Obituaries for Wednesday, May 9, 2012
• Eleanor Kanahele • Dianne Rita • Gertrudis Agmata • Isabella Ramelb • Marilyn Okamoto • Kaumaka Apana • Lois Boeri • John Taboniar • Robert Zeus • Leonora Chock
Dianne Rita
Dianne Napolis Rita of Kalaheo died on April 30, 2012, at Wilcox Memorial Hospital, at the age of 61. She was born on April 3, 1951, in Honolulu. She was a homemaker, with smiles, joy throughout the years, closeness that was ours, touched her life a love as sweet fragrant flowers near her face right by my side. Until then I wait by heavens door at peace, knowing that I will see you once more.
She was preceded in death by her two daughters; father, Mark N. Napolis; and a brother Mark N. Napolis Jr.
She is survived by her husband, Eric W. Rita of Kalaheo; a son, Greg Silva of Kaua‘i; a godson, William and goddaughter, Shanelle; mother, Henrietta Napolis; parents-in-law, William and Anna Rita; two brothers, Dave and Dain Napolis, both of Hanalei; brothers-in-law, David, Gordon, Brian, Darin, Dustin, and William; four sisters, Doreen L. Henriques (Tom Nollar) of Kalaheo, Debra A. Napolis Johnston of Hanalei, Donna (David) Friend of Pahoa, and Dana (Kimo) Palmeira of Wailua; sisters-in-law, Vickie, Leslie, Kay, Shanelle, and Shanna; two grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and eight great-great-grandchildren. Also surviving are numerous uncles, aunts, nieces, nephews and cousins.
Services will be held on May 20 at the Garden Island Mortuary Chapel. Visitation is from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and service to begin at 1 p.m. Burial to follow at Hanalei Association Cemetery.
The family suggests casual attire.
Arrangements were handled by Garden Island Mortuary, Ltd.
Gertrudis Agmata
Gertrudis “Matda/Tuding/Trudis” V. Agmata died on April 30, 2012, at Wilcox Memorial Hospital with her family beside her at the age of 63. She was born in Laoag City, Philippines and was a resident of Hanama‘ulu, Kaua‘i. She worked more than 20 years at Kaua‘i Beach Resort in the housekeeping department before retiring.
She is survived by her husband, Epifanio Agmata; daughter, Eumalyn Mabini (Cedric Alonzo); sister, Eugenia (Bernardo) Anselmo; niece, Rowena (Wendell) Badua; nephew, Ronald (Marie Tess) Anselmo; and numerous cousins.
Join the family May 11 at 6 p.m., at the Hanama‘ulu residence as they celebrate and reminisce over her life. Service to be held on May 12, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. Visitation is from 8 a.m. to 9:45 a.m., with Mass at 10 a.m. Burial to follow at Lihu’e Cemetery. Please join the family for lunch at the Hanama‘ulu residence.
Arrangements by Garden Island Mortuary Ltd.
Isabella Ramelb
Isabella Madrid Ramelb of Hanama‘ulu died at Wilcox Memorial Hospital on May 1, 2012, at the age of 90. She was born on Kaua‘i on March 5, 1922, was formerly employed by Tip Top Bakery and retired from Wilcox Memorial Hospital as a certified nurse’s aide after 33 years.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Rosendo Fernandez Ramelb; parents, Ignacio & Juliana Padre Madrid; brothers, Napoleon and Venancio Madrid; and sister, Rosalina Fernandez.
She is survived by three sons, Aurelio, Patricio (Dorrine) and Federico (Jewel); two daughters, Felicidad (Anthony) Divina and Angelita (Irvin) Green; seven grandchildren, Patricia Yoneyama, Shandra Salud, Joshua Jones, Toni Keahiolalo, Matthew Divina, Christopher Ramelb and Aaron Ramelb; seven great-grandchildren, Tyrone Etrata, Gabrielle Salud, Trevor, Trent and TJ Yoneyama, Sailor and Liliwai Keahiolalo; two sisters, Claridad (Florencio) Tangonan, Carmen (Alfredo) Butac; and numerous nieces and nephews.
