Obituaries for Sept. 13, 2015
Obituaries for Sept. 13, 2015
Mary Scott Fayé Ballantine Reinhardt
Mary Scott Fayé Ballantine Reinhardt, mother of four, grandmother of eight and great-grandmother of five, died peacefully at her home in La Conner, Washington surrounded by her family on August 24, 2015, following a stroke. She was 88 years old.
Mary was one of a kind; she had a hearty laugh, dressed with flair and was an avid art collector. She was passionate for old movies, adored all animals and loved her beautiful Northwest village of La Conner on the water with its tulip fields and snow capped Mt. Baker.
Mary was born February 10, 1927, in Waimea on the Island of Kauai to parents Lindsay Anton and Gertrude Leilani Fayé, growing up in Mana and Kekaha. She was a descendant of missionary and sugar industry families. Mary attended Punahou School in Honolulu until World War II broke out and she was sent to school in the San Francisco Bay Area, returning to Waimea to finish high school in 1945. Following the war, she attended secretarial school in New York City and returned to Honolulu to work.
It was on a return trip to the islands that Mary met Robert J. “Bob” Ballantine of Prairie du Chien, WI, a B-24 pilot and captain in the Army Air Corps stationed in the Pacific. They were married in Waimea in 1947 and photos of the wedding were published in Life Magazine. Mary raised four children on Kauai, volunteered as a Sunday school teacher, Girl Scout and Cub Scout troop leader, PTA president and was widely known for her cooking and entertaining.
In 1967, Mary and Bob moved the family to Modesto, California where Mary became an avid golfer, won several club championships and served as president of the Northern California Women’s Golf Association. Mary took many wonderful trips traveling across the U.S. and Canada, as well as Europe, Mexico, Africa and the Mediterranean.
After Bob passed away in 1991, Mary married Will Reinhardt in 1993. He was a widower and former member of Bob Ballantine’s World War II bomber crew. Will and Mary moved to Bend, Oregon, where Mary became active in the local chapter of the Red Cross. After Will died in 1999, Mary stayed on in Bend until she moved to La Conner in 2002 to be closer to family. She loved La Conner, the beautiful Skagit Valley, exploring shops and galleries, spending time with her family, wine tasting and collecting art.
Mary was preceded in death by her parents and sister, Anna Theile.
She is survived by her brother, Lindsay Anton Faye Jr. “Tony” of Koloa and her sister, Linda Collins of Carpinteria, California.
Mary’s zest for life and feisty spirit will be deeply missed by her children, Linda Ballantine (Roland Matthews) of La Conner, Washington, Nancy Beaver (Jim Beaver) of Ashland, Oregon, David Ballantine (Dawn Emery Ballantine) of Boonville, California and Jimmy Ballantine of Waimea; as well as her grandchildren, Christopher Henderson, Dori Wechsler, Scott Beaver, Hallie Beaver, Adam Ballantine, Jeffrey Ballantine and Fanny Ballantine-Himburg; great-grandchildren Malia Henderson, Zachary Henderson, Mia Ballantine, Harper Ballantine and soon-to-be-born, Mary Belle Ballantine.
Following her death, a small, heartfelt ceremony was held for Mary at the La Conner Retirement Inn where she was the inn’s longest resident.
The celebration included good food and drink (as Mary would have enjoyed), story telling, and the reading of a poem written for the occasion by one of Mary’s dear friends.
There will be a family gathering to celebrate Mary’s life this December in La Conner followed by a memorial in Hawaii next summer.
Donations in honor of Mary’s memory can be made to the University of Hawaii Foundation for the Anna S Sloggett Endowed Scholarship in Elementary Education at the University of Hawaii Foundation, 2444 Dole Street, Honolulu, HI 96828.
Michael T. Bonachita Sr. ‘J.A.B.’
Michael T. Bonachita Sr. of Hanapepe passed away at Kaiser Permanente on August 17, 2015, at the age of 65. He was born on October 24, 1949, in Waimea and was truck driver with the County of Kauai.
