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.
Kevin Lee-Kwai
Kevin Keone Lee-Kwai, 47, formerly of Waimea, died Oct. 6, 2020, at his residence in Halawa Heights, Oaho. Born Feb. 16, 1973, he worked as a cook at various hotels on the Kohala Coast for many years and a marine mechanic technician.
Private services will be held. Condolences may be sent to the Lee-Kwai Ohana at PO box 178, Kamuela, HI 96743
He is survived by daughters, Kaylan Lee-Kwai and Kiana Lee-Kwai, both of Waimea; mother, Sue (Bill) Ramos Hook; father, Stephen (Miki) Lee-Kwai; sister, Nani Lee-Kwai; brother, Kawika Lee-Kwai; mother of his children, Stacey Lee-Kwai; numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, and nephews.
Helen DeVries
Helen I. DeVries, 85 of Hilo, Nov. 9, 2020, at her residence.
Any surviving relatives should call Ballard Family Mortuary Hilo at (808) 935-8445
Arrangements by Ballard Family Mortuary.
Geronimo Barayuga
Geronimo Pasamonte Barayuga, 80, of Kapaau, died Oct. 25, 2020, at The Queen’s Medical Center. Born Aug. 9, 1940, in San Nicolas, Philippines, he was a retired dairyman-milker for the former Boteilho Dairy and a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church.
Services will be held at a later date.
He is survived by wife, Mercedes Barayga of Kapaau; son, Jeofrey (Donalyn) Barayuga of Kohala; daughters, Gemmalyn (Jeffrey) Baptista of Las Vegas and Helen (Chris) Sulguiano of Kohala; brothers, Juan Baruyuga, Nagasito Baruyada, and Jimmy (Fely), all of the Philippines; sisters, Josephine (Dionisio) Aquino, Crencia Sebastin, Estrella Santos, and Carlina Delacruz, all of the Philippines, and Elena Barayuga of Kohala; five grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Norman Allen
Norman Edward Allen, 81, of Hoopuloa, died Nov. 12, 2020, at his residence. Born Dec. 21, 1938, in Los Angeles, he was a yoga master and teacher.
Services will be held at a later date.
He is survived by wife, Purna Zei of Hoopuloa; daughter, Timmah (Craig Barbaccia) of Woodinville, Washington; sons, Noah Allen of Seattle and Joshua Allen of Hoopuloa; brother, Harvey Allen of Santa Monica, California; sister, Gloria Ogletree of Mar Vista, California; and three grandchildren.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Nathaniel Chang
Nathaniel “Nate” Herbert Chang, 69, of Keaau, died Nov. 15, 2020, at Hilo Medical Center. Born Nov. 13, 1951, in Honolulu, he was a U.S. Army veteran and a member of the Rotary Club of Hilo, Lions Clubs International, Chinese Civic Association of Hawaii and numerous other community service clubs and organizations.
Military funeral services are pending on the mainland. No services in Hawaii.
He is survived by wife, Annette Chang of Keaau; and son, Michael Spores of Spanaway, Washington.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Per Tyrin
Per Reidar Tyrin, 77, of Hilo, died Nov. 9, 2020, at Hawaii Care Choices Pohai Malama Care Center. Born in Barum, Norway, he was a retired Chief Engineer for the U.S. Department of Defense Military Sealift Command, also had worked at ARCO, Crown Zellerbach, Del Monte Banana Co. and C. Brewer &Co. and was a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Papaikou and South Pohakulani Kumiai.
Private services will be held.
He is survived by wife, Colette Tyrin of Hilo; sons, Bruce (Stephanie) Tyrin of Buckeye, Arizona, and James (Misti) Tyrin of Hilo; sister, Astri Johnsaeter of Flisa, Norway; five grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Fujiko Ito
Fujiko Ito, 95, of Pahala died Nov. 7, 2020, at Life Care Center of Hilo. Born in Kealakekua, she was a homemaker and member of the Pahala Hongwanji Mission and its Fujinkai.
Private services held. Family requests no flowers and no koden (monetary gifts).
She is survived by sons, Vernon (Gayle) Akira Ito of Hilo and Newton (Cecilia) Ito of Pahala; daughters, Leatrice (Roy) Hirohata and Jerre (Reed) Tokairin, all of Honolulu; brothers, Takanari Fukunaga of Pahala, Yoshikage (Shinobu) Fukunaga of Honolulu and Suetaka (Vicki) Fukunaga, Shigeyuki Fukunaga and James (Ella) Fukunaga, all of Kona; sisters, Setsuko Toriano of Kona and Jane Sato of Honolulu; six grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Soo Jang Lee
Soo Jang Lee, 73, of Hilo, died Nov. 11, 2020, in Hilo. Born Oct. 10, 1947, in Seoul, South Korea, he was a life-long martial artist in tae kwon do, was a head tae kwon do instructor for the Korean Army and in Hilo, and coached the U.S. Olympic tae kwon do team in the 1988 Seoul games.
