Obituaries for Sunday, December 17, 2017
Nelia Nepomuceno Nakazawa
Nelia Nepomuceno Nakazawa
Nelia Nepomuceno Nakazawa of Kilauea passed away at home on Dec. 7, 2017, at the age of 73. She was born in Peteros Rizal, Philippines, on June 8, 1944, and retired as manager of Subway in Kilauea and Hanalei.
She is survived by husband Edward Hisao Nakazawa of Kilauea, sons Garry (Susan) Dacanay of Kauai and Dante Nakazawa of California, siblings Ressurreccion (Alfonso) Arelleno of Miami, Gloria Tiamzon of the Philippines, Antonio Hagos of the Philippines, Yolanda (Frando) Estrella of the Philippines, Violet (Michael) Bucao of Kauai, Ofelia (Nanding) DeGuzman of the Philippines, and Tess (Curling) Smith of Kauai. She was nana to Kaden, Lexie and Nathan, and is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, Dec. 23, at St. Sylvester Church in Kilauea, with viewing from 8 a.m. and Mass celebrated at 10 a.m. Private burial will follow at Kauai Memorial Gardens.
Kauai Memorial Gardens &Funeral Home assisted the family with arrangements.
Merly de Vera Cruz
Merly de Vera Cruz of Kapaa passed away in Wilcox Medical Center on Dec. 4, 2017, at the age of 72. She was born on May 2, 1945, in Ranao Bani, Pangasinan, in the Philippines. She retired as a registered nurse from Samuel Mahelona Memorial Hospital.
She was preceded in death by her first husband, Juan Cruz, and her second husband, Joseph Stason, and her parents, Geronimo de Vera Sr. and Egliberta Orlanda.
She is survived by son John Michael Cruz, daughter Marian Cruz, and granddaughter Kambree Takekuma.
A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2018, at Immaculate Conception Church, with viewing at 8 a.m. and Mass at 10 a.m., followed by burial at Kauai Memorial Gardens.
The family suggests casual attire.
Kauai Memorial Gardens &Funeral Home assisted the family with arrangements.
Annette Spenser
Loving wife, mother, sister and tutu, Annette Lee Spenser, 83, of Wailuku, Maui, passed away at Maui Memorial Medical Center on Dec. 3, 2017. She was born on June 14, 1934, in Honolulu.
She was raised in the Waimea and Kekaha districts on the island of Kauai. She attended Waimea High School, where she was an honor student while participating in volleyball, basketball, softball, swimming and cheerleading. Her natural athletic beauty led to occasional modeling jobs and being used as an extra in the Hollywood films “Pagan Love Song” and “Bird of Paradise.”
After graduating in 1952, she attended Woodbury College in Los Angeles for two years before working as a secretary in the late ’50s. It was during this time she met her future husband of 60 years, Robert “Bobby” Spenser, through friends in LA’s tight-knit Hawaiian community. They married in 1957 and returned to Bobby’s Maui home for good in 1961, where they raised seven children. She retired as an executive secretary for Maui Economic Opportunity in 1999.
She was preceded in death by parents Bennett Holt and Annie Roberts, and brothers Bennett Jr. and Ronnie.
She is survived by husband Robert J. Spenser Sr., sons Robert (Jennie) Jr., Russell and Kaipo (Jennifer), daughters Tammy (Richard) Ramirez, Tracy Olivera, Toby (Mike) Spenser-Benedetti and Tanee (Bill) Timmons, brothers Norman (Beverly) Holt, Richard (Barbara) Waalani and James Anakalea (Diana), sisters Wanda Aki, Eula Zablan and Lihue (Chris) Miller, 11 grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. She will be remembered as an exquisite hula dancer and deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.
Visitation will begin from 9 to 11 a.m. at St. Anthony Catholic Church on Maui on Tuesday, Dec. 19, were Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Burial will follow at Maui Veterans Cemetery in Makawao.
John Weston McGill
John Weston McGill of Lihue passed away on Dec. 6, 2017, at home. He was born in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, on Dec. 21, 1936.
He is survived by wife Eleanor, sons David and Kristoffer McGill, stepchildren Kevin and Tod Lum and Maile Lum Goldberg, sisters Corinne(Larry) Case and Judy Shafer, and six grandchildren.
