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.
Akira Higashi
Akira Higashi, 89, of Pahala died Oct. 3 at home. Born in Pahala, he was a retired transportation supervisor for the State Department of Education, U.S. Army veteran and member of River of Life Assembly of God-Pahala. Private services held. Survived by children, Kerwin (Lisa) Buyuan and Lynnette (Ross) Aki of Hilo, Shane (Melanie) Higashi of Kona, Chuck Higashi of Pahala; sister-in-law, Aileen Higashi of Long Beach, Calif.; seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Clarence “Maggie”
Shigeru Ueda
Clarence “Maggie” Shigeru Ueda, 79, of Hilo died Oct. 14 at Hilo Benioff Medical Center. Born in Hilo, he was a retired machinist for Jas. W. Glover, Ltd., U.S. Army veteran and member of Hilo Hooganji Mission. Private services held. No flowers or koden (monetary gifts). Survived by daughter, Leigh Ann (Scott Kawachi) Ueda of Hilo; son, Kyle Ueda of Hilo; sisters, Asako Igawa of Gardena, Calif., Nancy Ueda of Hilo and Carole Nakasone of Pearl City, Oahu; a grandson; nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Josephine “Honey Girl” Makana (Oili) Aiona
Josephine “Honey Girl” Makana (Oili) Aiona, 71, of Hilo died Aug. 23 at Hilo Benioff Medical Center. Born in Hilo, she was a self-employed beautician and member of New Hope Church Hilo. Visitation 9-11 a.m. Saturday (Nov. 23) at Dodo Mortuary Chapel. Memorial Service at 11 a.m. Celebration of life to follow at Puhi Bay, Keaukaha. Casual attire. Survived by partner, Billy Cooper of Hilo; daughters, Monique (Mike) Hoke, Michelle (Paul) Ross, Thyron “Kelii” (Robert) McKeen III and Katherine Tirrell of Hilo; brothers, Benjamin (Desiree) Oili Jr., Daniel (Joanne) Oili and Walter Kalei (Beverly) Oili of Hilo; hanai sons and daughters; 13 grandchildren and five great grandchildren; aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Jack Everett Oskins
Jack Everett Oskins, 92, of Keaau died Oct. 22 at home. Born in Decatur, Ill., he was the retired owner and president of Oskins Electric and Aina Haina, a world traveler, UH-Hilo Vulcans booster, member of Portuguese Chamber of Commerce, Hawaiian Paradise Park Owner’s Association, National Electrical Contractors Association, Hawaii Island Contractors Association, and lifetime member of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers union. Visitation 4-6 p.m. today at Dodo Mortuary Chapel. Funeral service at 6 p.m. Graveside committal service 1 p.m. Friday (Nov. 22) at Homelani Memorial Park. Casual attire. Survived by sons, Mike (Cindy) Oskins of Hilo, Melvin (Sharrie) Oskins of Keaau and Vernon (Rhonda) Medeiros of Kurtistown; daughters, Alicia (Paul) Kekela of Hilo and Johnalyn Hanohano of Keaau; brother, Timothy (Darlene) Oskins of Alford, Fla.; daughter-in-law, Valerie Oskins of Kailua-Kona; 21 grandchildren, 47 great-grandchildren and eight great-great-grandchildren; cousins, nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Richard Michael Merschdorf
Richard Michael Merschdorf, 78, of Kailua-Kona died Nov. 5. Born in Mansfield, Ohio, he was the owner of Aloha Financial Services, member of the Elks Kona Lodge #2616, Kona Rotary Club, a volunteer for many community service organizations and U.S. Army veteran. Graveside service 11:15 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 5, at West Hawaii Veterans Cemetery in Kailua-Kona. Celebration of life at 12:30 at Elks Kona Lodge. Aloha attire. No flowers. Memorial donations Autism Moms Of Kona at autismmomsofkona.com. Survived by life partner, Derinda Thatcher of Kailua-Kona; daughter, Jessica (Zeke Hanohano) Merschdorf of Honolulu; son, Patrick Merschdorf of Salt Lake City.; three stepdaughters; eight grandchildren and step-grandchildren. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Peggy Ann Asuncion
Peggy Ann Asuncion, 68, of Pahoa, died Oct. 17 at Hilo Benioff Medical Center. Born in Laupahoehoe, she was a homemaker, majorette and 1974 graduate at Hilo High School. Visitation 5-6 p.m. Saturday (Nov. 23) at Dodo Mortuary Chapel. Funeral service at 6 p.m. Cremation to follow. Casual attire. Survived by son, Riley Asuncion of Pahoa; daughter, Daycia Asuncion of Pahoa; son, Kevin Asuncion of Pahoa; son, Denton (Ashley Perez) Asuncion of Pahoa; mother, Theresa Wilt of Hilo; sister, Carol Wilt of Pahoa; grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Fujie Ohara Yoshizawa
Fujie Ohara Yoshizawa, 96, of Keaau died July 27 at home. Born in Hilo, she was a retired flower packer for the former Orchids of Hawaii and member of Tenrikyo Church. Private services held. No flowers or koden (monetary gifts). Survived by sons, Dennis (Nancy) Yoshizawa of California, Glenn (JoAnn) Yoshizawa of Kona and Alvin Yoshizawa of Keaau; daughters, Janet Nuechterlein of Kona and Lynette Kusano of Keaau; eight grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Sydney Wayne Mariano
Sydney Wayne Mariano, 75, of Hawaiian Beaches, Pahoa, died Sept. 26 in Hilo. Born on Oahu. He graduated from Kaimuki High School and Honolulu Community College’s carpentry program, was a U.S. Army veteran, worked at Schofield Barracks, then transferred to Pohakuloa Training Area, where he retired. Visitation 5-6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 29, at Dodo Mortuary Chapel. Visitation again 9-10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 30, at Dodo Mortuary Chapel. Funeral service at 10 a.m. Casual attire or mix and match his favorite colors — black, green and ocean blue. Cremation to follow. Celebration of life 1:30 p.m. at Shipman Park in Keaau. Survived by nephew/hanai son, Edward A.J. ”Eddie” Asuncion of Pahoa; caregiver/niece, Edeen (Henry G. Acia) Gouveia of Hilo; brothers, Rodney (Vel) Mariano and Marshall (Ket) Takafuji; nephews, nieces, cousins, aunts and uncles. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
