Obituaries for July 5, 2015 Jeffrey Michael Hayes Jeffrey Michael Hayes died June 9, 2015, following a near drowning after a fall at his home near Austin, Texas, on June 1. Jeff was born in Los Angeles, Calif., on Aug.
Obituaries for July 5, 2015
Jeffrey Michael Hayes
Jeffrey Michael Hayes died June 9, 2015, following a near drowning after a fall at his home near Austin, Texas, on June 1. Jeff was born in Los Angeles, Calif., on Aug. 12, 1965.
His mother is Phyllis (Philomena) Zillo Rowlands of Lakeway, Texas, and his father the late Donald Robert Hayes of East Rockaway, NY. His husband of the past 24 years is Greg Sovey of Lakeway, Texas.
Jeff attended Loyola High School in Los Angeles, graduating in 1983. He attended Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles and the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, where he graduated with honors in 1996. Jeff was an Eagle Scout and was proud of his Italian-American upbringing. For almost 30 years Jeff was owner and operator of Habitat Hanalei Interiors Inc., an interior design firm. He earned much recognition during his career for his designs including his extraordinary assemblage glass artwork, Il Vetro Illuminare. Jeff met his soulmate, Greg, at St. Monica Catholic Church in Santa Monica, Calif., in 1991. Together they had a wonderful life built on love, laughter, trust and mutual respect. Since 1991, they have resided in Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Princeville-Kauai and Lakeway.
Jeff lived life out loud. He loved animals most especially the dogs and cats he shared his life with. He was an excellent cook who never followed a recipe and always prepared enough for a small army. He loved to fish and loved nature. To say he was creative would be a gross understatement. He had a passion to repurpose found objects and was on a never ending search for a diamond in the rough. He knew his strengths and admitted his faults. Prefacing the following with “extraordinarily,” Jeff was: articulate, bold, candid, clever, courageous, devoted, dynamic, eyelash endowed, fearless, forgiving, generous, genuine, gifted, hilarious, hopeful, honest, impressive, industrious, intelligent, intuitive, loyal, mischievous, observant, original, protective, quick-witted, reflective, resilient, resourceful, sensitive, sincere, spiritual, street smart, tenacious, uncompromising and wise. Jeff could also at times be careless, exhausted, headstrong, impatient, impulsive, inaccessible, intense, moody, opinionated, outrageous, stubborn and uninhibited. Like all of us he was a complex human being but he loved and lived with unusual fullness and fury. He lived uncontrived.
Jeff will be achingly missed by all who knew and loved him but most especially by his husband Greg, mother Philomena, Aunt Jude and Uncle Bob Golden and Cousins Joya (Kyle) Chrystal and Jamie Golden of California and many dear friends, most especially those he lovingly called “Blanche.”
A celebration of his life will be held on Aug. 8 at The Hills of Lakeway Country Club, The Hills, Texas, at 5 pm. Father Bruce Lery, S.M., will officiate a memorial service and an evening of great food, drink and storytelling will follow. Contact gregsovey@gmail.com for details. In lieu of flowers, donations to www.beardedcollieclub.us/rescue and www.austinpetsalive.org in Jeff’s name would be accepted with gratitude.
Arrangements by Weed-Corley-Fish Lake Travis (512) 263-1511. Obituary and memorial guestbook available online at www.wcfish.com
Patsy Alayvilla
Patsy Ann Alayvilla of Kalaheo passed away in Wilcox Memorial Hospital on June 27, 2015, at the age of 68. She was born in Lihue on Sept. 10, 1946, and retired as a receiving clerk with Big Save Store in Koloa.
She is survived by two daughters, Melisa (Robert) Dodge of Hawaii Kai and Brenda Miyashiro of Eleele; one granddaughter, Ashlee Miyashiro; one grandson, Nicholas Dodge; three sisters, Theresa Mahuiki, Shirley Ipac and Diana (Michael) Carvalho; two brothers, Frank Simao Jr. and Patrick Simao; numerous aunties, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, brother-in-laws, sisters-in laws and special friends.
A celebration of her life will be held on Saturday, July 11, 2015, at Holy Cross Church with visitation from 9 a.m. and Mass celebrated at 11 a.m. Inurnment will be held privately.
Kauai Memorial Gardens and Funeral Home assisted the Alayvilla family with arrangements.
Ernie Rivera
Ernie Menehune Rivera of Tucson, Ariz., passed away at home at the age of 92 on March 26, 2015. He spent his life as an entertainer.
Ernie was born in Waimea, Kauai, on Jan. 26, 1923.
He is survived by his daughters, Eraina Kennett, Carol Ann (Richard) Wick and Gloria Jean Ballenger; sons, Patrick (Sandra) Menehune, Ernest M. Rivera, Michael Carl, Laszlo Layton, Ernie (Tina) Menehune and Ryan Menehune; as well as his sister, Anna Knapp Thuente and brother, Larry Rivera; 15 grandchildren, 33 great-grandchildren; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Graveside services will be held on Friday, July 10, 11 a.m. at Kauai Memorial Gardens.
