Obituaries for Wednesday, March 5, 2014
• Maria Valenciano • Matilda Yoshioka • Antonio Jimenez • Anacleta Medrano • Jerri Jasper • Jason Doi • Antone Arruda • Wesley Okazaki • Steven Hooper • Joseph Viela Jr. • Alexis Bokovoy • Eura Sapir • Akira Watanabe
Maria Valenciano
Maria Bolosan Valenciano of Hanapepe, Kauai, died on January 16, 2014 at the age of 86. Born on August 15, 1927, in Bacarra, Ilocos Norte, Philippines, she was a retired Licensed Practical Nurse from Wilcox Hospital and Kauai Veteran’s Memorial Hospital.
Preceded in death by husband, Placido Valenciano, and daughter, Mary Sandra Claire Valenciano.
She is survived by her sons, Placido (Michelle) Valenciano and Randal (Debbie) Valenciano, both of Lihue; daughters, Patricia (Roland) Pablo of Waimea, Glenda (Reynold) Miyazaki of Lawai, Marilyn (Walter) Billingsley of Oahu, and Crystal (Bob) Rowe of Wailua; fourteen grandchildren, Jayson (Cecilie) Pablo, Tracy (Don) Sanchez, Corey Pablo, Travis (Jana) Miyazaki, Craig Miyazaki, Geoffrey (Brittany)Billingsley, Tony (Samantha) Billingsley, Logan Rowe, Whitney Rowe, Stephen Valenciano, Ryan Valenciano, Marisa Valenciano, Dreana Valenciano, and Randon Valenciano; five great-grandchildren, Courtney Guirao, Jack Billingsley, Colton Billingsley, Malie Miyazaki, and Skye Sanchez; and sister, Virginia Besas of Pearl City.
Friends may visit with the family on Sunday, March 9, 2014 at Garden Island Mortuary, Lawai from 1 p.m. with a memorial service to follow at 2:30 p.m.
Arrangements were handled by Garden Island Mortuary, Ltd.
Matilda Yoshioka
Matilda “Mattie” Yoshioka of Eleele, Kauai passed away at home on February 23, 2014 at the age of 62. Born on July 17, 1951 in Lanai, she was the President and CEO of the Kauai Economic Development Board, Inc. She retired from the County of Kauai after serving as the Director of the County Housing Agency and later as the Director of the Office of Community Assistance.
Predeceased by her father Celedonio Asuncion, and sister Felita Gapera.
She is survived by her husband Les Yoshioka, son Reid Yoshioka, daughter Lori Ann Yoshioka, mother Justa Asuncion, brother Cecil (Peggy) Asuncion, sister Elaine (Wayne) Yamaguchi, 6 grandchildren, Kirra Yoshioka, Melia Yoshioka, Elijah Yoshioka, Sanoe Yoshioka, Mila Yoshioka and Luana Simmons, and numerous uncles, aunts, nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Friends may visit with the family on Saturday, March 8, 2014, from 8:30 to 10:00 am at the Garden Island Mortuary Chapel in Lawai. A celebration of life service to follow. Family suggests casual attire and graciously decline flowers.
Arrangements were handled by Garden Island Mortuary, Ltd.
Antonio Jimenez
Antonio Trinidad Jimenez of Hanamaulu passed away peacefully at his home on February 6, 2014, at the age of 91. He was born in Ilocos Sur, Philippines on July 5, 1922, where he worked as a draftsman and architect. He retired from Kauai Stores Ltd. and Foodland.
Preceded in death by his wife, Carlina; parents, Elias and Maria Jimenez; In-laws, Sylvestre and Isabel Fernandez; and five sisters, Arcadia, Beatrice, Conception Esther and Lenora.
He is survived by six sons, Manny, Ernest (Cynthia), Abraham, David (Leeann), Samuel and Jesse: four daughters, Flora (Benjamin) Jasmin, Freddie, Ruth (Blaine) Yata and Esther (Peter) Riopta; 23 grandchildren, 34 great-grandchildren, and 1 great great-grandchild; numerous cousins, nephews and nieces.
A celebration of his life will be held on Saturday, March 8, 2014, at Kauai Veteran’s Center in Lihue with viewing from 8:30 a.m. and services beginning at 10:30 a.m. Burial will follow at Kauai Memorial Gardens.
Kauai Memorial Gardens and Funeral Home assisted the Jimenez family with arrangements.
Anacleta Medrano
Anacleta Alimboyoguen Medrano of Hanamaulu passed away at home on February 16, 2014, at the age of 82. She was born in Lihue, Kauai on April 26, 1931, and was a Wal-Mart Greeter.
Preceded in death by her husband, Fredrico Medrano.
