Merly de Vera Cruz
Merly de Vera Cruz of Kapaa passed away in Wilcox Medical Center on Dec. 4, 2017, at the age of 72. She was born on May 2, 1945, in Ranao Bani, Pangasinan, in the Philippines. She retired as a registered nurse from Samuel Mahelona Memorial Hospital.
She was preceded in death by first husband Juan Cruz, second husband Joseph Stason, and parents Geronimo de Vera Sr. and Egliberta Orlanda.
She is survived by son John Michael Cruz, daughter Marian Cruz, and granddaughter Kambree Takekuma.
A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, Jan. 6, at Immaculate Conception Church, with viewing from 8 a.m., Mass at 10 a.m., followed by burial at Kauai Memorial Gardens, and concluding with a luncheon at Immaculate Conception.
The family suggests casual attire.
Kauai Memorial Gardens &Funeral Home assisted the family with arrangements.
Kenichi ‘Stupe’ Shimogawa
Kenichi “Stupe” Shimogawa, 92, of Kalaheo, passed away on Dec. 12, 2017, at Kauai Veterans Memorial Hospital.
Born on March 3, 1925, in Koloa, he was a retired as a fuel farm operator, meat cutter, football official, crossing guard at Kalaheo School and veteran of the U.S. Army.
He was preceded in death by parents Shigeru Shimogawa, Mitsuyo and George Lemon, brothers Kenneth “Kazu,” Kiyoshi Shimogawa and George Lemon Jr., sisters Janet Kiyono Wakamoto, Betty Yaeko Ihara and Viola “Nana” Kim.
He is survived by wife Mary Shimogawa of Kalaheo, sons Duane Shimogawa of Lawai and David (Rosanne) Shimogawa of Kalaheo, daughters Keiko (Jeff) Pu‘u of Lawai, Kathy (Ricky) Carveiro of Lawai and Debbie Bahnmiller (hanai) of Wailua, grandchildren Shantelle Manibog, Kainoa (Dan) Sheldon, Adrian (Tammy) Pu‘u, Duane (Beth) Shimogawa Jr., Aeson (Robyn) Pu‘u, Gavin Shimogawa and Marcus Shimogawa, 11 great-grandchildren, sister Dorothy Soares and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Friends may visit with the family on Saturday, Jan. 6, at Kalaheo Missionary Church, from 8 to 9:45 a.m., where memorial services will be celebrated at 10 a.m.
The family suggests casual attire and requests that flowers be omitted.
Garden Island Mortuary assisted the family with arrangements.
Raymond Henry Pakahea Aiu
Raymond Henry Pakahea Aiu of Wailua, son of Eugene Kahoali‘i Aiu and Alice Apana Aiu, passed on Nov. 6, 2017.
He was preceded in death by siblings Margaret Ka‘ili, Harold Aiu, Andrew K. Aiu, Patrick Aiu, and granddaughter Pa‘anaakala Aiu.
He is survived by wife Verlie Anne Aiu, children Kappy, Billy, Kai, Lei, Deanna, JR, Chachi and Maile, 29 grandchildren,12 great-grandchildren, and siblings Cecelia Wood, Ernest Aiu and Alma Cirino.
A celebration of life will be held on Friday, Jan. 5, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. (visitation and eulogy), and on Saturday, Jan. 6, at 9 a.m. (Requiem Mass) at St. Catherine Church. Burial will follow at 10:30 a.m. at St. Catherine Cemetery. At noon there will be a pa‘ina at St. Catherine’s Coyle Hall.
Janet Ladera Silva
Janet Ladera Silva of Wailua Homesteads passed away on Dec. 25, 2017, at Garden Isle Health Care at the age of 76.
She was born in Lihue on June 16, 1941, and retired from Kawakami Furniture as a sales clerk.
She was preceded in death by parents Roberto and Margaret Ladera, brother Bobby Ladera, and sister Valerie Teixeira.
