Sophie Gutierrez
Sep 16, 1938 -
Sep 20, 2026
Sophie Gutierrez passed away peacefully on Sept. 20, 2026, with her daughter, Kaylene by her side. She was born in Anchorage, Alaska on Sept. 16, 1938, to John and Olga Ondola, and lived in Birchwood as a child. When she was 4 years old, she, her sister, Elsie, and her brother, Carl, were taken to Seward to be treated for tuberculosis. From there they were sent to Wrangell and finally Sitka. She did not return to Birchwood until she was 12 years old. She felt like a stranger, and did not know her language or her family. She graduated from Anchorage High School in 1957 and attended the University of Alaska Fairbanks. She married Frank Wirth and they had two daughters, Kristen and Kaylene. They divorced in 1968.
She worked for the UAF Post Office and as a Legal Secretary for Alaska Legal Services. She also worked for the Alaska Headstart Program, DNH Development Corporation, The Tundra Times, and the United Methodist Church. She was a Native Village of Eklutna Tribal Member.
In 1974, our family increased by one when she married Gilbert Gutierrez, and we started a lifetime of adventure. They lived in Fairbanks, Anchorage, Chevak, Akiachak, Juneau, Nome, Valdez, and Glenallen. In 2008 she and Gil moved to Bend, Oregon to be closer to Kaylene. In 2018 they moved to Gil's home town, Albuquerque, NM.
She was smart, charming, witty, stylish, and beautiful. The happiest moments in her life were the times spent with family and friends at barbecues, special events, and traveling with Gil and their dog Chico in their RV "Chico's lil house". Sophie and Gil loved their children and grandchildren and went out of their way to make birthdays and holidays special. She always put her family first and did her best to make their lives happier and feel loved.
Her hobbies included gardening, crossword and jigsaw puzzles, reading, taking care of her beloved puppy dogs, and keeping in touch with family and friends on Facebook. She loved to play Scrabble and was hard to beat.
She is survived by her husband of 52 years, Gilbert Gutierrez; sisters, Dorothy Cook and Gina Ondola; brother and spouse, Jerry and Connie Ondola; daughter and son in-law, Kaylene and Daniel Larwin; grandchildren, Lewis and Eric Kirk, and Luke, Lindsey, and Cody Larwin; great grandchildren, Willow, Vanellope, Eric, Saeran, Lexi, Leif, Clay, Max, Inga, and Barrett; and many nieces and nephews and extended family.
She was preceded in death by her daughter, Kristen Kirk; brothers, George, Carl, and Roy; and sisters, Ellen, Elsie, Marie, and Sally.
Services to be held at a later date in Anchorage, Alaska.