A celebration of her life will be held on Thursday, May 17, at Immaculate Conception Church with viewing from 8 a.m. to 9:30 and Mass celebrated at 10 a.m.
The family suggests casual attire.
Kaua‘i Memorial Gardens and Funeral Home assisted the Ramelb family with arrangements.
Marilyn Okamoto
Marilyn S. Okamoto of Koloa, Kaua‘i, died on April 10, 2012, at the age of 79. She was born on May 27, 1932, in Lumahai, Kaua‘i. She was a nurse with Wilcox Memorial Hospital.
She is survived by her husband, Asahi Okamoto; two sons, Chris (Melanie) Okamoto and David Okamoto; two daughters, Lorna (Marshall) Hiromasa and Michelle (Randall) Okamoto-Lum; a sister, Sanae Saito; six grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Services will be held on May 12 at the Kauai Veterans Cemetery. Visitation is from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Service will begin at 10:30 a.m.
Burial will be private.
The family suggests casual attire and requests that flowers be omitted. No koden.
Arrangements are being handled by Garden Island Mortuary, Ltd.
Eleanor Kanahele
Eleanor “Elena” Kuuleimomi Kanahele of Kekaha, Kaua‘i, passed away on April 26, 2012, at Kaua‘i Veterans Memorial Hospital at the age of 71. She was born on July 18, 1940, in Puuwai, Ni‘ihau. She was an evangelist of Ke Akua Mana Church.
She was preceded in death by parents, Eliakima and Lile Kanahele; husband, John L. Kanahele; and son, John “Kuhi” Kanahele. She is survived by hanai daughters, Rose (Johnny) Vaivao Tano (Kaimana) Castaneda , Meleni Kaneapua, Marian (Nelson) Eguchi, Rowena (Michael) Pangan; brother, the Rev. Henry (Oeilan) Kahale; sister, the Rev. Mabel Kaneapua; numerous nieces and nephews; 13 granchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Friends may visit the family on Saturday, May 12, at Borthwick Kaua‘i Mortuary Chapel. Visitation will be at 10 a.m. Service will be at 11:15 a.m. Burial to follow at Kekaha Hawaiian Cemetery. Casual attire suggested.
Arrangements are by Borthwick Kaua‘i Mortuary, Koloa.
Kaumaka Apana
Kaumaka Keona Apana of Pahoa, Hawai‘i (formerly of Hanama‘ulu) died April 9, 2012, at his residence in Pahoa at the age of 35. He was born in Lihu‘e on Feb. 14, 1977, and was a sales clerk.
He is survived by father, Duane J. Apana Sr. of Pahoa; mother, Esther P. Telles of Pahoa; brother Duane J. (Mini Cortez) Apana Jr. of Millilani Mauka; sister Jackie (Jason Camero) Apana of Hilo; one nephew, three nieces and numerous uncles, aunts and cousins.
Visitation will be held on May 13 at Onekahakaha Beach park in Keaukaha, Hawai‘i, from 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. A “Celebration of Life” service will begin at 12:15 p.m. The family welcomes friends to bring printed photos of Kaumaka to the service. Casual attire is requested. No flowers. Cremated remains will be taken to Kaua‘i at a later date for scattering.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary, Inc. in Hilo, Hawai‘i.
Lois Boeri
Lois Leticia Boeri of Lihu‘e, Kauai, died on May 5, 2012, at home, at the age of 64. She was born on March 29, 1948, in Michigan.
She is survived by her husband, Angelo Boeri of Lihu‘e; two sons, Michael Boeri of Lihu‘e and Christian (Jamie) Boeri of Colorado; father, Martin Kato; three sisters, Cecilia, Lucy and Mary, all of Honolulu; a brother, John of Honolulu; and two grandchildren.
Arrangements are being handled by Garden Island Mortuary, Ltd.
John Taboniar
John Taboniar, 74, of Hilo, Hawai‘i, died on April 3, 2012, at home. Born on Oct. 16, 1937, in Wahiawa, Hawai‘i, he was a retired meteorological technician for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration — National Weather Service.