She is survived by husband Ronald Silva, brother Wesley (Priscilla) Ladera, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
A celebration of life will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 10, at Immaculate Conception Church, with viewing from 8 to 9:45 a.m. and Mass celebrated at 10 a.m. Burial will follow at Kauai Memorial Gardens.
Kauai Memorial Gardens &Funeral Home assisted the family with arrangements.
Annette C. Cassidy
Annette C. Cassidy of Menifee, California, passed away at the age of 80 years old on Dec. 14, 2017.
She was born in Sebastopol, California, and is survived by her husband of 49 years, the Rev. Thomas Cassidy, children Sue (Solomon) Kanoho, Mike Chisholm, John (fiancé Naomi Taniguchi) Chisholm and Greg (Karin) Cassidy, grandchildren Justin Kanoho, Brittaney Chisholm, Emma and Zoe Chisholm, Brianne and Bridget Cassidy, and Sister Cathleen (Bill) Coulson-Keegan, niece Teresa Keegan and nephews Casey and Marco Currin.
A celebration of life will be held at Poipu Beach Park on Sunday, Jan. 21, from 4 to 6 p.m.
Bertha Bicenta Leinaala Ching Kawakami
Bertha Bicenta Leinaala Ching Kawakami, a longtime educator and former state representative, died on Nov. 30, 2017. She was born and raised in Honolulu as one of seven children to Nancy Makia and Joseph Ching.
A graduate of the Kamehameha School for Girls in 1949, she attended the University of Hawaii at Manoa where she obtained her bachelor’s degree in education, followed by a master’s degree in education from New York University.
While at UH Manoa, she was a flight attendant for Hawaiian Airlines. After college, she joined the state Department of Education as a teacher, first at Nanaikapono Elementary, then Pearl Harbor Elementary, followed by a move to Kauai to teach at Eleele School.
She would later become a principal at both Kekaha and Eleele Schools before joining the DOE Kauai District Office as an educational specialist, and then deputy district superintendent.
Unfortunately in 1987, her husband, Richard A. Kawakami, a longtime businessman and state representative for West Kauai and Niihau, died only a couple of months after becoming speaker of the state House of Representatives.
She was appointed by then-Gov. John Waihee to fill her late husband’s seat, where she would serve the people of Kauai and Niihau until her retirement in 2006.
She was born on July 28, 1931, in Honolulu, and is preceded in death by her husband as well as son Kendall Kawakami (1998).
She is survived by son Wendall (Elizabeth) Kawakami and granddaughter Keilyn of Spokane, Washington, daughter Lyndall Kawakami of Honolulu, sisters Priscilla Wong and Deborah Chu, and many nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 13, at Diamond Head Mortuary. Services will begin at 11:30 a.m. with reception to follow.
Gene ‘Geno’ Edward Lewis
Gene “Geno” Edward Lewis, born Dec. 16, 1950, passed away Dec. 13, 2017.
A Long Beach Poly graduate, he moved to Kauai in 1969.
He was a lettered water polo player, surfer, electrician, and an avid fisherman.
He had many friends and will be missed.
Private services will be held.
Federico ‘Fred’ Ramelb
Federico “Fred” Ramelb of Kapaa passed away at Wilcox Medical Center on Dec. 26, 2017, at the age of 70. He was born in Lihue on Feb. 20, 1947. He is a veteran of the U.S. Army and retired from the County of Kauai beautification department.
He was preceded in death by parents Rosendo and Isabella Ramelb, and nephew Matthew Divina.
He is survived by wife Jewel Lynn Morita Ramelb, son Christopher Paul Rikio Ramelb, brothers Aurelio Ramelb and Patricio (Dorrine) Ramelb, sisters Felicidad (Anthony) Divina and Angelita (Irvin) Green, and beloved by numerous other family members and friends.
A celebration of life will be held on Monday, Jan. 22, at St. Catherine Church, with visitation from 9 a.m. and Mass celebrated at 11 a.m. Burial will follow at Kauai Veterans Cemetery.
Kauai Memorial Gardens &Funeral Home assisted the family with arrangements.
