Editor’s note: Obituaries are published free of charge as a public service. Content is subject to editing for parity treatment and style continuity. Date of publication cannot be guaranteed. Memorial advertisements may be purchased through the newspaper advertising department.
Paulette Kato
Paulette Ligaya Kato, 66, of Hilo, died on March 11, 2019, at Hilo Medical Center. Born on Sept. 16, 1952, in Hilo, she was a retired housekeeper for Nana Management Services in Alaska and a member of 3 Days 3 Nights Study Hall.
Visitation will be held from 6-9 p.m. on May 3 at Dodo Mortuary Chapel, Hilo; funeral service at 7 p.m. Visitation will continue from 9-10 a.m. May 4 at the mortuary; burial to follow at 11 a.m. at Homelani Memorial Park, lehua section. Celebration of her life from noon to 7 p.m. at Haili Tent next to Panaewa Park. Casual attire is requested.
Survived by sons, Walter Kato, Jr. of Oahu and Cortny (Caysha Leslie) Kato of Hilo; brothers, Joseph Keomaka of Honolulu, Oahu, Anthony (Gayle) Martin of Honolulu, Oahu, John Chu Hing of Hilo, Clyde Agres of Hilo and Edward Pascua of Hilo; four granddaughters; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary, Inc. – Hilo Branch.
Howard Fujioka
Howard Tadashi Fujioka, age 75, of Hilo, died April 17, 2019, at the Hilo Medical Center. Born in Laupahoehoe on Nov. 10, 1943, he was formerly employed as a supervisor as the Ookala Mill and Haina Mill. He retired from the Jas. W. Glover, Ltd. Company as a repair shop supervisor.
Services held.
He is survived by wife, Julie Aguinaldo Fujioka of Hilo; son, Garrett S. Fujioka of Hilo; brother, Harvey (Sharon) Fujioka of Mililani; sister, Janis (Paul) Picone of Kaneohe; five brothers-in-law; seven sisters-in-law; hanai sons, Jon Carpio of Georgia and Jed Carpio of Nebraska; a grandson; numerous uncles, aunts, nephews, nieces and cousins.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary, Inc. in Hilo.
Maxie Dias
Maxie Ann “Maxi” Dias, 67, of Paauilo, died March 11, 2019. Born in Honokaa, she was a homemaker and an entrepreneur.
Visitation with the family will be held from 8-10 a.m. May 4 at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, Honokaa; celebration of Mass at 10 a.m.; brunch and refreshments in the church hall after services. Casual attire is requested.
She is survived by her, husband, Steve Dias, Sr.; children, Steve Dias, Jr., Edward Dias, Ryanne Dias and Anna Maria (Robert) Kapua; mother, Mary Ann Walker; brother, Edward (Belinda) Walker; sister, Diana (Jeffrey) Dias; numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and hanai children.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary, Inc. – Hilo Branch.
Gladys Bolton
Gladys Lynda “Sugar” Bolton, 75, of Naalehu, died April 4, 2019, at the Hawaii Care Choices Pohai Malama Care Center. Born in Tacoma, Washington, she was a retired checker with Market Basket in Alaska, and known to be generous, kind and loved flowers.
Visitation 3-6 p.m. May 4 at the Bolton residence in Discovery Harbor, Naalehu. Blessing will be held at 4 p.m. Casual attire is requested.
She is survived by daughters, Lorri (Terry Adams) Bolton and Rhonda Bolton of Naalehu; brother, Lloyd (Debbie) Price of Oregon; sister, Gail Root of Alaska; granddaughter, Jennifer Ruggles of Mountain View; two grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary, Inc. – Hilo.
Dawn Whitney
Dawn Leimomi “Momi” Whitney, 63, of Hilo, died April 7, 2019, at the Kona Community Hospital. Born in Hilo, she was a homemaker and a member of The Way The Truth The Life Fellowship.
Visitation is 5-6 p.m. May 4 at the Dodo Mortuary chapel. Funeral service will be held at 6 p.m. Graveside committal service May 5 at the Alae Cemetery at 10 a.m. Casual attire is requested.
