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.
Nira Kurihara
Nira K.C. Kurihara, 85, of Hilo, died Jan. 11, 2019, at Hilo Medical Center. Born Oct. 4, 1933, in Ookala, she was the retired proprietress of the former Sun Sun Lau Restaurant in Hilo and a member of New Hope Hilo, Chinese Civic Association and Hawaii Island Adult Care (H.I.A.C.).
Visitation will be held from 3 to 5 p.m. Jan. 21 at Dodo Mortuary Chapel in Hilo. A celebration of life will begin at 5 p.m. Graveside committal service and urn burial will be held at 11 a.m. Jan. 22 at Homelani Memorial Park in Hilo. Casual attire is requested. No flowers. No Koden (monetary contributions).
She is survived by daughters, Jacquelyn Uemura, Marlene (Glenn) Nakaishi, Karen (Wesley) Suwa, Michelle (Timothy) Kitagawa and Stephanie (Donald) Gonzalez, all of Hilo; son, Harry (Carolyn) Kurihara of Honolulu; hanai daughter, Wanda (Daniel) Nakanelua of Wahiawa, Oahu; brothers, George (Yoko) Luke of San Diego, and Ernest (Mamie) Luke of Honolulu; sisters, Florence Kim of California, Mary Chung of Honolulu and Julia Chun of Ewa Beach, Oahu; nine grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; numerous nephews, nieces and cousins.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Raymond Savella
Raymond Hiroshi Savella, 82, of Hilo, died Dec. 7, 2018, at Life Care Center of Hilo. Born July 11, 1936, in Hilo, he was a retired farmer.
Private services held.
He is survived by wife, June Savella of Hilo; son, Boyd (Robyn Matsumoto) Savella of Hilo; daughter, Jodie (Casey) Yanagihara of Hilo; brother, David Savella of Maui; sister, Rosalind Fujinaka of Kaneohe, Oahu; numerous nephews, nieces and cousins.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Teofilo Villa
Teofilo Mercado “Tata Doming” Villa, 80, of Pahala, died Jan. 2, 2019, at Hilo Medical Center. Born Dec. 28, 1938, in the Philippine Islands, he was a retired laborer for the former Ka‘u Sugar Co.
An all-night vigil will be held on Jan. 23 at the family residence in Pahala (96-3115 Puahala St.) starting at 5 p.m. Visitation will be held 9-10 a.m. Jan. 24 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Hilo; Mass will begin at 10 a.m. Burial to follow at Homelani Memorial Park in Hilo. Casual attire is requested.
He is survived by sons, Mark Villa of Pahala and Chris (Wendi) Villa of Volcano; daughter, LeeAnn (Skyler) Tehero of Hilo; brothers, Francisco (Victoria) Villa Sr. of Pahala; sister, Lenny Enitan of Pahala; four grandchildren; numerous nephews and nieces.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
David Lee
David Dongsup Lee, 92, of Hilo died Jan. 4, 2019, at his home. Born in Korea, he was a retired chemist for the County of Hawaii.
Private services held.
He is survived by daughters, Carolyn Lee and Donna (Phillip) Carey, all of Hilo; Marsha (John Chappell) Lee of California; son, Daniel (Jung Hae) Lee of South Korea; three grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Samuel Wheatman
Samuel “Sam” Rich Wheatman, 75, of Ocean View, died Jan. 13, 2019, at his residence. Born Nov. 1, 1943 in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, he was a retired aerospace engineer and a U.S. Navy veteran.
Private service to be held. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to American Cancer Society.
He is survived by wife, Lilette Wheatman of Ocean View; sister, Jane Spiller of Pennsylvania; numerous nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Cremation Services of West Hawaii.
Roberto Tampos Sr.
Roberto “Alapaki” Albert Tampos Sr., 76, of Kailua-Kona, died Jan. 1, 2019 at Life Care Center of Kona. Born Jan. 13, 1942, in Kohala, he was a retired telephone switchman installer for Hawaiian Telephone Company, a retired UPS worker, owner of Alapaki’s store at Keauhou, owner of Original Maui Divers and a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Visitation will be held at 8 a.m. Feb. 2 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Kona ward in Kailua-Kona. Funeral service will start at 11 a.m. The family requests casual attire and no flowers.
He is survived by son, Roberto (Margaret) Tampos Jr. of Honolulu; daughter, Evalani (Kathy) Tampos of Hilo; hanai son, Brad (Shelly) Ward of Ft. Worth, Texas; sisters, Marian (Miriam) Reyes of Hilo, and Agnes (Daling) Chabotte of Kailua-Kona; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Lydia Baclig
Lydia Tinaza Baclig, 50, of Pepeekeo, died Dec. 30, 2018, at Hilo Medical Center. Born March 8, 1968, in Cabugao, Ilocos Sur, Philippines, she worked at Hilo Seaside Hotel.
Friends may call at 6 p.m. Jan. 24 at Dodo Mortuary chapel in Hilo for a 7 p.m. wake. An all-night vigil follows at the family residence. Friends may again call at 8 a.m. Jan. 25 at Saint Joseph Catholic Church in Hilo for a 10 a.m. Mass. Burial follows at Homelani Memorial Park, Ilima Section. Family requests casual attire be worn.
She is survived by husband, Arnulfo Baclig; children, Arlyn (Sherwin) Baclig, Maria (Gerald) Baclig, Cristy (Bernard) Baclig, Jeny (Ronnie) Baclig; siblings, Lolita (Jose) Valderama, Merlinda (William) Sy, Yolanda (Alfonso) Asunio, Rolando (Emelyn) Tinaza Sr., Luzviminda (Juanito) Vincente, Lilia (Randall) Fernandez; five grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Norma Uchima
Norma Uchima, 76, of Honomu, died Dec. 20, 2018. Born in Hilo, she was a retired sales associate at the Hawaii Naniloa Hotel Gift Shop.
Private services were held.
She is survived by husband, Ralph Uchima Sr. of Honomu; daughters, Francine Masaoka and Wendy (Skipper) Butts of Honomu, Norine (Mike) Vincent of Hilo; son, Ralph Uchima Jr. of Honomu; brothers, Norman (Dorothy) Aguinaldo of Honomu, Larry (Lani) Aguinaldo and Duke Aguinaldo of Hilo; nine grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Joseph Torres
Joseph “Sonny” Torres, 88, of Hilo, died Jan. 14, 2019, at Legacy Hilo Rehabilitation and Nursing Center. Born Aug. 27, 1930, in Kealakekua, he was retired from Pearl Harbor as a maintenance worker and groundskeeper, also a retired groundskeeper from Keaau Shopping Center and member of Ke Ola Pono No Na Kupuna – Alu Like.
Private services; for information call 796-1081.
He is survived by hanai daughter, Kalei Chang of Las Vegas; brothers, George (Rose) Torres of Mountain View, Benjamin Torres of Pepeekeo; sister, Sarah Pacheco of Hilo; numerous nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.