Doris Dinnocenzo

Wasilla resident Doris Dinnocenzo, 82, died of cancer in Anchorage on Jan. 8, 2012.

She was born Doris Martha Pesall to Hedwig and Antone Pesall on Nov. 28, 1929, and raised near Webster, S.D. After graduating from high school in Webster, she obtained nurse training in St. Paul, Minn. She took a job at Mount Edgecumbe near Sitka and worked in the Alaska Native medical hospital there in the early 1950s.

She moved to Kodiak in 1954, and married John Dinnocenzo and raised four children. For the past 17 years, Doris lived near Wasilla.

Over the years, Doris worked at many occupations. Her children remember her saying, "Hard work never hurt anyone." She will be remembered for encouraging her children to be independent. She enjoyed gardening and reading. She was very interested in nutritional health.

Surviving are her sister, Elizabeth Berry of El Paso, Texas; children, Joe and Tom Dinnocenzo of Kodiak, Linda Dinnocenzo of Alsea, Ore., and Elaine Dinnocenzo of Kasilof; former husband, John of Kodiak; and four grandchildren.

A memorial service is at 11 a.m., Feb. 4 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 1201 Bogard Road, Wasilla.

In lieu of flowers, send donations in her name to the Palmer Senior Center.

Cremation Society of Alaska cared for the family.