He is survived by his wife, Julie Ann Bonachita of Hanapepe; sons, Michael Coleman of Molokai, Michael T. Bonachita Jr. of Anahola; daughters, Carla Coleman of Anahola, Naomi (Buddy) Taniguchi of Waimea, Janelle (Joshua) Olores of Kekaha; 13 grandchildren; one great-grandchild; sisters, Sharlene (Barney) Valdez of California, Kareen Gardner of McBryde, Debra (Ed) Ponting of Kekaha, Bev (Kau) Kauai of Kekaha, Jessie (Garret) Barretto of Big Island; numerous uncles, aunts, nieces, nephews and cousins.
Friends may visit with the family at the Garden Island Mortuary Chapel in Lawai on Saturday, September 19, 2015. Visitation will begin at 9 a.m. with services at 11 a.m. and burial to follow at the Kauai Veteran’s Cemetery in Hanapepe.
The family suggests casual attire and flowers are welcomed.
Arrangements were handled by Garden Island Mortuary, Ltd.
Nieves Malbog
Nieves Malbog of Hanamaulu passed away in Wilcox Memorial Hospital on August 7, 2015, at the age of 85. She was born in Lihue, Kauai on September 15, 1929, and retired from Dani’s Restaurant.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Feliciano Malbog; daughter, Joan Santos and sister, Neolita “Lolang” Sabugo.
Nieves is survived by three sons, Lawrence (Irene) Santos of Oahu, Kenneth (Mela) Santos of Hanamaulu, Edward (Mary) Santos of Wailua Homesteads; nine grandchildren, numerous great-grandchildren, great great-grandchildren; two sisters, Asuncion “Connie” (Paul) Laforga, Mercedes (Mercy) (Benjamin) Calvan; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
A celebration of her life will be held on Saturday, September 26, 2015, at Immaculate Conception Church with visitation from 8 a.m. and Mass celebrated at 10 a.m. Inurnment will follow at Kauai Memorial Gardens.
Kauai Memorial Gardens and Funeral Home assisted the family with arrangements.
Janet Lee
Janet Lee of Lihue passed away on September 2, 2015, at the age of 97. She was born in Makaweli, Kauai, on August 18, 1918, and was the owner of Lee’s Drive-Inn.
Preceded in death by her husband, Daniel Lee.
She is survived by her daughter, Myrna Lee Chang; three grandchildren, Colette Anders, Carleen (Herbert) Saito, Curran (Cindy) Chang; 13 great-grandchildren and one great great-grandson.
Private inurnment services were held at Kauai Memorial Gardens.
Kauai Memorial Gardens and Funeral Home assisted the Lee family with arrangements.
Kenneth M. Olanolan
Kenneth M. Olanolan passed away at Wilcox Hospital on September 5, 2015, at the age of 67. He was born on February 19, 1948, in Haena and was self employed with Pale Horse Corporation.
He is survived by his wife, Sharon Olanolan of 41 years; daughters, Tiffany (Chris) Perriera of San Diego and Shawnlynn Uriah-Kennedy of Oahu; four grandchildren, Lohiau (Virginia Kaaihue) Olanolan of Lihue, Tyesha and Aislynn Brock of North Carolina, Christopher Perriera of San Diego; one great-grandchild; brothers, Michael (Karen) Olanolan of Haena, Wendell (Anne) Olanolan of Kalihiwai, Dexter Chung of Anahola; Wesley Olanolan of Oahu, Gregg (Bula) Olanolan of Oahu, Nathan Olanolan of Oahu, Nick of Oahu and Ronald Sojot of Oahu; and sisters, Vivian Olanolan of Anahola, Sheila (Macky) Desilva of Kapaa, Debbie Manuel of Oahu and Kathy Ching of Oahu.
He is preceded in death by his son, Kaimi Kai Olanolan.
Services will be held at a later date on Oahu.
Arrangements were handled by Garden Island Mortuary, Ltd.
Gerald Wilder Alaibilla
Gerald Wilder Alaibilla of Kapaa, passed away on Thursday, September 3, 2015, at the age of 67. He was born in Honolulu, on July 26, 1948. Gerald was a store manager for the Kapaa Big Save Supermarket.
He is survived by his wife, Pamela Alaibilla; sons, Gerald Sky (Edna) Alaibilla of Waimea, Kele (Surrey) Alaibilla of Kapaa and Jose Jason Alaibilla of Seattle, Washington; daughter, Pecious (Larry) Garma of Makakilo; 12 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; numerous nieces, nephews and extended family.
