• Lillian Ruiz Blackstad • Elsie Hisako Ogata Okada Lillian Ruiz Blackstad Lillian Ruiz Blackstad of Honolulu died May 26, 2007, at the age of 72. Born in Kekaha, Kaua‘i, she was a homemaker whose hobbies included traveling, crafts and
• Lillian Ruiz Blackstad
• Elsie Hisako Ogata Okada
Lillian Ruiz Blackstad
Lillian Ruiz Blackstad of Honolulu died May 26, 2007, at the age of 72.
Born in Kekaha, Kaua‘i, she was a homemaker whose hobbies included traveling, crafts and making her famous pasteles.
She is survived by her husband, Jospeh M. Blackstad; son, Joedy Blackstad; daughter, Joelyn Major; brothers, Ernest Ruiz Sr. and Harold Ruiz Sr.; and two grandchildren, Mathew and Jessica Major.
Friends may visit the family at 6 p.m. on Monday at Borthwick mortuary in Honolulu, Mauka chapel. Services will be at 7 p.m.
On Kaua‘i visitation will be at 6 p.m. on Wednesday at Borthwick Mortuary. Services will be held at 7 p.m. Aloha attire is suggested.
Elsie Hisako Ogata Okada
Elsie Hisako Ogata Okada, 88, of Waimea, died on May 31, 2007, in Honolulu.
Elsie was born in Camp 2, Makaweli and attended Makaweli school, graduated from Waimea High School and later attended Phillips Commercial School in Honolulu. She married her high school sweetheart, Ichiro Okada, who passed away in 1992.
She is survived by her children Anne, Ranceford and David; six grandsons; and two great-granddaughters.
During World War II, Elsie and Fumiko (Okada) Shiraishi helped run J. Okada Store while Ichiro, George, Motonobu and Ford were away with the 442nd RCT in Europe.
Elsie was active in the Waimea Christian Church, teaching Sunday School, being a member of the Evangelism Committee and singing in the choir. She participated in conferences sponsored by the Hawaii Conference of the United Church of Christ.
She served her community as a Girl Scout leader, Y-teen leader and a volunteer at the Waimea Hospital.
Elsie loved travelling with Ichiro and even rode the rapids with him on the Colorado River twice — through the Grand Canyon and Cataract Canyon.
She was a good conversationalist and would have been comfortable “talking story” with the Queen of England.
A memorial service will be held at the Waimea United Church of Christ Stone Church on June 16 at 9 am. Aloha attire requested.
