Jilda Rosa Monsen

Jun 9, 1930 -

Jul 16, 2026

Jilda "Jerry" Rosa Monsen (Romano), 96, died on July 16, 2026, in her sleep at the Pioneer Home in Anchorage, Alaska. She was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., on June 9, 1930, to Giovanni and Mary Romano (Calise). Jerry grew up in Brooklyn with her two older half-siblings and two younger sisters. She was the valedictorian of her graduating class at Jamaica High School in 1949, and then graduated from the Norwegian Hospital School of Nursing in 1952. Along with a friend from nursing school, Jerry applied to the Public Health Service and was assigned to the PHS Hospital in Kanakanak, Alaska. In early 1953, she and her friend took a train across the country to Seattle and flew to Alaska. During her time in Kanakanak, she met a dashing bush pilot from Naknek. Her second year with the PHS was at the Seward facility, where that pilot flew in to propose. They married in 1955, and lived together in Naknek, Fairbanks and, since 1964, Anchorage, Alaska.

Jerry stayed home with her children when they were young, and as they got older she continued her nursing career, working around her children's schedules. She worked at St. Joseph Hospital in Fairbanks as well as Providence Hospital and Alaska Native Service Hospital, both in Anchorage. After retiring in the mid-1980s, she kept busy working in her beautiful garden, caring for her grandchildren, volunteering at the NICU and knitting hats for donation to those experiencing homelessness.

Jilda is preceded in death by her husband, Melvin Johan Monsen Sr.; and two half-siblings, Madeline Santinello and Joe Romano.

Jilda is survived by her daughter, Susan Monsen (Mark Berry); son, Melvin Monsen (Lisa); grandchildren, Sarah Berry, Matthew Berry and Elizabeth Strong (Homer); great-granddaughter, Daria Feckla Strong; sisters, Jean Place and Anna Natan (Tom); and many nephews, nieces and other relatives and friends.

Memorials may be sent to: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at the Alaska Native Medical Center in Anchorage through the Healthy Kids Fund at the Healthy Alaska Natives Foundation - this specific fund directly supports the Pediatric unit, PICU and NICU programs - or Catholic Social Services, 4600 Debarr Road, Suite 201, Anchorage, AK 99508.