She is survived by two daughters, Pamela Mancia of Hanamaulu, Lynnette Medrano-Stine of Hanamaulu; 4 grandchildren, Shannon (Mayan) Mancia of Omao, Sean (Tessie) Mancia of Kalaheo, Travis Stine of Oregon, LyAna Stine of Hanamaulu; siblings, Harold (Dolly) Alimboyoguen, Juanita (Albert) Caspillo, Ronald Alimboyoguen all of California; 6 great-grandchildren; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
A celebration of her life will be held on Tuesday, March 4, 2014 at Immaculate Conception Church with visitation from 8:00 a.m. and Mass celebrated at 10:00 a.m. Burial will follow at Kauai Memorial Gardens.
Kauai Memorial Gardens and Funeral Home assisted the Medrano family with arrangements.
Jerri Jasper
Jerri Renee Jasper of Lihue, Hawaii, died on February 27, 2014 at Wilcox Memorial Hospital at the age of 54. Born on January 1, 1960 in Pendleton, Oregon, she was a retired co-founder/owner and vice-president of Hawaii Movie Tours.
Preceded in death by her mother Jacqulyn Myers of Spokane, Wash., and father Richard Wassinkof Rathdrum, Idaho.
She is survived by her husband Bob Jasper of Lihue; sister Carmen (Tom) Jacoby of Spokane Valley, WA; five hanai children, nine hanai grandchildren, numerous aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.
Service will be held at a later date.
Arrangements are being handled by Kauai Memorial Gardens.
Jason Doi
Jason Doi of Kalaheo, Kauai passed away on February 9, 2014 at Wilcox Memorial Hospital at the age of 64. Born on October 5, 1949 in Lihue, Kauai, he was a Certified Inspector with Terminix.
Predeceased by his parents, Albert and Kikue Doi; He is survived by his brother, Randall (Jean) Doi of Kalaheo, and nieces and nephews.
Private Services were held at Lihue Hongwanji.
Arrangements were handled by Garden Island Mortuary, Ltd.
Antone Arruda
Antone Rente Arruda of Kapaa passed away at home on March 1, 2014, at the age of 96. He was born in Kealia, Kaua’i on July 4, 1917, and retired in 1979 from Lihue Plantation after 46 years of service as a Blacksmith and was a part-time pineapple farmer and rancher.
Preceded in death by his wife, Marie (Freitas) Arruda; son, Earl Arruda; Parents, Manuel Sr. and Mary Rente Arruda; brothers, Manuel Jr., Joseph, Henry; sisters, Mary (Joseph) Rapozo, Jennie (Jack) Rapozo, Helen (Alfonso) Fial, Bernice (Edward) Braun.
He is survived by his daughter, Caroline (Loren) Franklin; daughter-in-law, Beth Arruda; 4 grandsons, Lorrin (Geraldine) Aiwohi, Bryan (Akala) Aiwohi, Nathan (Leah) Aiwohi, Boyd (Mariko) Franklin; 2 grand-daughters, Eleanor (Steve) Hackney, Elizabeth (Brad) Otey; 12 great-grandchildren; 1 brother, John Arruda of California; 2 sisters, Florence Carvalho of Oregon, Lydia Rodrigues of Omao; numerous nieces and nephews.
A celebration of his life will be held on Friday, March 7, 2014, at St. Catherine Church with viewing from 10:00 a.m. and Mass celebrated at 11:00 a.m. Burial will follow at St. Catherine Cemetery in Kealia.
Kauai Memorial Gardens and Funeral Home assisted the Arruda family with arrangements.
Wesley Okazaki
Wesley Haruto Okazaki of Lihue passed away at home on February 10, 2014, at the age of 58. He was born in Waimea, Kauai on April 13, 1955, and was employed by Aloha Air Cargo.
Preceded in death by his parents, Yoshito and Kyoko Okazaki and brother, Bryan Okazaki.
He is survived by his wife, Marla Okazaki; sister, Valerie (Allen) Ozaki of Oahu; niece, Kiley Ozaki and nephew, Chad Ozaki.
A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, March 8, 2014, at Waimea Honpa Hongwanji with services beginning at 11:00 a.m.
Kauai Memorial Gardens and Funeral Home assisted the Okazaki family with the arrangements.
Steven Hooper
Steven Allen Hooper of Kauai passed away at Wilcox Memorial Hospital on Wilcox Memorial Hospital on February 7, 2014, at the age of 48. He was born in Illinois on May 6, 1965, and was a Glazer.
He is survived by his sister, Sandra (Edward) Notbusch of Arizona and 3 nephews.
Family will hold services in the mainland.
Kauai Memorial Gardens and Funeral Home assisted the family with arrangements.
Joseph Viela Jr.
