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Helen C. Tritt
Fairbanks, Alaska
Our beloved Mother, Grandmother, Sister, Aunt, Cousin & Friend, Helen C. Tritt, after a short illness, slipped away peacefully to be with the Lord on Friday, December 14th, 2001, surrounded by her daughters at Providence Hospital in Anchorage.
She was 81 years young!
Helen was born on June 19th, 1920 to Fred & Laura Paul of Marten Creek, Alaska.
She lost her mother at a very young age; her Aunt Emma Fredson raised her.
She was a lifelong Alaskan; residing in Christian Village, Venetie, Arctic Village, Fort Yukon, and her last few years in Fairbanks due to her failing health.
Helen raised a large family in subsistence lifestyle; supplanting this by selling beadwork, baked goods, and other various jobs.
She taught strong work ethics to her family.
Helen was a devout member of the Episcopal Church; she was also a master beader; her beaded items were colorful and beautiful.
Helen loved to bake goodies for her family; she was a midwife and a hospice volunteer for many years.
Helen was kind to everyone. She did not hesitate to help when needed.
Her home was open to all; her coffee pot was always on.
No one ever left her home hungry or needy.
Helen will be remembered for her loving, generous heart.
She was a mom and “Gramma” to numerous people throughout the Interior.
She had a warm and humorous relationship with her sisters & brothers-in-law; she loved to play jokes on them.
She loved her children with all of her heart, but the love of her life were her grandchildren & great-grandchildren; she took much pleasure and pride in them.
She prayed constantly for her loved ones to her final moments.
Helen’s legacy is one of love and a giving-heart.
She will be greatly missed.
Her favorite saying to all was, “I love you baby.”
Helen was preceded in death by her husbands, Peter Christian & George Tritt, Sr., four daughters, two sisters, two brothers, and a son-in-law.
Helen is survived by her daughters, Mary (Bill) Schneider, Lois Law, Beverly (Samson) Peter, Elizabeth Metcalf, Nena (Tom) Wilson, Bertie (Rick) Tritt, Dionne (Aaron) Tritt; her sons, Chris J. Christian, George Tritt, Jr. & Albert E. Tritt; her sisters, Betty (Brian) Grassman, Mary (David) Nathaniel & families.
Helen is also survived by numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren
Funeral Services were held at 1:00 pm on Tuesday, December 18th, 2001, at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church.
A visitation was held at the church from 12-1 prior to the funeral.
Rev. Scott Fisher, Rev. Mary Nathaniel, Rev. Trimble Gilbert and Rev. Margo Simple officiated.
Additional services were held at 2:00 pm, on Thursday, December 20th, 2001, at the Bishop Rouse Episcopal Church in Arctic Village.
Interment was in the Arctic Village Cemetery.
Arrangements cared for by Fairbanks Funeral Home.
Alta Irene Cornelius
North Pole, Alaska
Alta Irene Cornelius passed away December 14th, 2001, at the age of 69.
She lived in the North Pole area for the past 25 years.
Alta was born on December 6th, 1932, in Webb City, Missouri.
Alta enjoyed roaming Alaska with her beloved husband and best friend, Dean.
Some of her favorite times included visits to Homer, Valdez, Chicken, Eagle and the Haul Road.
Her hobbies included cooking, collecting music boxes, enjoying life and spending time with her many friends.
In Alta's home it was always said, "He who enters here, is a stranger but once."
Alta is survived by her husband of 39 years, Dean Cornelius and her six children.
Daughters Penny Swalling, Mona Kuper, and Deena Kaelin; her sons Chuck Spencer, Paul Cornelius and Michael Cornelius.
Alta is also survived by her two sisters, Betty Broughton and Pearl Kemp, and 14 grandchildren.
A Memorial Service was held on Thursday, December 20th, 2001, at the Badger Den on 3.5 Mile Old Badger Road.
A potluck followed the service.
The family requests that, anyone wishing to offer their condolences, do so by making a donation to the American Lung Association in Alta's name.
Arrangements cared for by Fairbanks Funeral Home & Crematory.
Thomas Peluso
Salcha, Alaska
Longtime Alaskan and Salcha resident, Mr. Thomas Peluso, passed away Monday, December 24th, 2001.
