Claudia Cope
Oct 18, 1933 -
Mar 16, 2024
Claudia Mae Cope, 90, of Anchorage, Alaska, was called to her eternal home by the Good Shepard on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at Providence Horizon House in Anchorage, in the care of Providence Alaska Hospice after a short battle with brain cancer. She was born on Oct. 18, 1933, in Seattle, Wash., to Gordon and Muriel Witmer (Bertram) at Providence Hospital. She graduated from Lincoln High School in Tacoma, Wash., in 1951. She spent many years working the switchboard at St. Joseph's Hospital in Tacoma. The entire family moved to Fairbanks, Alaska in 1963, where she worked for her brother Bill at Tiny's Pancake House. The family survived the Good Friday earthquake of 1964 and the greatest flood Fairbanks had ever had in August 1967. This flood was enough to send Claudia back to Tacoma! Her boys had her move back to Anchorage permanently in 1982. She worked in telecommunications at Comtec Business Systems, where she met her second husband Charles Cope. They were married on Aug. 24, 1996, and enjoyed church, gardening and traveling together.
Claudia currently is a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church and previously of Alliance Bible Church, where she was very active and made lots of lifetime friends.
She was a resident of Chester Park and loved living there! She especially enjoyed working in the gift shop, taking care of the flowers and decorations on her third floor south wing and of all the wonderful residents she got to know over the years! She wanted everyone there to know how much all of them meant to her.
Anyone who spent time around Claudia immediately knew how special she was. Full of life and ready to lend a hand to anyone who asked, she was humble of soul and loved people and the Lord deeply. She was also a good listener and would dispense solid life advice upon request. She was known to hug and kiss all her doctors, nurses and caregivers at Alaska Regional Hospital, Providence Horizon House and Providence Alaska Hospice, and was so thankful for their angelic care of her.
Claudia is survived by her beloved sons, David Carle and Don Carle of Anchorage, and Michael Carle (Allison) and Bob Carle (Karen) of Wasilla, Alaska; brother, Jim Witmer (Sandra) of Centralia, Wash.; and sister-in-law, Carol Witmer of Tacoma.
She was blessed with 11 grandchildren who called her "Nana": Jennifer Mae Lombardo, Michael David Carle, Henry Brandon Carle, Garon Thomas Carle, Brian William Carle, Robert Matthew Carle, Elgin Thomas Carle, David Gordon Carle, Connor Thomas Carle, Alex James Carle and Ian Thomas Carle.
To date, those 11 grandchildren have given Nana 21 great-grandchildren. Nana loved each one of them with all her heart and soul.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Cope, in 1998; brothers, Bill Witmer (Mary) and Jeri Witmer; sisters, Sherron Bagwell, Marlene Harris and Jean Shade; daughters-in-law, Terri Carle and Melody Ann Carle; and grandson, Brian William Carle.
A closed casket visitation will precede the Funeral Mass at St. Patrick's Catholic Church Chapel in Anchorage, on April 10, 2024, from 1-2 p.m., with Rosary prayed at 1:20 p.m. Funeral Mass to follow at 2 p.m. Funeral Mass will be livestreamed on St. Patrick's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/events/921643659604970?ref=newsfeed.
A Celebration of Life will follow immediately after the Funeral Mass in St. Patrick's Deacon's Hall.
Inurnment will occur in summer 2024, at St. Patrick's Cloister and Columbarium Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Catholic Social Services-Alaska in the memory of Claudia Cope, https://www.cssalaska.org/donate/.
Arrangements made by Cremation Society of Alaska, www.AlaskaCremation.com.