Joseph Lei Viela Jr., formerly of Kahului, Maui, passed away at home in Wailua Homesteads, Kauai on February 8, 2014, at the age of 84. He was born in Hoolehua, Molokai on March 21, 1929, and retired as a Lifeguard Supervisor for the County of Maui.
He is survived by two daughters, Sharlene (Donald) Shimamoto of Wailua Homesteads, Kauai and Iona (Kirk) Brown of Roseville, Minnesota; four grandchildren Kristy Shimamoto of Wailua Homesteads, Kauai, Renae (Thomas) Benjamin of Seminole, Florida, Ian (Molly) Brown of Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Laura Brown of Minneapolis, Minnesota; two great–granddaughters, Kierstyn Benjamin and Greta Brown; brother, Archie Viela of Honolulu, Oahu; sister, Ah Lan Hiro of Hilo, Hawaii; sister-in-law, Lillian Tim Sing of Kailua, Oahu; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Private services will be held at a later date.
Kauai Memorial Gardens and Funeral Home assisted the family with arrangements.
Alexis Bokovoy
Alexis Peter Bokovoy of Princeville passed away at Wilcox Memorial Hospital on March 1, 2014, at the age of 93. He was born in Coaldale, Alberta, Canada on March 3, 1920; a Veteran of the United States Army, he retired as a General and Vascular surgeon from Huguley Memorial Medical Center in Fort Worth, Texas; practicing in Ethiopia for 18 years and Singapore for 2 years.
He is survived by his wife, Sandra “Sandi” Bokovoy; sons, Alex Charles Bokovoy of Pennsylvania, James Dean (Kimberly) Bokovoy of Oklahoma; daughter, Joanna Lynn “Joni” Bokovoy of California and 3 grandchildren.
Memorial services will be held on Saturday, March 8, 2014, at Kapaa Seventh Day Adventist Church beginning at 5:00 p.m. Private burial will take place in Kauai.
Kauai Memorial Gardens and Funeral Home assisted the Bokovoy family with arrangements.
Eura Sapir
Eura Hannah Makuaole Sapir of Kekaha, Kauai passed away on February 18, 2014 at home at the age of 78. Born on June 11, 1935 in Waimea, Kauai, she was a Front Office Manager with Fernhurst YWCA.
Preceded in death by her parents Kekua Kuapahi Makuaole and Eva Adolpho.
She is survived by her sons, Dexter (Pam) Tamura of Kahalui, Maui, Brian Gasper Sr. of Waianae, HI, Glenn Gasper of Makaweli Valley, Jaffrey Gasper of Waianae, HI, and Richard (Carla) Sapir of Portland, Oregon; daughter, Denise Aldene (James) – K. Leopoldo of Wainae, HI; brothers, George Makuaole of Wainae, HI, and Kealoha (Rosalie) Makuaole of Waimanalo, HI; sister, Gracie Acain of Kekaha, HI; lifelong Friend, Matilda Nawai Warkentin of San Jose, CA; 19 grandchildren, 56 great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Friends may visit with the family on Saturday, March 15, 2014, 10 am at the Garden Island Mortuary Chapel in Lawai. Service will begin at 11 am.
Arrangements were handled by Garden Island Mortuary, Ltd.
Akira Watanabe
Akira “Aki” Watanabe, age 82, of Hilo, Hawaii, died February 23, 2014 at the Hilo Medical Center. He was born in Kalaheo, Kauai, Hawaii, on September 24, 1931. He was an insurance producer for Noguchi and Associates, Inc. and Chief Operating Officer of Watanabe Insurance Services, Inc.
He is survived by his wife: Emiko Watanabe of Hilo; son: Brian (Janice) Watanabe of Hilo; Daughters: Cora (Richard) Nitta of Pearl City; Ann (Andrew) Kikuta of Hilo; Brothers: Seichi (Masako) Watanabe of Hilo; John (Doris) Watanabe of Hilo; Takuo (Jayne) Watanabe of Ranchos Palos Verdes, CA; Sisters: Kikue Nakamura of Kalaheo; Emi Kitashiro of Honolulu; 5 Grandchildren, numerous nephews, nieces, and cousins.
Visitation will be held on March 30, 2014 (Sunday) at Dodo Mortuary Chapel in Hilo from 12:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.; memorial service will begin at 2:00 p.m. Aloha attire is requested. No flowers. No Koden (monetary contributions). Donations may be made to the Hilo Rotary Club Foundation (P.O. Box 4192, Hilo, HI 96720), Boys and Girls Club of the Big Island (100 Kamakahonu Street, Hilo, HI 96720), or Honpa Hongwanji Hilo Betsuin (398 Kilauea Avenue, Hilo, HI 96720).
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary, Inc. in Hilo, Hawaii.
