.

A celebration of life for Colleen is at 4 p.m., April 15, at Valley Funeral Home Chapel, 151 E. Herning Ave., Wasilla.

She worked as a schoolteacher at Ocean View and Mountain View elementary schools and finished working at Northern Lights ABC. She retired in 1999 and volunteered for the Friends of the Wasilla Library. She received the BP Teacher of Excellence award for her dedication to the students she taught.

Her family said she enjoyed being a member of the Red Hat Society and gallivanting around town wearing a red hat or a purple feather, enjoying the company of her fellow “Red-Hatters.” She was an active member of the Navy League for Veterans, where she assisted with its scholarship program. She also enjoyed playing bridge and hand and foot with her friends. Her family said she was an extraordinary player. She also enjoyed being a member of the Sweet Adelines singing group.

She will be remembered fondly by her family as a loving mother and grandmother who will be missed by her family and friends she made along her life’s journey.

Preceding her in death was her husband, Ben.

Surviving are her daughters, Connie and son-in-law David Tracy of Wasilla and Brandi Benediktsson of Tempe, Ariz.; and grandsons, Ryan Tracy of Wasilla, and Brayton Johnson of Anchorage.

The family suggests memorials be made to Mat-Su Relay, American Cancer Society, 3851 Piper St., Anchorage, AK 99508.

The family was cared for by Valley Funeral Home and Crematory in Wasilla.