Mara Lukin

(July 4, 2011)  Mara Lukin was born May 12, 1950, in Ouzinkie, 150 feet from the dock, to Annie and Pete Squartsoff. She passed away unexpectedly July 4, 2011, at the age of 61.

Mara was the youngest of nine kids. She grew up in the mission in Kodiak after her father passed away and later moved to Ouzinkie where she met her love, Benny Lukin.

After they married, they lived in Port Lions and raised their two sons, Kenny and Kevin. Mara was a loving homemaker, a meticulous housekeeper and an excellent cook and baker.

She gave her family, friends and basically anyone she met strength and courage to carry on with life for many years as she lived with her painful illnesses. Don’t let her petite frame fool you — she was her family’s strength and had that bossiness about her. Her outlook on life was contagious; she was always good for a laugh or a joke. She gave us many good times and laughs. Although our loss is great, our memories are greater. She was a one-of-a-kind woman, and our time with her was too short, but we were blessed to have known her.

Her health issues moved her out of Port Lions and into Kodiak. She lived here in Kodiak for a couple years until she had to move to Anchorage. She loved her bingo.

Over the years, she and Benny traveled to Vegas for some serious bingo games, often waiting for the big win. We laughed, thinking about how she clutched her purse under her arm like it was loaded with that one big win.

Her grandchildren were her joy. Hunny a bun was her heart. She had pet names for her many nieces, nephews and cousins. Everybody loved Aunty Mara.

She leaves behind her husband of 43 years, Benny Lukin of Anchorage, her sons Kenny and Kevin Lukin of Anchorage, her grandchildren Kendra Lukin, Damian and Wayne McCormick of Kodiak, her siblings and their significant others John Squartsoff and Martha Delgado of Ouzinkie, and Liz (Harold) Kewan of Port Lions. She also leaves behind many nieces, nephews and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents Annie and Pete Squartsoff, and her siblings Alice Anderson, Billy, Nick, Freddy and Andrew Squartsoff.

Funeral services were held July 7, 2011, in Anchorage at Legacy Kehls Funeral Home.