Sister of Providence retiring after 28 years

The longest-serving Sister of Providence is retiring after 28 years of service at Providence Alaska Medical Center. During her 28 years, she has touched the lives of residents from around Alaska, including the Mat-Su Valley.

Sister Claire Gagnon is retiring from the Providence Spiritual Care Department later this month. Throughout her tenure there, Gagnon has helped thousands of people through some of the toughest moments in life, Providence officials said.

She is remembered by many as a caring soul who helped them during the darkest hours, organizers of a reception said.

Because she touched so many lives, the Sisters of Providence and Providence Health System of Alaska are inviting the public to a community mass and reception on Monday to celebrate her service and retirement.

Anchorage Archbishop Roger Schwietz will preside over the mass, organizers said. A reception will follow. The mass starts at 7 p.m. at St. Patrick Church at 2111 Muldoon Road in Anchorage.

For more information about the mass and reception, interested people can e-mail Sherry Hill, communications and public relations manager at Providence, at slhill@provak.org.