He retired as a social worker with the state of Hawaii. He graduated from Pasadena High School and from Wheaton College in Illinois. He also received a master’s of divinity degree from the University of San Francisco. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps after college, attaining the rank of captain. Subsequently, he worked for the Los Angeles County Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control. He moved to Honolulu in 1971, where he worked at the Lanakila Health Center. He was sent there to be the public health adviser to the Tuberculosis Branch by the CDC.
He married Eleanor Chan Lum in 1976. They moved to Lihue in 1987, where he worked for the state Department of Health and other social service and nonprofit organizations including Samuel Mahelona Memorial Hospital, Iniki Ohana and the Vets Center for the Veterans Administration.
He loved the teachings of the kingdom of God. His life verse was 2nd Corinthians 3:18: “So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord, who is the spirit, makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.” (NLT)
A private memorial service will be held at a later date.
Kauai Memorial Gardens &Funeral Home assisted the family with arrangements.
Merrell Arden Kanani Cardejon
Merrell Arden Kanani Cardejon, 70, of Kekaha, passed away on Dec. 11, 2017 at his home in Kekaha.
He was born on Aug. 22, 1947, in Hilo, Hawaii.
He was preceded in death by father Salvador Cardejon and mother Hannah Hi‘ilei Cardejon.
He is survived by wife Gweneth P. Naka‘ahiki Cardejon of Kekaha, son Chris (Roxanne) Cardejon of Kekaha, daughters Ardis (Aaron) Weight of Nevada, Mona-Ann Cardejon of Honolulu and Mernette Cardejon of Honolulu, grandchildren Kristian Cardejon, Kira Cardejon, Hannah Weight, Austin Weight and Henry Weight, brothers Nephi (Sherry) Cardejon of Arizona, Donlee Cardenjon of Nevada, Jared (Melissa) Planas of Ewa Beach, sister Noelette (Richard) Poulsen of Utah, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Friends may visit with the family on Friday, Dec. 22, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Kekaha Ward, from 9 to 10:45 a.m., where services will be celebrated at 11 a.m.
Burial will follow at Kekaha Hawaiian Cemetery.
The family suggests aloha attire.
Garden Island Mortuary assisted the family with arrangements.
Richard Sasan
Richard Sasan of Lihue passed away on Dec. 4, 2017, at Wilcox Medical Center, at the age of 81. He was born in Lihue on March 28, 1936, and grew up in Lihue Camp. As a teenager he played in the barefoot plantation football league, and played high school football and basketball. He graduated from Kauai High School in 1954.
He served in the U.S. Air Force after high school, and was stationed in Germany where he met his wife, Liane Schoberl. Together they had four daughters.
He worked for the National Weather Service on Oahu and Kauai, under the National Oceanic Atmopsheric Administration, as a meteorologist technician. In the early ’70s and ’80s he reported the weather on local Kauai radio stations as Dick Sasan.
He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, and was an excellent provider for his family. He was a man of character and strength and faced his challenges fearlessly. He will be dearly missed but never forgotten.
He was preceded in death by wife Liane Sasan, parents Timoteo and Francesca Generalao Sasan, sister Lily Sasan and brother Fred Sasan.
He leaves behind daughters Cookie Puahala (Darrel Jacobs), Sissy (Willie) Jerves, Tootsie Sasan (Leo Borrero) and Heidi Sasan (Bernard) Duarte; grandchildren Luana, Richard, Mokimana, Nikole, Samantha, Cheydon, Jessica, Dillon and Madison; and great-grandchildren Keaton, Leilani, Skylah, Raiden, Railah, Cheyley, Kayge, Avani, Tevah and Ryken.
He is also survived by brothers Jay (Diane) Sasan and William (Mary) Sasan, and sisters Josephine (Victor) Bigno and Lucille (Tony) Bargayo.
A memorial service will be held at Immaculate Conception Church in Lihue on Saturday, Dec. 30, with visitation from 8 to 9:45 a.m. and Mass at 9:45 a.m.
Burial will be held at 1 p.m. at Kauai Veterans Cemetery in Hanapepe. The family kindly requests that flowers be omitted.
Kauai Memorial Gardens &Funeral Home assisted the family with arrangements.
Kenichi ‘Stupe’ Shimogawa
Kenichi “Stupe” Shimogawa, 92, of Kalaheo, passed away on Dec. 12, 2017, at Kauai Veterans Memorial Hospital.
Born on March 3, 1925 in Koloa, he was a retired as a fuel farm operator, meat cutter and football official.
