Anna Mary Carmen

Anna M. Martin-Carmen, a product of Alaska's territorial schools, passed away peacefully in her home on 9/23/23. She faced life's challenges and opportunities with unparalleled strength, always finding solace in her unwavering faith as a devout Catholic.

Born in 1933 to her beloved parents, Madalena and Fred Martin, Anna's early years were marked by one-room schoolhouses in the Alaskan coal mining communities of Santrana and Eska. Her educational journey continued, culminating in her graduation from Anchorage High School in 1951.

Anna's thirst for adventure led her to Seattle University and, in the mid-1950s, across the Atlantic to Europe. It was there that she realized lifelong dreams, visiting distant relatives in Italy. Her travels were not just journeys but chapters in a life lived to the fullest, including memorable voyages on the Andrea Doria and the Christopher Columbus. She purchased her first automobile in the Fall of 1958, a red Renault that motored her through France, Italy, and Switzerland. As life progressed, her journeys expanded around the world to the Caribbean, Mexico, Canada, Cayman Islands, Australia, and many of the other United States.

In 1960, Anna married her high school classmate, Roger Carmen, at Saint Michael's Catholic Church in Palmer, Alaska. Their love story unfolded against the backdrop of the breathtaking Lake Wasilla, a place that held a special spot in Anna's heart. Together, Anna and Roger built a life filled with love, laughter, (some arguing), and four wonderful children. Her love for creativity was woven into the family through her paintings, ceramics, crafts, calligraphy, needle point and even divine baking masterpieces-some of which were featured on Larry Beck, Theda Comstock and Norma Goodman shows. Many adventures spanned both Alaska and Nevada, creating a tapestry of memories woven with family, faith, and adventure.

She instilled in her children the values of hard work and perseverance, ensuring they understood the importance of serving and giving to others by initiating a community school Friday night movie program for Willowcrest elementary. She modeled the significance of celebrating the holidays. On more than one Easter, she painstakingly painted eggs, filling them with love and care... and cash. Every Christmas, she created a wonderland beneath the twinkling blue lights of the family selected trees.

Anna is now reunited with her beloved husband, Roger Carmen, and their son, Todd Michael Carmen. She leaves behind a legacy of love, strength, and devotion, survived by her children Mark, Lynn, and Brad. Her cherished grandchildren—Aubrey, McKenzie, Kyler, Tanner, Michael, Mckenna, Delaney, Alexandria, and Kennedy—will forever hold her in their hearts.

Though Anna won't be there in person, her spirit will live on in the lives of her great-grandchildren, Alexander, Benjamin, MJ, Henry, and Charlotte.

Anna Carmen's final journey takes her back to the place she held in her daily dreams—the great frontier of Alaska. There, she'll rest beside her husband, son, brother, and parents, surrounded by the beauty she cherished throughout her remarkable life.

The family will hold a personal tribute to her legacy back home- a life to be celebrated with love.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.palmcheyenne.com for the Carmen family.