Bartlett High School teacher Denna Rae Bryant-Yudiskas, 56, died April 4, 1999, at home surrounded by her family.
A requiem Mass was celebrated at St. Andrew's Catholic Church in Eagle River.
Ms. Bryant was born March 11, 1943, in New London, Conn. After graduating cum laude from California State University at Long Beach and earning her master's degree from Cal-State San Bernardino, she began her 25-year teaching career in Palm Springs, California, where she taught drama and English at Nellie N. Coffman Junior High and Palm Springs High School. While in Palm Springs, she was selected teacher of the year.
In 1981, she came to Alaska, where she taught at Central Junior High School, Bartlett High School and the University of Alaska. Her favorite subjects included classical mythology, British literature, psychology and grammar-vocabulary building. She loved the arts and enjoyed painting, pottery, ceramics, stained-glass, reading and writing.
Ms. Bryant is survived by her husband, William Yudiskas; daughter and son-in-law, DeniTaree Reavis-McCloud and Kelly McCloud; three grandchildren, David Sean and Dana Elise Cantu and Kaitlin Alexis McCloud, all of Eagle River; stepdaughter, Erica Yudiskas; parents, Mr. and Mrs. Francis Kemp and brother and sister-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Louis James Bryant, of California; nephews, James, Michael and Kevin Bryant, of California; and two half-brothers, Leroy and Larry Bryant.
Her family said: "Ms. Bryant-Yudiskas is remembered by thousands of students whom she touched and by whom she was touched. They brought as much love and light to her life as she sought to bring to theirs. The most difficult part of her forced retirement was leaving her students and her teaching behind. She constantly advised her students to 'stop and smell the flowers,' and to laugh each day - especially at themselves, and to try to leave the world a better place than they found it. Her friends affirm that these things guided Denna Rae's own life. To friends who witnessed her fighting spirit, she was known as 'Xena Rae, the Warrior Princess.'
"Besides being especially blessed in having a devoted daughter, a supportive husband, a magical mother, and a loving family, Denna Rae also had many wonderful friends and colleagues who supported her in her final battle with cancer."
A scholarship has been established in her name at Bartlett High School. Contributions may be sent to:
Denna Rae Bryant Scholarship Fund Bartlett High School 25-500 N. Muldoon Road Anchorage, Alaska, 99506
Denna Rae has left us some of her thoughts on her home page that she created a number of years ago while learning about the internet.