He was also a crossing guard for Kalaheo School, and in the U.S. Army.
He was preceded in death by parents Shigeru Shimogawa, Mitsuyo and George Lemon, brothers Kenneth “Kazu,” Kiyoshi Shimogawa and George Lemon Jr., sisters Janet Kiyono Wakamoto, Betty Yaeko Ihara and Viola “Nana” Kim.
He is survived by his wife Mary Shimogawa of Kalaheo, sons Duane Shimogawa of Lawai and David (Rosanne) Shimogawa of Kalaheo, daughters Keiko (Jeff) Pu‘u of Lawai, Kathy (Ricky) Carveiro of Lawai, Debbie Bahnmiller (hanai) of Wailua, grandchildren Shantelle Manibog, Kainoa (Dan) Sheldon, Adrian (Tammy) Pu‘u, Duane (Beth) Shimogawa Jr., Aeson (Robyn) Pu‘u, Gavin Shimogawa and Marcus Shimogawa, 11 great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Friends may visit with the family on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2018, at Kalaheo Missionary Church from 8 to 9:45 a.m., where memorial services will be celebrated at 10 a.m.
The family sugests casual attire and requests that flowers be omitted.
Garden Island Mortuary assisted the family with arrangements.
Gloria Souza Kaohi
Gloria Souza Kaohi, 97, died on Nov. 22, 2017, in Selah, Washington.
She was born Dec. 5, 1919, in Waimea, the yougest of eight children of Antone U. Souza and Justina Ornellas Souza, and lived on Kauai until 13 years ago.
As a young mother during World War II, she worked for the U.S. Army as a civilian office coordinator. After that she worked as the office coordinator for the Territory and then state Department of Transportation Harbors Division.
At a young age, she learned the art of Hawaiian quilting at her mother-in-law’s side, and turned that passion into needlework of all kinds. She was a life member of the Catholic Church.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 59 years, Joseph (Sonny) Kaohi, a son, Howard Kaohi, a granddaughter, Patti-Ann Pualani Lancaster, brothers, Antone, Edward, Larry, Al and George Souza, sisters Angie Vierra Hirano and Delphine (Tony) Santos, brothers-in-law, Markham, Benjamin, Enoka, Dudie, Mervin, William, Elsworth and Albert Kaohi, and sisters-in-law Emily Iwata, Mercy Ching, Rachel Mattson Young and Miriam Hosea.
She is survived by daughter-in-law Sharon Kaohi of Honolulu, daughter Bernadette (Lowell) Lancaster of Selah, Washington, grandchildren Debra (David) Hanmer of, Selah, Washington, Douglas (Ruth) Lancaster of Shoreline, Washington, David Lancaster of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, Craig (Kirsten) Lancaster of Selah, Washington, Kevin (Kate) Kaohi of Honolulu, Julie (Dean) Matsumoto of Honolulu, great-grandchildren Jessica, Joseph, Ivan, Lily, Elle and Maile Lancaster, Leiala and Anuhea Kaohi, and Lehua, Pohai and Kamahao Matsumoto, brothers-in law Clarence and Ronald Kaohi, sisters-in-law Betty (Momi) Kaleohano, Arlene Naholoholo, Alethea Kaohi, Roberta Kaohi, Matsuno Kaohi, Miyoko Kaohi, Joanne Kaohi and Minerva Kaohi, and numerous nieces and nephews she loved and tried to keep track of.
Funeral services will be held at Holy Cross Church, Kalaheo, on Jan. 12, with visitation at 9 a.m. and Mass to follow at 10:30 a.m.
Francisco Rabot Jr.
Francisco Rabot Jr., 80, of Kapaa, died on Nov. 17, 2017, in Honolulu. He was born on Kauai.
He is survived by brother Henry (Kay) Rabot, sister Rosie Rabot, stepsisters Brenda Reynolds and Sandra Cleveland, stepbrothers Wilson (Lola) Cleveland and Stanford Cleveland, children Rowena (Les) Quisano, Michele (Derrick) Lee, Bully (Lesley) Rabot, Jarrett (Sheri) Rabot, Ernest (Joy) Rabot, Henry Rabot and Jennifer Kaona, 20 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.