Kauai Memorial Gardens and Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
“Remember, singing is good for the heart.”
Edita Soria
Edita Peralta Soria of Puhi passed away on June 29, 2015, at the age of 88. She was born in Santa, Ilocos Sur, Philippines on Nov. 5, 1926, and was a dedicated homemaker.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Moises Burgonio Soria Sr.; parents, Eduardo and Nicolasa Peralta; brother, Deogracio Peralta, Winifred Peralta and twin sister, Adela Peralta.
Edita is survived by seven children, Gloria (Roger) Saraos, Vicente (Gloria) Soria, Loida (Roy) Neumann, Lemuel (Elizabeth) Soria, Glenda (Elmer) Cabulisan, Eunice (Elmer) Burgonio, Moises (Tasha) Soria Jr.; 16 grandchildren, Nina Mae Saraos, Shanda Rae (Byran-deceased) Rego, Jensine, Alysha and Victoria Soria, Kelly Lou and Karl Neumann, Nicole, John Mark (Kate) and Harry Soria, Theodore (Alexis) Cabulisan, Ian and Kemp-Kyt “Kempee” Burgonio, Macie Joy and Tiffanie Monique Soria, Lilet (Leonard) Villanueva; eight great-grandchildren, Nadja Shalom Saraos, Maxine Jade, Trigg Marcus and John Matthew Soria, Amiah Malia and Enrique-Moises Soria, Toryn Cabulisan, Maxen Reid Soria-Manuel; special friends, Marie Mendaro, Maverick Gambeng, Laniza Garcia; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
A celebration of her life will be held on Saturday, July 11, at Lihue United Church with viewing from 1:30 p.m. and services beginning at 2:30 p.m. Burial will follow at Lihue Cemetery.
Kauai Memorial Gardens and Funeral Home assisted the Soria family with arrangements.
Joseph Merkel
Joseph “Harbor Joe” Perry Merkel of Kapaa passed away at home on June 21, 2015, at the age of 62. He was born in Kentucky on Dec. 12, 1952, and repaired everything from boats to trailers all over the island of Kauai.
He is survived by son, Jake Merkel of the Big Island; two daughters, Ellan Jones, Rebecca Merkel of Kentucky; mother, Evelyn Merkel of Kentucky; four grandchildren; brother, John Merkel of Florida; sister, Frances Evola of Indiana; nieces and nephews.
A celebration of his life will be held on Saturday, July 11, at Lihi Beach from 12 p.m. with scattering of ashes at 1 p.m. and potluck to follow. Contact Mike Malone to coordinate potluck, 635-8131.
Kauai Memorial Gardens and Funeral Home assisted the family with arrangements.
Antonio Udarbe
Antonio Udarbe of Kaumakani passed away on June 28, 2015, at KVMH at the age of 67. Born on Jan. 17, 1948, in Magsingal Ilocos Sur, Philippines, he was a field worker with Global Ag.
He is survived by his wife, Vanessa Udarbe; son, Anthony Kyle Udarbe of Kaumakani; daughter, Carmila Udarbe of Kaumakani; one adopted son, Noel Ryan Udarbe of Philippines; mother-in-law, Mila Racimo of Kaumakani; five sisters, Ceferina (Pedro) Costales of Kekaha, Orencia Ancheta of Kekaha, Carmen Agbasit of Kaumakani, Dolly (Audy) Navalta of Kapaa, and Inocensia Udarbe of Philippines; and numerous uncles, aunts, nieces, nephews and cousins.
Friends may visit with the family on Friday, July 10, at St. Theresa Catholic Church in Kekaha. Visitation will begin at 8 a.m. with services at 10 a.m. Burial will be followed at the Hanapepe Public Cemetery.
Family suggests casual attire and is open to flowers.
Arrangements were handled by Garden Island Mortuary, Ltd.
Yoshiko Shigematsu
Yoshiko Shigematsu of Koloa passed away on June 4, 2015, at the age of 92. She was born on Feb. 6, 1923, in Waimea, Kauai.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Torao Shigematsu, and her son, Clyde Shigematsu.
Yoshiko is survived by her children, Ricky (Lori Cabebe) Shigematsu of Lihue, Karen (Miles) Tone of Kapaa, Wanda Corr of Kalaheo, Lisa Dela Cruz of Princeville; daughter-in-law, Alison Shigematsu of Lawai; 13 grandchildren, 19 great grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren.
She also leaves sisters, Shizue Matsusaka of Kekaha, Jean Lovell of California, and Lillian Idouchi of Oahu; brother-in-law, Jenichi Shigematsu of Koloa; sister-in-laws, Kazuko Ikemoto of Kekaha, and Mae Ikemoto of Honolulu; and numerous nephews and nieces.
Private services were held on Monday, June 22.
Garden Island Mortuary Ltd. assisted the family with the arrangements.
