ROSA CHMIEL

Palmer resident Rosa Chmiel, 62, died Jan. 14, 2003, at Valley Assisted Living Center of breast cancer. A funeral will be held Tuesday, Jan. 21 at 1 p.m. at Lazy Mountain Bible Church. Rick Dixon, Guy McPherren, Jeff Uhlik, John Mears, Monte Hotchkiss, Dave Pippel and Joe DesGranges will serve as pallbearers. Pastor Russ Arnold will officiate.

Mrs. Chmiel was born April 25, 1940, in El Paso, Texas. She attended Bowie High school in El Paso and Mat-Su Community College. She moved to Anchorage in July of 1968, then moved to Egegik where she lived from 1970 to 1971, then back in Anchorage from 1971 to 1977. She moved to Palmer in 1977 where she resided until her death.

Mrs. Chmiel worked in the restaurant business in the Lower 48. In Alaska she worked for Alaska Packers Assoc. Cannery, Baxter and Chugiak elementary schools from 1974 to 1978, Palmer High School from 1978 to 1992 and the Alaska State Fair from 1992 to 2002, where she was Employee of the Year. She retired from the Mat-Su School District in 1992.

She was very involved in local school activities, community activity and enjoyed making crafts. She was a member of Palmer High Booster Club.

Her family wrote, " Rosie was a loving wife and mother. She was a sweet, caring good-hearted person with a terrific sense of humor. Rosie was very talented and ambitious and had many friends who always looked forward to seeing her."

She is survived by her husband Joe Chmiel; sons Fred Chmiel of Susanville, Calif, Ernesto Escontrias of Bismarck, N.D.; daughter Mary Willis of Eagle River; brothers Manuel Chavira of El Paso, Texas, Ramon Chavira of Portland, Ore. and Kiko Chavira of El Paso, Texas; sisters Elvira Stickler of Sparks, Nev., Bertha Chavira of Los Angeles, Calif., Magdalena Munoz and Alice Chavira of El Paso, Texas; mother Antonia Chavira of El Paso, Texas; eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Mrs. Chmiel was preceded in death by her father Ramon Chavira.

Mrs. Chmiel will be buried at the Palmer Pioneer Cemetery. Arrangements were made by Kehl's Palmer Mortuary.