TAMARA LYNN

BANBURY

Tamara Lynn Banbury, 45, died on July 20 at her home in Point Mackenzie in Wasilla, after a long fight with cancer. A viewing, followed by the funeral service, will be held at 11 a.m. on July 28 at Valley Funeral Home, 151 E. Herning Avenue in Wasilla. Interment will be at Wasilla Aurora Cemetery. Pallbearers will be her husband, Patrick Banbury, sons, Nathan Banbury, Derek Banbury, and Mackenzie Banbury, and brother-in-laws, James Banbury and Jeffery Banbury.

She was born on Oct. 3, 1962 in Aurora, Illinois to Mary and Don Rybacki, of Oswego, Illinois. She graduated from Oswego High School, and then went on to enroll and attend a CNA Program, Medical Transcription, and Wilton Cake Decorating Class. In 1980 she moved to Alaska, living in Point Mackenzie. She was employed by Safeway/Carrs for 14 years in the bakery. She was a member of the Assembly of God in Wasilla. Her hobbies included baking cakes for her son's hockey teams and people that could not afford to buy cakes from Carrs because they had no money. Tamara loved to cook and bake for her family.

She moved at Alaska in 1980, after meeting her future husband Patrick Banbury. Her greatest accomplishment was raising her three boys. She enjoyed spending time at home, cooking and baking, entertaining and spending time with the family.

She loved animals, especially her cats. She was especially fond of holidays, all of them. She spent weeks preparing for the holidays, cooking, baking and decorating.

She is survived by her husband, Patrick (Charlie) Banbury of Wasilla; sons Nathan, Derek, and Mackenzie Banbury of Wasilla; best friend, Maureen (Gary) Crist of Wasilla; mom, Carol Rybacki of Illinois; mom, Mary (Jim) Amero of Tennessee; sister, Cyndi Rybacki of Illinois; sister, Cheryl (Chuck) Miller of Illinois; Cheri (Leo) Dubina of Illinois; sister, Renee (Steve) Spaniol of Wisconsin; brother-in-law; Jamie (Pam) Banbury of Illinois; brother-in-law; Jeffery (Shirley) Banbury of Alaska; sister-in-law; Sue (Alan) Pierson of Illinois; and nieces and nephews from all over.

She was preceded in death by both sets of grandparents and her father.

BERTHAMAE GAFFNEY

Berthamae Gaffney, 88, died peacefully on July 18 after a 10-month battle with cancer. She was surrounded by her daughter, Shelley Heiserman, and two grandchildren, Lindsey and Chris, at their home in Wasilla, Alaska.

Rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 24, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 1201 Bogard Road in Wasilla. A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be at 7 p.m. Wednesday, also at Sacred Heart Catholic Church.

Berthamae was born on Jan. 16, 1919 to David and Verda Pomarleau in Medicine Lake, Montana. She was adopted at the age of three by her Uncle Alfred and Aunt Alida Pomarleau in Fargo, North Dakota. They moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota, where they lived for three years before returning to Medicine Lake when Berthamae was six years old. She attended school there and graduated from Medicine Lake High School.

Berthamae married Monte Gaffney July 6, 1937, in Medicine Lake. Monte worked for Inland Construction Company, requiring the couple to spend their first years of marriage in North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Nebraska, and Montana. In 1942, Monte was called to work as a master welder at the Bremerton Naval Shipyard in Washington, where they lived for six years. In 1948, they returned to Medicine Lake to raise their family. Berthamae remained there until 2003 before moving to Alaska to live with Shelley.

Berthamae was extremely involved in her community and St. Patrick's Catholic Church. Her leadership positions included: 4-H leader, PTA Secretary, President and Secretary of Music Mothers, FHA Chapter Mother, substitute teacher, captain of her bowling team and league secretary, all offices of Altar Society, first Liturgy Chairman and Eucharistic Minister, and Parish secretary. Berthamae worked on the Election Board for 20 years and at Jack and Jill Grocery Store from 1974 to 1986. She was an avid bridge playe, worked crossword puzzles and loved playing card games and reading.

Berthamae is survived by her four daughters: Noreen Gaffney and her daughter Nicole Chevalier; Sharon Gaffney and her daughter Stacie Stensrud; Terri Nikolaisen and her husband Lowell and their children Stephanie Vogel and Kris; Shelley Heiserman and her two children, Lindsey and Chris; and her son, Tom Gaffney and his wife Debbie, and his children Katie and Colton; two great-grandchildren, Kenna and Drew Stensrud; sister-in-law, Eileen Gaffney; and half sister, Marge Dow.

Memorial contributions may be made to Mat-Su Regional Homecare & Hospice, 3052 E. Palmer-Wasilla Highway, Wasilla 99654, or Alzheimer's Resource of Alaska, P.O. Box 4406, Palmer 99645.

Arrangements are with Alaskan Heritage Memorial Chapel.

Joe Stanley Chmiel

Lifelong Alaskan Joe Stanley Chmiel, 64, passed away July 24 at home with his wife Patti and family at his side.

Mr. Chmiel was born Sept. 12, 1942 in Kanakanak, Alaska to Stanley and Gladys Chmiel. He moved to Anchorage and attended local schools.

He served in the U.S. Navy from October 1959 to September 1961.

Hunting/guiding, trapping and commercial fishing in Bristol Bay kept Joe Busy in the early years. His favorite boat was the Artic Eagle. He retired from the Anchorage School District in 2002 after 20 years of service.

He was married to Rosa Escontrias in June of 1970 and until her passing in January 2003.

Mr. Chmiel left Alaska for a brief time and lived in Susanville, Calif., with his son Fred. He returned to Alaska in the fall of 2003.

On Dec. 20, 2003 he married Pattie Russell and they lived in the Palmer area until his death.

Mr. Chmiel enjoyed fly-tying, carving wood, playing cards, bingo, playing cribbage with his son, Fred, and going to the grandkids and family activities. Their dog, Angel, was very special to him.

He survived by his wife, Patti, children Fred Chmiel and fiancée’ Julie Kratt of Philadelphia, Pa., Annette and Richard Willis of Eagle River, Michelle and William Booth of Palmer, and Chad and Julie Russell of Anchorage; sisters and brothers-in-law Alice and Bud Dial of Wasilla, Ruth and Guy McPherren of Anchorage, and Carol And Charles Abalama of Egegik; brothers William Dixson of Anchorage, Richard Dixson of Chugiak and Morgan Chmiel of Anchorage; eight grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

Joe was preceded in death by his mother, Gladys Dixson, his father Stanley Chmiel, his step-father Maurice Dixson and two brothers, Donald and Kenney Chmiel.

Services will be held at 2 p.m. on July 26 at Lazy Mountain Bible Church, 16005 E. Shawn Drive in Palmer. A burial will immediately follow at Palmer Pioneer Cemetery.

Funeral arrangements were made by Kehl's Palmer Mortuary.

Memorial contributions to be directed to Hospice of Mat-Su. 950 E. Bogard Road, Suite 111, Wasilla, 99654.