Services will be held in South Korea.
He is survived by brothers, Soo Kwang Lee and Soo Wan Lee, both of California; sisters, Soo Lee Hahn of Oregon and Baker Lee of Texas; and sons, Justin Lee and Jade Lee, both of Hilo.
Arrangements by Homelani Cremation Services.
Lorraine Nobriga
Lorraine Lehua Nobriga, 82, of Hilo, died Nov. 17, 2020 at Hawaii Care Choices Pohai Malama Care Center. Born in Hilo, she was a homemaker.
No services.
She is survived by husband, John Nobriga of Hilo; sisters, Elaine Correia and Deborah Gohier of Hilo; daughters, Rochelle Salvador of Honolulu, Willette Thomas of Idaho, and Lisa Iaukea of Hilo; son, Kurt Thomas of Puna; 20 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Dan Ferris
Dan James Ferris, 71, of Hilo, died Nov. 6, 2020, at his residence. Born June 9, 1949, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, he was a retired promoter.
Friends may call at noon Nov. 29 at Onekahakaha Beach Park for a celebration of life. Casual attire.
He is survived by brothers, Doug (Elizabeth) Ferris of Arizona and David Ferris of Thailand; hanai daughter, Punahele Ridgeway of Puna; hanai son, Paul (Hoku) Switgall of Kaneohe, Oahu; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Shirley Medeiros
Shirley A. Medeiros, 80, of Hilo, died Nov. 5, 2020, at her resience. Born in Hilo, she worked as an office clerk at the former Hilo Lanes Bowling Alley, a cashier at the former Seventh Gate Christian Bookstore and the former Da Store in Hilo and a member of the Big Island Portuguese Culture Club.
Private services.
She is survived by daughter, Debra (David) Cabarloc of Kurtistown; sons, Randall (Kehau) Medeiros of Hilo and Paul (Cindy) Medeiros of Mountain View; sister, Carol Furtado of Hilo; 13 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; and umerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Mary Dodge
Mary Ann Dodge, 74, of Ninole, died Nov. 4, 2020, at Hilo Medical Center. Born in Detroit, she was a church leader and former Lay Speaker for the United Methodist Church in Wacousta, Michigan, and a Certified Master Gardener with the University of Hawaii.
Private services.
She is survived by husband, Ross Dodge of Ninole; sons, Michael (Heather) Dodge Sr. of Pahoa, Christopher (Megan) Dodge of Keaau; daughters, Heather Ann (Robert) Martin of Lincoln, California, Aimee Dodge of Hilo, and Lindsey (Christen) Kay of Ninole; brother, John (Stephanie) Boening of Grand Ledge, Michigan; 14 grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Peter Grammer
Peter “Peter Boy” Cyrus Grammer, 26, of Mountain View, died Aug. 25, 2020, at Hilo Medical Center. Born April 17, 1994, in Honolulu, he was a caregiver.
Private services.
He is survived by mother, Nora Fernandez; father, Christopher Fernandez Jr.; siblings, Juanita Grammer, Rocksand Hong Grammer and Jadelin Grammer; son, Lopaka Grammer; girlfriend, Jasmine Smith; and step-daughter, Jaycie Mae Smith.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Lucia Albano
Lucia Aguinaldo Albano, 94, of Keaau, died Oct. 16, 2020, at Life Care Center of Hilo. Born Jan. 8, 1926, in Laoag City, Philippines, she was a retired papaya packer for Diamond Head Papaya Co.
Friends may call at 10 a.m. Dec. 4 at Homelani Memorial Park (Ilima Section) for a graveside service.
She is survived by sons, Orlando (Fely) Albano, Eduardo (Lodivita) Albano and Modesto Albano, all of Keaau; daughter, Rosalina Labuguen of Honolulu; 15 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Simplicio Vermudez
Simplicio Pascua Vermudez 82, of Keaau, died Nov. 5, 2020, at his residence. Born in Salanap, Pinili, Ilocos Norte, Philippines, he was a Laborer for an orchid and plants nursery and a member of the Pahoa Sacred Heart Catholic Church.
Friends may call at 5 p.m. Dec. 4 at Dodo Mortuary Chapel for Rosary at 6 p.m. followed by a service at 6:30. Friends may also call 8 a.m. Dec. 5 for a 10 a.m. service. Burial at Homelani Memorial Park (Ilima Section) at 11:30 a.m.
He is survived by wife, Loreta Vermudez of Keaau; daughters, Michelle (Wyn Jan) Estavillo of Keaau, Marnellie (Mario) Fiesta of Kahului, Maui, and Cristee (Jeffry Badua) Vermudez of Ewa Beach, Oahu; sisters, Imelda (Elmer) Pitpit and Warlita (Alfredo) Manuel, all of Pahoa, and Patricia Baligad of Delano and Claire (Reynaldo) Inay, all of Delano, California; brothers, Jose Vermudez of Keaau and Ceferino (Buena) Vermudez of Honolulu; and seven grandchildren.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.