Andrea Frances Hala

Oct 22, 1945 -

Apr 20, 2025

With heavy hearts we announce Andrea Frances (Lopez) Hala, 79, passed away peacefully on Sunday, Apr. 20, 2025, at home with family by her side after a brave fight with cancer. Andrea was an incredibly kind, patient, and smart woman who left a positive impression on all those fortunate enough to meet her.

Andrea was born on Oct. 22, 1945, in New York, N.Y., to Manuel Lopez and Carmen (Lopez) Lopez. Manuel and Carmen separately immigrated from Galicia, Spain, meeting in New York City. They married and had three beautiful daughters, Andrea being the youngest. Andrea's parents instilled strong values of family ties, education, having a strong moral compass, and provided the best they could, no matter the task.

Andrea was raised in the Bronx Borough of New York City where she was always athletic and enjoyed riding her bike, climbing trees in the parks, and playing street games with the boys. Andrea attended PS 78 and Evander Childs High School. She distinctly remembered escaping the summer heat of the city to modest cottages in Massachusetts to enjoy the beach, and endless hours playing the card game Whist with family members.

Andrea aspired to pursue engineering in college, but turns in life caused her to pause academic pursuits. Andrea and Lou Hala, both from the same neighborhood, married in 1969 as he was entering the Air Force. Andrea was a devoted wife and mother, contributing to Lou excelling in his military and private sector careers. Andrea worked various jobs while Lou's military service sent them all over the world. She especially enjoyed living in Florida. She returned to the workforce once her two sons were in school, and later, proudly resumed college earning her bachelor's in computer science from the University of Alaska Anchorage.

After Lou's retirement from the Air Force, Andrea and Lou both worked together at Alaskan Native corporations. Andrea excelled in many duties at the NIMA Corporation. Andrea and Lou's hard work made an immense impression on the people of Mekoryuk on Nunivak Island.

Once Andrea retired, she had the opportunity to revisit her creativity with the arts. She relearned to play the piano, made pen and watercolor paintings, and even learned to make quilts for grandchildren and memorialize her late husband's military career. She watched her young grandchildren and their friends during school breaks, taking them sledding, biking, and for ice cream.

Surviving Andrea are her sons Kurt Hala (Angela Mikeska) and Scott Hala (Rhonda); grandchildren Kolton (Lauren), Kennedy, Kelsey, Eli, Addison, and Elena; great-grandson Liam; sisters Christine Nelson (Donald) and Elissa Raths (Robert Sr.); sister-in-law she saw as a sibling, Virginia "Ginny" Hala; step-grandson Tyler Flowers (Bell Prungkiat); nephews Robert Raths Jr. and David Nelson; and nieces Christine Goldfuss (James), Karen Nelson, and Jackie Aguirre (Ricardo). Andrea was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 51 years, Louis C. Hala, Jr.

A visitation to celebrate her life and share memories will be on Apr. 28, 2025, from 11am to 1pm, followed by a memorial service at 1p.m., at Janssen's Eagle River Funeral Home located at 16421 Brooks Loop, Eagle River, AK 99577. She will be interred with her beloved husband at the Fort Richardson National Cemetery this summer.

In lieu of flowers, please consider contributing to the Scotty Raymond Memorial Scholarship Fund in honor of her goddaughter's late stepson, https://cfmcpa.org/scotty-raymond-memorial-scholarship-sos-donations/.