Editor’s note: Obituaries are published free of charge as a public service. The content is subject to editing to ensure parity treatment and style continuity. Date of publication cannot be guaranteed. Memorial advertisements may be purchased through the newspaper advertising department.
Mercedes Sparacino
Mercedes Lanihuli (Marks) Sparacino, 77, of Hilo died Oct. 13, 2017. Born Sept. 30, 1940, on Oahu, she was member of the Keaau Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Friends may call at noon Nov. 18 at the Kingdom Hall in Mountain View, 17-4010 Ahuahu Place, for a 1 p.m. service. Online condolences: www.homelanimemorialpark.com
She is survived by daughters, Jolene (Randy) Duerksen of Kona, Reina (Michael) Santiago of Ainaloa, Deedee (Bobby) Mandaloniz of Hilo; sons, Tate (Shaloma) Marks and Jerome (Nicole) Marks of Kona; sisters, Evon Sparacino of Maui and Marv (Lake) Kalani of Ainaloa; one brother-in-law; 17 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Wayne Waipa
Wayne Kanani Waipa, 71, of Pahoa died Oct. 13, 2017, in Keaau. He was born in Hilo and was a retired supervisor with the former Puna Sugar Co; founder and president of KOA Puna Motorcycle Club.
Friends may call 5-9 p.m. Nov. 17 at the Dodo Mortuary chapel for a 7 p.m. memorial service. Friends may also call at 10 a.m. Nov. 18 at Shipman Park in Keaau where a Memorial Bike Run will depart at 10 a.m., lunch to follow at noon at Isaac Hale Beach Park, Pohoiki. Casual attire.
He is survived by his wife, Lynda Waipa of Pahoa; daughter, Troy K. (Peter Lopes) Waipa of Keaau; sons, Alexander Alika Waipa of Pahoa, Justin Maldonado of Kamuela, and Haku (Shaila Puakea) Waipa of Pahoa; hanai daughters, Joann (Lloyd) Enriquez of Pahoa and Natalie Martinez of Keaau; hanai sons, Jack Cuellar of Pahoa, Chris Braun of the mainland, Doug Braun of the mainland and Anton (Davida Iaukea-Caves) Adams of Hilo; sister, Patsy Conway of Texas; six grandchildren; numerous hanai grandchildren, cousins, nieces, nephews and in-laws.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Dennis Nagata
Dennis Itsuo Nagata, 70, of Honokaa, died Oct. 4, 2017, at home. Born in Haina, he was a journeyman machinist for the former Hamakua Sugar Company, U.S. Army Vietnam War veteran, and member of various Honokaa softball teams.
Friends may call at 4 p.m. Nov. 18 at Dodo Mortuary chapel in Hilo for a 5 p.m. service. Family requests casual attire be worn.
He is survived by former spouse, Paulette Nagata of Honokaa; daughter, Reney (Gabriel) Simeon of Hilo; sons, Ryan (Fanchette) Nagata of Honokaa, Riley (Katy) Nagata of Papaaloa, Royden Nagata of Honokaa; brother, Glen Nagata of Honokaa; sisters, Cheryl (Adel) Lari of Minnesota, Laurene (Kuhio) Sebastian of Ahualoa; four grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Janet Souza
Janet Hisano Souza, 90, of Papaikou, died Oct, 30, 2017, at the Hospice of Hilo Pohai Malama Facility. She was born in Pepeekeo and was a retired clerk with the County of Hawaii Tax Office; member of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, Hawaii Government Employees Association and an honorary member of the South Hilo Rotary Club.
Friends may call 8-9:30 a.m. Nov. 17 at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, Papaikou, for a 10 a.m. Mass, private burial to follow. Casual attire, no flowers.
She is survived by her husband, James “Jimmy” Souza of Papaikou; son, James (Patricia) Souza, Jr. of Waianae; daughter, Geri (Roth) Pung of Honolulu; brother, Paul Martin of Portland, Ore.; sisters, Beatrice (Raymond) Iyo of Hilo and Patricia (Earl) Ford of Placerville, Calif.; one grandson; numerous nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