He was a graduate of St. Louis High School on O‘ahu and a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Hilo and St. Theresa Church in Kekaha, Kaua‘i. John served in the U.S. Air Force, he was an avid softball player and enjoyed singing in the St. Joseph and St. Theresa Church choirs.
He was preceded in death by his father, Julio Taboniar; mother, Mary Rodrigues; brother, Herbert Callejo; and grandson, Corbin Jon Kaimana Reynolds.
He is survived by his wife, Violet Ann Taboniar of Hilo; sons, Michael Alan (Naomi) Taboniar of Kaua‘i, David Anthony (Rose) Taboniar of Kaua‘i, Matthew Jon (Marah) Taboniar of Kaua‘i; daughter, Jonnie Anne (Daynes) Reynolds of Kaua‘i; brothers, Benny (Juanita) Callejo of Kaua‘i and Joseph (Julie) Taboniar of Kaua‘i; sisters, Ruby Rivera of Kaua‘i, Betsy (Edwin) Shinagawa of Kaua‘i, Joanna Castillo of Kaua‘i, Julie (Fred) Patricio of Kaua‘i, Salina (Vincent) Sonoda of Kaua‘i; sister-in-law,Mae Callejo of Kaua‘i; eight grandchildren, one great-granddaughter and numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.
Visitation on Hawai‘i Island was held April 27 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Hilo.
Visitation on Kaua‘i will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 12, at St. Theresa Church, Kekaha, Kaua‘i. Eulogy at 10:45 a.m. Memorial Mass at 11 a.m. Casual attire is suggested.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary, Inc., Hilo branch.
Robert Zeus
Robert E. (Bob) Zeus passed away peacefully at Wilcox Hospital on April 20, 2012.
Born in Anaheim on May 31, 1917, he attended schools in Los Angeles and Berkeley, graduating from Berkeley High.
He resided at “The Regency at Puakea” in Puhi. Bob was a resident of the Oakland/Berkeley area for over 70 years before moving to Kaua‘i in 2006 to be near his family.
As a young man in the 1930s, he worked for the Matson Lines and made several trips between Oakland and Honolulu. Bob also worked at a silver mine in Nevada for two summers.
He attended the College of Marin and later was commissioned as an officer in the Army Air Corps.
During the war he was stationed at many posts where he ran Supply Operations and was in the Signal Corps.
Bob married Nancy McClintock of Alameda in 1941 while stationed in New Jersey. Leaving the Army after the war, they settled in San Leandro. In 1951 they built a home in Oakland raising their two daughters and spent their 65 years together on cow hill until Nancy’s passing in July 2006.
Zeus was in the wastepaper business from its infancy, working for Fiberboard running the warehouse in Emeryville before retiring in 1979. He also retired from the Air National Guard at the rank of lieutenant colonel.
He is survived by his two daughters, Letty (Steve) Mac Vitie of Kapa‘a; Kathy Groves of Reno; two grandchildren, Nicole (Chad) Morehead of Kapa‘a and Brooks Groves of Seattle; and two great-grandchildren.
A graveside service was held at the Hanapepe Veterans Cemetery on April 27 with full military honors.
Leonora Chock
Leonora Javellana Chock of Honolulu died on April 17, 2012, at the age of 85. Born on Dec. 15, 1926, in Kapahi, Kaua‘i, she retired as pantry worker from the Sheraton Waikiki.
She is survived by her sons, Gary K. (Didi) Chock of Wailua and Lenox K. (Lei) Chock of Palolo, O‘ahu; daughters, Dale H. (Glenn) Ching of Kapa‘a, Juliana P. (Daryl) Uejo, of Pearl City, O‘ahu, Colleen M. (Jaime) Valdez of Kapa’a, and Monica P. (Bill) Carpenter of Palolo, O‘ahu; brothers, Jose Javellana of Kaneohe, O‘ahu, and Aurelio (Gloria) Javellana of Pearl City, O‘ahu; sister, Conchita Javellana of Waimea, Kaua‘i; 13 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