He was 52.
Born on November 5th, 1949, in Brooklyn, New York, Tom came to Alaska while serving with the Air Force and decided to make it his home.
Tom was an avid fisherman and hunter and was known for his off-beat sense of humor.
He enjoyed the long Alaskan summer days which allowed him to fulfill his love of gardening.
He was employed by the US Government on Eielson Air Force base and was a member of the AFGE 11th District.
Tom was loved, and will be missed by all.
He is survived by his wife Ruth and daughter Megan Peluso of Salcha; his stepson Shawn Kelly and his wife and daughter, Leah and Brianne Kelly; and his stepson Phillip Kelly all of Fairbanks.
Tom is also survived by his parents Henry & Madeline Peluso; his sister, Donna Tanenbaum and her children Ethan & Nicole Tanenbaum of New York; his sisters Pat Peluso and Stephanie Peluso-Abbott and her husband Chris Abbott of Colorado.
A funeral service was held at Chena River Convention Center (109 Clay Street) at 4:00PM, Wednesday, January 2nd, 2002.
A Visitation was held from 2-4:00PM at the center prior to the funeral.
Pastor Mark Christianson of Salcha Baptist Church officiated.
Interment will be in the spring at Birch Hill Cemetery.
Arrangements cared for by Fairbanks Funeral Home & Crematory.
James Kinney
Fairbanks, Alaska
James Kinney, age 76, died December 22, 2001 due to complications caused by his six-year battle with multiple myeloma, at the Fairbanks Memorial Hospital.
He will be remembered as a husband, father, grandfather, builder, teacher, and craftsman.
James was born on April 27, 1925 in Hanceville Alabama, one of 12 children.
In 1943, while attending Hanceville High School, James was drafted into the U.S. Army and sent to New Guinea and Philippines.
James and seven of his siblings served in WWII, which was one of the highest contributions made by a single family during the war.
Following his honorable discharge with the rank of staff sergeant at war’s end, he returned to Alabama to attend St. Bernard’s Jr. College and study agricultural science.
James came to Alaska in 1948 as a teamster on the military construction projects around Anchorage.
He later sold steel products in Fairbanks and Anchorage.
During this time, he began building and remodeling houses both in Anchorage and in Fairbanks as a sideline, a practice that he continued through retirement.
He and his family moved from Anchorage to Fairbanks in 1960 and soon afterwards, he started Susitina Contractors and was responsible for building facilities around the state of Alaska.
He continued his construction contracting career as a vice-president of Pacific Construction through the 1960’s, then as a partner in Kinco in the early 1970’s.
With Kinco, he expanded his construction business into the Seattle area.
During the pipeline construction-era, he joined the carpenter’s union where he worked until his retirement in 1990.
While with the union, he was the head of the Fairbanks carpenter apprentice program in 1976 and 1977.
James kept active in his retirement years traveling with his wife Bernice and building projects.
James was active in the Immaculate Conception and Sacred Heart Parishes.
His stewardship included service as the scoutmaster of Troop 38 sponsored by Immaculate Conception.
James is survived by his spouse of 47 years, Bernice; sons Randy and Greg of Anchorage and their spouses June and Suzanne; sons Joe and Jeff of Fairbanks: and grandchildren, Chris, Grant and Robert, all of Anchorage.
He is also survived by brothers Daniel, Thomas John, Archie, Michael, Patrick and Anthony in Alabama; sisters Anne Peterson and Catherine Morgan in Alabama; brother Gabriel and sister Mary Monroe, both in Florida.
He was preceded in death by his mother Agnes, father Daniel, and sister Margaret.
Memorial services were held 3:00 pm, Friday, December 28, 2001 at the Sacred Heart Cathedral, 2501 Airport Way. Rev. Bill Cardy, O.F.M. officiated.
A reception was held at the church immediately following the services.
Interment will be in the Northern Lights Memorial Park in the spring of 2002.
In lieu of flowers, the family asked that donations be made to Hospice of the Tanana Valley, P.O. Box 82770, Fairbanks, AK 99708-2770
Arrangements cared for by the Fairbanks Funeral Home.