She is survived by son, Elisha “Eli” Whitney of Ocean View; daughters, Danielle Whitney of Hilo, Alyssa Maldonado and Taylor Maldonado of Kona; hanai son, Brandon Whitney of Hilo; hanai daughter, Nicole Cantan of Hilo; brother, Solomon (Tina) Whitney, III of Hilo; sisters, Stephanie (Reggie) Atiz of Papaikou, Michelle Whitney and Raechelle Whitney of Hilo; five grandchildren, numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary, Inc. – Hilo.
Glen Shigehara
Glen Hajime Shigehara, 71, of Hilo, died March 25, 2019, at home. Born in Hilo, he was a retired special program coordinator for the Family Self Sufficiency Program for the County of Hawaii, Office of Housing, a U.S. Army Vietnam veteran, a member of the Honpa Hongwanji Hilo Betsuin, AJA Veterans Association, and a member and Secretary of the Akaka Falls Lions Club.
Visitation is 3:30-5 p.m. May 5 at the Dodo Mortuary chapel. Funeral services at 5 p.m. Graveside committal services at 9 a.m. May 6 at the Hawaii Veterans Cemetery No.2. Casual attire, no flowers.
He is survived by his daughters Sonia Shigehara and Lisa Shigehara of Honolulu; brother, Keith (Janet) Shigehara of Hilo; two grandchildren; numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary, Inc. – Hilo.
Romualdo Bermudez
Romualdo “Rolly” Cabay Bermudez, 64, of Sta. Maria Ilocos Sur, Philippines, formerly of Hawaii, died April 27, 2019 at home. He was born in Brgy. Pen-ned Sta. Maria, Ilocos Sur, Philippines.
Funeral services were held in the Philippines.
He was survived by wife, Melania Grayda of Philippines; daughters, Jennifer (Diallo Jackson) Bermudez, Cheryl (Tim Ardena) Bermudez and Gayle Bermudez of Seattle, Washington; stepdaughters, Maria Hipolito of Bulacan, Philippines and Maricel Grayda of Manila, Philippines; sisters, Florecita (Ancelmo, Jr.) Alonzo of Waikoloa, Yolanda (Pedro) Acorda and Junelle Bermudez of California, Mary Jane (Shon, IV) Bowden of Volcano; brothers, Conrado Bermudez of Keaau, Pablito Bermudez of California and Jay (Maria) Bermudez of Honolulu; step-mother, Carlina Bermudez of Keaau; sister in-law, Elizabeth Bermudez of Keaau; five grandchildren and two stepgrandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary, Inc.
Ann Aki
Ann TK Aki, 90, of Hilo,died April 2, 2019, at Life Care Center of Hilo. Born on March 20, 1929, in Japan, she was a homemaker. She was also a member of Kamana Senior Center patchwork quilting class and ukulele class. She was a former member of Lower Kawailani Kumiai.
Services to be held May 9at Ballard Family Mortuary, 570 Kinoole Street, Hilo. Visitation 9-10:30 a.m. Service 10:30 a.m. Burial to follow at noon at the Veteran’s Cemetery 2. Family asks donation to be made to Alzheimer’s Association, Aloha Chapter.
She is survived by sons Henri (Maxine) Aki Jr. of Hilo, David (Tara) Aki of Manhattan Beach; daughter Cynthia (Melvin) Chow of Honolulu; brothers-in-law Wallace (Shirley) Aki of Hilo, William (Betty) Aki of Florida; sisters Michie Morishige of Japan, Hiroko Mitsuhiro of Japan; sister-in-law Amie Yap of Colorado, Jennie Aki of Hilo, Lily Chow of Hilo, Rose Miyashiro of Honolulu; four grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Ballard Family Mortuary Hilo.
Elisa Eubank
Elisa Marie Eubank, of Waikoloa, died March 31, 2019. She was born Jan. 17, 1952, in Raton, New Mexico, to parents Joe and Esmeralda Cordova. She received a BA degree from New Mexico State University in 1974.
