Edith Gillen

Edith Marie Gillen, 83, died Nov. 28, 2010, at Mat-Su Regional Medical Center in Palmer.

A funeral service is at 11 a.m., Dec. 9 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Wasilla with Father Stan Allie officiating.

A memorial service also is scheduled for Dec. 20 at 11 a.m. in Anchorage at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church with Father Scott Medlock officiating.

Edith was born March 9, 1927, in Kearney, Neb. She graduated high school in St. Edward, Neb. She moved to Alaska in 1971 and resided in Anchorage until 1988, and then moved out to Wasilla.

She was a member at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Anchorage and Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Wasilla. She was active with the Legion of Mary and did a lot of volunteer work. She also enjoyed needlepoint, stamp and coin collecting, and camping.

“Edith was a very loyal and loving wife, and as a stay-at-home mom she was always there to provide love and support to all eight children,” her family said. “Her faith in God and heaven was so deep she had no fear leaving this world and crossing into the afterlife. She was the strongest woman we have ever known, even in death, and we feel even more privileged to be her children.”

Edith is survived by her daughters, Micheleen Goodrich, Catherine Shaw, Sherrie Smith and Penny Gillen; sons, Michael Gillen and Philip Gillen; son and daughter-in-law Christopher and Sue Gillen; numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 58 years, James J. Gillen; and her daughter, Shawn Gillen.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to St Jude’s Children’s Hospital, P.O. Box 50, Memphis, TN 38101-0050.