Katherine Ann "Kathy" Faryniarz
Jul 22, 1958 -
Jun 2, 2024
Katherine Ann Faryniarz passed away unexpectedly on June 2, 2024, at the age of 65. She was born in Rutland, Vt., on July 22, 1958, to Joseph and Julia Faryniarz. She graduated from Fair Haven High School, the University of Vermont with a degree in nursing and the University of Montana with a master's degree in exercise physiology.
Kathy came to Alaska as a traveling nurse in 1990, and started her long career at Providence Alaska Medical Center. In 1992, she met Mark Selland and in spring 1993, they got engaged while on a trek to Mt. Everest. They married later that year in Stowe, Vt., and moved to Denver, Colo., where Mark was doing his fellowship in cardiology. While in Denver, Kathy worked in clinical research at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. In her spare time she learned to fly and got her private pilot's license.
In 1996, Kathy and Mark moved to Anchorage, Alaska, and Kathy resumed working at Providence Hospital. Initially, she worked in the cardiac rehabilitation unit and for the past several years in day surgery. She loved nursing, her coworkers and the patients she cared for.
Kathy had many passions in her life, the most important being her friends. She thrived on connection with others, nurturing many friendships over decades and thousands of miles, and easily made new friends along the way. Her zest for life was infectious - trying new things and experiencing new places with others brought her joy.
She loved to travel and was a bona fide frequent flier. She fished in New Zealand and Argentina, backpacked in Patagonia, climbed Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, biked in Spain, France and South Africa, skied in Norway and Switzerland and snorkeled in the Galapagos, Hawaii and Australia, to name only a few of her travel adventures. She loved everything about the Southwest - the sunshine, desert flowers and the call of the canyon wren.
But Alaska was her home, where she loved doing whatever was in season. She was a proud finisher of Mt. Marathon and Crow Pass Crossing. She was the catalyst for many Alaska river adventures. She enjoyed hiking with friends among the lupine and fireweed, going to the Saturday market, cycling and skiing on the local trails, and going fishing wherever there were fish. Kathy taught Mark to cast a fly rod and row a drift boat. Together, they had many good times on the Kenai River and at their cabin in Cooper Landing.
Kathy was also passionate about animals and loved her dogs. She was active in the Anchorage Skijor Club. She tried distance mushing but was most happy running a small, fast team of sprint dogs. She competed in races and generously volunteered her time with the Alaska Sled Dog Racing Association and Chugiak Dog Mushers Association.
Kathy's lifetime of athleticism, teamwork and willingness try anything prepared her well for her last joyful adventure - pickleball.
Kathy was appreciated by her family and friends for her adventuresome spirit and can-do attitude, and will be fondly remembered by all who knew her.
Kathy is survived by her husband, Mark Selland, M.D.; brother, Joseph Faryniarz (Susan); nephews, Joe and Lee Faryniarz; and many aunts, uncles and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Julia Faryniarz.
People can remember Kathy with a donation in her honor to the Alaska Botanical Garden, the Arctic Orienteering Club, the Alaska Sled Dog Racing Association or your local animal shelter. A celebration of her life is being planned for later in 2024.