Private services were held. Online condolences may be posted on www.ballardfamilymortuaries.com. Memorial donations may be made to the Joe R. and Esmeralda Cordova Memorial Scholarship at giving.nmsu.edu/Eubank.html.
She is survived by her husband of 41 years, Randy Eubank; sister, Vera Estrada; brother, Richard Cordova.
Services provided by Ballard Family Mortuary-Kona.
Kelly Leong
Kelly Won Leong, age 58, of Hilo, died April 6, 2019, in the Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu. Born on Oahu on Oct. 8, 1960, he was a project specialist at the University of Hawaii at Hilo Division of Student Affairs, the first full-time sports information director for over 25 years at the University of Hawaii at Hilo athletics department, an official with the Hawaii Island Sports Officials Association, coached softball for the Waiakea Pirates Gummy Bears team and coached the Hilo High School dive team.
Visitation will be held at the University of Hawaii at Hilo Vulcan Gymnasium on May 4 from 9:30 -10:30 a.m.; celebration of life service will begin at 10:30 a.m. Casual attire is requested.
He is survived by sons, Ethyn Leong of New York City and Jye Leong of New York City; father, Norman Won (Step-mother Juanita) of Honolulu; brothers, Eric Won of Minneapolis, Minnesota and Russell (Kimberly) Won of St. Louis, Missouri; numerous uncles, aunts, nieces and cousins; co-parent of Ethyn and Jye Leong; Alyson Kakugawa-Leong of Hilo.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary, Inc. in Hilo, Hawaii.
Patricia Sidebottom
Patricia Gail Sidebottom, 78, of Ocean View, died April 22, 2019, in Kailua-Kona. Born May 16, 1940, in Pierre, S.D., she was an accountant for the state of Kansas.
Private services will be held.
Survived by son James (Terri) Nighswanger of Ft. Smith, Arkansas; daughters Tami Jo (Dennis) Anthony of Stockton, Missouri; Elizabeth Sherwood of Ocean View; seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Services by Ballard Family Mortuary-Kona.
Marlis Tanoai
Marlis Anne Tanoai, 78, of Hawaii, died Feb. 17, 2019, at the Kona Community Hospital. Born in Santa Cruz, Calif. on Sept. 2, 1940, she was a homemaker, a taxi driver for Paradise and Marina’s Taxi and a child caregiver at the former Kona Village Resort. She was an avid marathon runner, an active member and volunteer at St. Benedict’s and St. John’s Catholic churches.
Visitation will be held at 8:30 a.m. May 11, at St. Benedict’s Catholic Church in Honaunau with Mass at 10 a.m. The family requests casual attire.
Survived by husband, Sepa Tanoai of Kailua-Kona; daughters, Lani Tanoai of Kailua-Kona, Sami (James) Amorin of Temple City, Calif.; sons, Mesepa Tanoai and Kanuela Tanoai of Kailua-Kona, Tautua Tanoai of Honaunau; eight grandchildren; a great grandchild; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Lorita Calonod
Lorita Calonod, 75, of Holualoa, died April 20, 2019, at Kona Community Hospital. Born Dec. 4, 1943, in Kealakekua, she was a coffee farmer, child care provider and member of Jehovah’s Witnesses Keauhou Congregation.
Private service to be held.
She is survived by sisters, Julia Rivera, Victoria Calonod, Isabel Calonod, Bertha Calonod, Yvonne Calonod all of Holualoa, Flora (Richard Allen) Gomes of Kailua Kona; brother, Albert Calonod of Holualoa; numerous nieces and a nephew.
Arrangements by Cremation Services of West Hawaii.
Elva Parker
Elva Jane Parker, 91, of Ocean View, died April 26, 2019, at Nakamaru Hale in Holualoa. Born Feb. 5, 1928, in Nanticoke, Penn., she was a retired program director for 4H of Ocean County, New Jersey.
Private service to be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Hospice of Kona.
Survived by sons, Frederick Parker, Donald Parker both of New Jersey, James (Bernadette) Parker, Sr. of Ocean View; sister-in-laws, Jean Fuller of Pennsylvania, Phyllis Gee of New Jersey; six grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Cremation Services of West Hawaii.