Hannah Josephine Leary

Hannah Josephine Leary, 71, died Jan. 23, 2012, in Wasilla.

Born in Dublin, Ireland, on Feb. 19, 1940, she moved to London, England, when she was just a girl. In London, Hannah met a young airman from the U.S. Air Force and fell in love. Hannah married Jon Charles Leary on April 2, 1961, on Easter Sunday at Saint Boniface Church in London.

Demonstrating a spirit of adventure and bravery, Hannah soon found herself far from her home, her friends and beloved family. First she and her new husband landed in America's heartland, Illinois. They moved to California, followed by time in Wyoming, and finally they settled in Alaska where the family has made its home since 1983.

While Hannah with her optimistic attitude embraced all her travels, it was in Alaska that she flourished. She earned her associate of art's degree at Matanuska Valley Community College while working as an assistant to a college professor. She became a cycling enthusiast, endeavoring treks from Palmer to Talkeetna or Anchorage with her friends.

Having pursued a variety of vocations through the years, Hannah's favorite was as a resident adviser at Alaska Job Corps. As she did with everyone in her life, Hannah encouraged the young people of Job Corps to give their all and make the best of every situation.

Soon after leaving Job Corps, Hannah was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. The remaining years of her life were focused on her family. She spent countless hours preserving pictures of family and friends in scrapbooks. Hannah was blessed to visit her sister in Australia in 2004. She enjoyed trips to Hawaii to visit family, camping trips in Alaska, gold mining and family gatherings. She also loved to play games and welcomed any chance to challenge friends and family at Farkle.

Hannah was jovial and kind to all. She was a woman of principle and loved God dearly. In all things, she encouraged the people she knew to be at their best and to find the positive in everything. She was generous with her time and always willing to help a friend in need. She loved her husband, Jon, unconditionally, and her children and grandchildren were her life. She will be dearly missed by all.

Surviving are her husband of 51 years, Jon; son, Noel Leary of Lihue, Hawaii and his wife Marlene, and daughter, Kelly Ford, of Anchorage and her husband, Dean; grandchildren, Meghan and Emma Leary of Lihue, Hawaii, and Owen and Taylor Ford of Anchorage.

Preceding her in death was her first child, a stillborn son, Jon C. Leary; son, Jonny Leary; and grandson, Brendan Noel Leary.