MAGDALENA ELIZABETH SCHREIBER

Wasilla resident, Ms. Magdalena "Madge" Elizabeth Schreiber died of natural causes Sept. 14, 2003, at Ruthie's Place Assisted Living in Wasilla.

No service will be held.

Ms. Schreiber was born Oct. 8, 1904, in Yugoslavia.

She walked five miles each way to a one-room school and graduated high school with honors.

She taught English to Greek immigrants in the 1920s.

Ms. Schreiber became a resident of Alaska in 1998.

She owned a general store in Browns Mills, N.J., in the 1940s.

She was a telephone operator at Fort Dix, N.J. She retired as a telephone operator in 1967.

Ms. Schreiber enjoyed crocheting afghans for friends and relatives. She enjoyed reading and playing tri-ominos.

Her family said, "Madge touched everyone she met in a very special way. She was the kind of person you wish everyone would be. A smile and a good word was her lifestyle. She was always willing to give the shirt off her back. If friends make you rich, Madge Schreiber died a wealthy woman. There were no cloudy days when she was with you and laughter was easily found. Through us she will always be remembered."

Ms. Schreiber is survived by her daughter Ida M. Malay of Clearwater, Fla.; grandsons and wives Kenneth L. and Arieal Malay, and Kerry L. and Renee Malay; great-grandchildren Ray, Kris, Ken, Rose, Kasey, Kenai and Kaia-Lynn; and great-great-grandchildren Shilow and Mari, all of Alaska.

Arrangements were made by Valley Funeral Home & Crematory in Wasilla.