A celebration of Gerald’s life will be held on Saturday, September 19, 2015, at the Kauai Veterans Center in Lihue with visitation at 9 a.m. and services at 10 a.m.
Kauai Memorial Gardens and Funeral Home assisted the Alaibilla family with arrangements.
Fusae Ohara
Fusae Ohara of Lihue, passed away at Wilcox Memorial Hospital on Friday, September 4, 2015, at the age of 97. She was born in Kealia, Kauai on April 30, 1918, and was a dedicated Homemaker.
She was preceeded in death by her son, Gerald Francis Ito, Sr.
Fusae Ohara is survived by granddaughter and caregiver, Raenell (Shane) Shimabukuro of Anahola; granddaughters, Chantell (Robert) Kaaihue and Darnell Ito; grandson, Gerald Ito Jr.; niece, Marlene Kasaoka of Honolulu and numerous great-grandchildren.
Services will be held at a later date.
Kauai Memorial Gardens and Funeral Home assisted the Ohara family with arrangements.
Margie Louise (Grandma Lou) Whitson
Margie Louise (Grandma Lou) Whitson passed away August 19, 2015, at Wilcox Hospital in Fremont at the age of 87. She was born March 12, 1928, in Traverse City, Michigan.
She was preceded in death by her brother, Donald Wright and sister, Delores Franke.
Lou is survived by three sons, D.R. Whitson of Seattle, Mark Whitson of Kapaa and Paul Whitson of Oklahoma City; daughter, Charlie Stout of Oklahoma City; five grandchildren and many great-grandchildren.
A celebration of her life will be November 19, 2015, at the Country Common Club House in Fremont from 4 to 6 p.m., this is where she resided the past 20 years.
Takeshi ‘Take’ Nanbu
Takeshi “Take” Nanbu of Lihue passed away following a brief illness at the Garden Isle Health Care on July 17, 2015, at the age of 94. He was born in Lihue on July 16, 1921. He was a stevedore at Ahukini pier and retired from Kauai Sugar Storage.
He is survived by his wife, Harumi; sons, Glenn (Jeanne) of Oahu and Irvin of Kauai; two grandchildren; Janeen Nanbu and Nolen Nanbu of Las Vegas and one brother, Minoru (Gladys) Nanbu of Big Island; nieces and nephews.
A celebration of his life will be held on Sunday, September 20, 2015, at Lihue Hongwanji Mission with visitation from 3:30 p.m. and services beginning at 4 p.m.
The family suggests casual attire and graciously declines flowers.
Kauai Memorial Gardens and Funeral Home assisted the Nanbu family with arrangements.
Anthony ‘Ricky’ Caracoes
Anthony “Ricky” Fredric Caracoes of Lihue, Kauai passed away on August 29, 2015, at his home in Lihue at the age of 63. He was born on June 19, 1952 in Lihue, Kauai.
He is preceded in death by his parents Nancy and Fredric Caracoes.
“Ricky” is survived by his daughter, Stacia (Russell Jr.) Viloria; son, Ryan (Joannie) Viloria; sister, Joann Rapozo; as well as three grandchildren and one niece.
Private services were held.
Arrangements handled by Borthwick, Kauai Mortuary.
Ernesto Ulep Martinez
Ernesto Ulep Martinez passed away at Hale Kupuna on September 4, 2015, at the age of 71. He was born on January 25, 1944, in Munoz Nueva Ecija Philippines and was a haul cane truck driver with the Kekaha Sugar Plantation.
He is survived by his wife, Vicenta C. Martinez; sons, Jun (Anabelle) Martinez of Las Vegas, Nevada and Michael (Cheryl) Martinez of Kekaha, Kauai; daughters, Elvira Martinez of Kekaha, Kauai and Jessica M. (Pedro Jr.) Galiza of Lihue, Kauai; and twelve grandchildren.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Maximo and Aurelia Martinez; brother, Jaime Martinez; sisters, Macaria M. Obello, Florentina M. Isidro, Carolina M. Manlapaz and Myrna M. Aquino.
Friends may visit with the family at the St. Theresa Church in Kekaha on Saturday, September 19, 2015.
Visitation will begin at 9 a.m. with services at 11 a.m. and burial to follow at the Kekaha Public Cemetery.
The family suggests casual attire and flowers are welcomed.
Arrangements were handled by Garden Island Mortuary, Ltd.
