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. Any questions regarding obituaries should be directed to the mortuary or to obituaries@westhawaiitoday.com. Memorial advertisements with photos may be purchased through the newspaper advertising department.
Tamae Iwamoto
Tamae Iwamoto, 96, of Honokaa died June 5 at home. Born in Holualoa, she was a retired accountant for the former Hawaiian Holiday Macadamia Nut Co., worked at the field office of the former Hamakua Sugar Co, and was a member of Honokaa Methodist Church. Visitation 9-10:30 a.m. Saturday (Aug. 17) at Dodo Mortuary Chapel. Memorial service at 10:30 a.m. Casual attire. Survived by daughters, Beryl (David Kamau) Iramina of Hilo and Myra Iwamoto of Honokaa; son, Russell (Cathy) Iwamoto of Edgewater, Fla.; sisters, Fujie Fujimoto of Honokaa and Harumi DeMello of Makakilo, Oahu; five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Anthony John Tanabe
Anthony John Tanabe, 62, of Hilo died July 29 at Hilo Benioff Medical Center. Born in Honolulu, and was a geographical information systems programmer for Hawaii Electric Light Co. Visitation 3-5 p.m. Saturday (Aug. 17) at Dodo Mortuary Chapel. Memorial service at 5 p.m. Casual attire; no flowers. Survived by wife, Emelia “Annie” Tanabe of Hilo; daughters, Cassandra Emnase and Kylie Tanabe of Hilo; stepson, Cory Aguiar of Hilo; sister, Sharon “Ala” (Tom) Cummins of Pahoa; two grandchildren; aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Jelina Ku‘uleolani Masayuki
Jelina Ku‘uleolani Masayuki, 27, of Hilo died June 18 at Hilo Benioff Medical Center. She was born in Hilo. Visitation 9-11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 24, at Dodo Mortuary Chapel. Memorial service at 11 a.m. Survived by son, Baysn-Jeyse P. Masayuki-Jelf of Hilo; mother, Iris Solomon-Masayuki of Hilo; sister, Willanie Mlechei Masayuki of Palau; brother, Wilcox Pelly Masayuki of Palau; cousins, aunts and uncles. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Zemmie Ann
Uluwehi Tong
Zemmie Ann Uluwehi Tong, 62, of Hilo, died July 20 at Hilo Benioff Medical Center. Born in Honolulu, she was a homemaker and member of the Waiakea Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Visitation 9-10 a.m. Wednesday (Aug. 28) at Dodo Mortuary Chapel. Memorial service at 10 a.m. Casual attire; no flowers. Survived by husband, Michael Tong; son, Zey (Lauren Nishimura) Tong; siblings, Carrick (Sandra) Agbayani, Herring (Lisa English) Agbayani, Alvey Agbayani, Krome (Wendy Griep) Agbayani, Crine (Lehua) Agbayani, Rubec Agbayani, Whay (Tiana) Agbayani and Wynari Agbayani; sister-in-law, Karen Agbayani; aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Sandy Fumiko Zane
Sandy Fumiko Zane, 96, of Hilo, formerly of Naalehu, died June 26 at home. Born in Pahala, she was a retired clerk at the Naalehu Post Office and member of Naalehu United Methodist Church. Private services held. No flowers or koden (monetary gifts). Survived by son, Tyrus Zane of Hilo; sister, Gail Takaki of Honolulu; brother-in-law, Herbert (Myrtle) Zane of Hilo; sister-in-law, Esther Nishiguchi of Oahu; nephews, nieces, and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Haruno Higashi Ochi
Haruno Higashi Ochi, 101, of Hilo died July 4 at a private care home in Hilo. Born in Kaiakea, she was a retired proprietor for the former Hilo Quality Cleaners and member of Hilo Meishoin. Private services held. No flowers or koden (monetary gifts). Survived by sister, Emiko Matsuoka of Hilo; nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Louis Richard Omerod
Louis Richard Omerod, 68, of Keaau, formerly of Kailua-Kona, died July 23 at Hilo Benioff Medical Center. Born in Honolulu, he was a retired Hawaii County Police officer and later worked as an airport police officer. Private services held. Survived by companion, Heather Kunewa; former wife, Kathleen Gomes; sons, Brandon Omerod of Missouri, Aaron Omerod of Keaau, Kerstan Omerod of Missouri and Dylan Erickson-Omerod of Kailua-Kona; daughters-in-law, Maile Corrales and Mikela Omerod of Keaau, Liza Omerod of Missouri; brother, John Omerod of Papakolea; sisters, Jana Jones and Kelly Manning of Hilo, Diane Ondo of Keaau, Catherine Brooks of Kailua, Oahu, and Wendy Jo Omerod De Laura of Las Vegas; 12 grandchildren and a great-granddaughter; cousins, nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Wayne Botelho
Wayne Botelho, 78, of Hawi died July 24. Born in Honolulu, he was a heavy equipment operator, member of the Operating Engineers Union Local 3 and served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War. Celebration of life noon Saturday, Aug. 31, at The Hub Barn at Kohala Village Inn in Hawi. Online condolences: homelanimemorialpark.com. Survived by wife, Lina Botelho; daughters, Stacey (Duncan) Matthey and Eva Botelho; son, Jason Botelho; five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Arrangements by Homelani Memorial Park.
Robert “Bobby” Kapua‘ahilani Spillner Jr.
Robert “Bobby” Kapua‘ahilani Spillner Jr., 64, of Pahoa died July 27. Born in Waipahu, he was a retired drywall taper and custodian at Keonepoko Elementary. Celebration of life at a later date. Online condolences: homelanimemorialpark.com. Survived by wife, Debbie Spillner; daughters, Jacquelyn “Kawai” Spillner and Jamilynn “Kanoe” (Miles) Spillner; mother, Betty Spillner; sisters, Missy Peralta, Danell Spillner and Kahea Smith; brothers, Melvin Spillner and Dean Spillner; three grandsons; nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Homelani Memorial Park.
Gordon Hiroshi Oba
Gordon Hiroshi Oba, 81, of Kailua-Kona died Aug. 6 at home. Born in Honolulu, he was a retired United Airlines flight attendant and a U.S. Army veteran. No services. No koden (monetary gifts). Survived by wife, Joy Oba, children, Renee (Aaron) Hashimoto and Ross Oba; brother, Brian Oba, of Honolulu; sister, Susan Takamune of Pearl City; 2 grandchildren and nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Cremation Services Of West Hawaii.