Memorial services will be held on Jan. 4, 2018, at St. Catherine Church in Kapaa, with visitation at 8 a.m. and Mass celebrated at 10 a.m. Inurnment will follow from noon to 2:45 p.m. at Kauai Veterans Cemetery in Hanapepe. Arrangements are being handled by Ultimate Cremation Services LLC.
Florentina Manuel Sadomiano
Florentina Manuel Sadomiano, formerly of Hanamaulu, passed away peacefully on Dec. 10, 2017, in San Francisco, surrounded by her loved ones.
She was born on Aug. 30, 1926, in Solano, Nueva Viscaya, Philippines, and at the time of her death she was 91 years old.
She was a homemaker and her love of crafting made her a master quilter.
She was preceded by her beloved husband Dionicio Sadomiano Sr., and parents Anastacio Sr. and Anatalia Manuel.
She is survived by daughters Norma (Claudio) Pera, Fely Sadomiano, Lita (Bryan) Mamaclay and Wilma Sadomiano Bourez, sons Francisco Sadomiano (Joan Hudson) and Danny (Raenette) Sadomiano, grandchildren Gavin, Don, Keoni Sadomiano, Chris, Kathleen, David Pera, Tricia (Mark) Ruiz and Sean Mamaclay (Jaime Lyn Kelekoma), great-grandchildren Teshaya and Tylise, Carmela, Ezra and Isaiah, brothers Rudy Manuel, Ana (Jane) Manuel, sisters Aileen Manuel-Duffik, Agnes Ann Manuel, hanai sons James and David Castro, hanai daughers Yvonne Castro Redman and Yvette Castro Sismondo, and numerous nieces, nephews, step-grandchildren and step-greatgrandchildren.
Visitation will be held on Friday, Dec. 29, at Immaculate Conception Church from 8:30 to 9:45 a.m., where Mass will follow at 10 a.m. Burial will follow at Kauai Memorial Gardens
The family requests casual attire.
Kauai Memorial Gardens &Funeral Home assisted the family with arrangements.
Don Schoenfeld
Celebrated Hollywood make-up artist Don Schoenfeld passed away on Dec. 5, 2017, in Koloa, where he and his wife Trudy lived for the last 30 years. He was 96, and died peacefully in the home they built.
He was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1921, and was married to his loving wife Trudy for 74 years. They were always an active and social couple, intensely devoted to each other, easily making friends with their neighbors and local business owners. They were instantly likable and well-known in the community.
Upon retirement, after first residing in Palm Springs, Don and Trudy moved to Kauai, found a lot near what is now the Hyatt Regency Kauai Resort &Spa in Poipu, and built their dream house.
It was not by chance. He had been the department head make-up artist on the original “Hawaii 5-0” TV show, with Jack Lord, and had quickly fallen in love with the islands.
Even though he returned to the Mainland for other projects, he eventually fulfilled his wish to return to the islands, and for 30 years he relished in “the best decision I ever made” to leave Palm Springs for Kauai.
He worked on some of the biggest TV and film productions including: “The Streets of San Francisco,” “Lassie,” “Lady Sings the Blues,” “The China Syndrome,” “The Poseidon Adventure,” “The Liberation of L.B. Jones,” “Coma,” “How the West Was Won,” “The Ten Commandments,” “Around the World in 80 Days,” and “Playhouse 90.”
He was Clint Eastwood’s personal make-up artist and friend from the time they worked together on the cowboy series “Rawhide.” After the series ended, they continued to work together on “Every Which Way But Loose,” “The Gauntlet,” and “Play Misty For Me,” among others.
Eastwood came to Koloa to visit him a few years ago. They sat on the lanai and recalled old times.
His most well-known accomplishment was his work on “The Wild, Wild West” TV series. He was nominated for an Emmy for his work creating many distinct characters for actor Ross Martin every week. He varied each character using prosthetics with highlights and shadows, and hand-laying beards, mustaches and mutton chop sideburns from that era.
It was hard, exacting work that demanded perfection from an unforgiving camera. It required long hours from before dawn to late at night, often in dusty, desert locations outside of Los Angeles. Regardless, he loved his craft, and his artistry shows forever on film.
In his last years before retiring, he was head of make-up department at Lorimar Studios, working from his office at MGM Studios. He oversaw the TV shows “Dallas,” “Knot’s Landing” and “Falcon Crest.”
He is survived by his wife Trudy, sons, Lawrence, Michael and Kenneth, and grandsons Andrew, Robbie, and Julian.
He will be sorely missed by his family and many friends.
