Kariena Suzzette Nelson

Kariena Suzzette Nelson, 39, of Wasilla died March 7, 2011, at Alaska Regional Hospital in Anchorage.

A celebration of Kariena’s life is at 1 p.m., March 19, at Owen’s Beach in Tacoma, Wash.

Kariena was born May 31, 1971, in Tacoma to Morris and Joann Harmon. She grew up in Washington. She married Denny Nelson on Aug. 8, 1997, in Tacoma. She attended the University of Alaska Anchorage’s Mat-Su Campus to get her teaching degree.

She loved painting and long rides on the Harley with her husband. She enjoyed the company of great friends and a good glass of wine. Her favorite vacations always included a nice sandy beach and beautiful sunsets.

Her family wrote: “She was truly an angel on earth and had the biggest heart of anybody we have ever met. She welcomed everyone with open arms. She was selfless in every meaning of the word.”

Kariena is survived by her spouse, Denny Nelson of Wasilla; children, Craig, Daniel and Cheyenne, all of Wasilla; parents, Morris and Cindy Harmon of Washington and Joann and David Minor of Washington; seven sisters, three brothers and countless nieces, nephews and cousins.

Arrangements by the Cremation Society of Alaska.