Barbara Lucia Hsu-Trawinski

Anchorage resident Barbara Hsu-Trawinski, 55, died peacefully of lung cancer Nov. 11, 2005, at her home in Anchorage, among her family.

A visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. today at Kehl's Forest Lawn Chapel. A graveside service with full military honors will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Fort Richardson National Cemetery.

Flowers are welcome, as are donations to St. Jude's Hospital at www.stjude.org.

Mrs. Hsu-Trawinski was born Jan. 21, 1950, in Hong Kong. She moved to Alaska in the winter of 1981.

Family wrote: "After being diagnosed with terminal lung cancer and told she had six months to a year to live, Barbara turned her intelligence, determination and iron will to beating the odds.

"In her 55 years, those three traits had helped her rise through the ranks of the Corps of Commissioned Officers of the Public Health Service to the rank of captain, as well as achieve the position of director of the orthopedics and surgical floor at the Alaska Native Medical Center, and be a recipient of the Meritorious Service Medal.

"It wasn't until 18 months after her diagnosis, after many different avenues of alternative therapies were pursued, that she realized God was calling her home. In the end, she did beat the odds, having lived six months more than even the most optimistic doctor predicted.

"She will be missed."

Mrs. Hsu-Trawinski is survived by her husband, Nick Trawinski; children, Jason and wife Carmela Warfield, Jesse Warfield, Aurora Warfield, and Aleesha Warfield; mother, Ethel Hsu; brother, Theodore Hsu; and her sister, Emily Jenkins