Margaret Mary Gasper
Margaret Mary Gasper passed away on Oct. 12, 2018 at approximately 5:30 p.m. She was born on Feb. 19, 1953 in Kodiak, Alaska, at Griffin Hospital, to Fritz Gasper and Mary Thelma.
She graduated from Kalani High on Oahu in 1971 and from the University Hawaii at Manoa in May of 1976. She majored in elementary and primary grade education and had a grade point average of 3.3. She taught for 25 years at Kilauea School from 1990 to 2015.
She retired on Aug. 31, 2015. In March of 2013 she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, and in September 2015 left Kauai for Oahu. In January 2018 she was treated with another bout of chemotherapy called Bevacizumab and, unfortunately, suffered a severe adverse reaction. On Jan. 26, 2018, she was a resident at Palolo Chinese Home under the St. Francis Hospice Program.
She loved teaching and was very good at it. In remembrance and celebration of her and her life, we request you light a candle, burn some incense or offer up prayers. Do not send money.
Corinda Swart
Corinda Swart, 61, of Koloa, passed away on Nov. 14, 2018, at Hale Kapuna Heritage Home.
Born on April 19, 1957 in Hong Kong, she was a retired controller and accountant.
She is survived by son Dennis Swart Jr. of Hawaii Kai, daughter Ashley Swart of Koloa, and grandchildren Owen Lucas and James Lucas
A private family service will be held.
Borthwick Kauai Mortuary is assisting the family with arrangements.
Poncio ‘Pancho’ Bayot
Poncio “Pancho” Bayot, 85, of Waimea, passed away on Oct. 26, 2018, at Kauai Veterans Memorial Hospital.
Born on May 14, 1933 in Waimea, he was a retired fertilizer truck driver for Kekaha Sugar Company.
He was preceded in death by son Eugene Keo Bayot, parents Feliciano and Eugenia Bayot, brothers David, Valentin and Constancio Bayot, and sisters Florence Parangao, Clara Bayot and Dorothea Naumu.
He is survived by wife Edna Bayot of Waimea, son Richard (Elsie) Bayot of Waimea, daughter Edee (Kim) Nichols of Waimea, grandchildren Darrick (Sheryl) Bayot, Rilen (Shyenne) Bayot, Dayton Bayot and Samantha Nichols, great-grandchildren Rysen-Duke Bayot, Riley-Rei Bayot and Elijah-Daniel Bayot, sister Cecelia Aldaya of Las Vegas, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Friends may visit with the family on Saturday, Nov. 24, at Kauai Veterans Cemetery pavilion from 10 a.m., where a celebration of life will be at 10:30 a.m. Inurnment will follow.
The family suggests casual attire.
Borthwick Kauai Mortuary is assisting the family with arrangements.
Sanoe Haunani Soares
Sanoe Haunani Soares, 33, of Wailua Houselots, passed away on Oct. 20, 2018. She was born in Lihue on Dec. 10, 1984, and was the manager at Genki Sushi.
She was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents, David and Wailoha Kaaumoana, paternal grandfather Manuel Soares, aunties Cindy Kaaumoana and Linda Texeira, and uncle Peter Soares.
She is survived by sons Kaulana Watson, Ke Kai‘kona Soares and Kainalu Soares, father Manuel Kimo Soares, mother Dorene “Bulla” Soares, siblings Ernest (Chrystal) Branco, Lorinda (Jeremy Riopta) Branco and Wendell (Celeste) Soares, paternal grandmother Alma Soares, and numerous aunties, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.
A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, Nov. 24, at St. Catherine Church, with visitation from 8 a.m., eulogy at 9:45 a.m. and Mass celebrated at 10 a.m.
Kauai Memorial Gardens & Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
Eugene Keith Jimenez
Eugene Keith Jimenez, 71, of Omao, passed away on Nov. 15, 2018, at his home.
Born on Feb. 1, 1947, he was a retired County Housing Agency administration and former county Finance Department deputy director, and with the U.S. Army 82nd Airborne Division.
He was preceded in death by father Eugenio Jimenez and sister Rowena Tachibana.
He is survived by wife Lorraine Jimenez of Omao, sons James (Shanlee) Jimenez of Lihue and Timothy Jimenez of Kalaheo, three grandchildren, one great-grandchild, mother Pacita Jimenez of Lihue, brothers Mark (Madi) Jimenez of Poipu and Ryan (Regina) Jimenez of Wailua, and numerous uncles, aunts, nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends.
A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, Nov. 24, at Lihue Christian Church from 9 a.m., where services will be held at 10 a.m.
Inurnment will be at Kauai Veterans Cemetery in Hanapepe at 2:30 p.m.
The family suggests casual attire and requests that flowers be omitted.
Borthwick Kauai Mortuary is assisting the family with arrangements.
Rufino Rivera Ramos Sr.
Rufino Rivera Ramos Sr., 89, of Kekaha, passed away on Nov. 15, 2018, at his home. Born on July 10, 1929 in Tarlac, Philippines, he was a landscaper with Pioneer and Poipu Kai. He was preceded in death by daughter Jesabel Ramos.
He is survived by wife Betty Peralta Ramos of Kekaha, daughters Imelda (Ray) Miguel, Nemia (Tony) Guirao, Diosalinda (July) Gregorio, Lorna (Robert) Paculanan, Thelma (Garret) Ramos, Genelyn (Derrick) Ramos, Jovelyn Aquino, Raquel Ramos, and sons Robert (Liza) Ramos, Rodrigo (Marie) Ramos, Fernando (Vaoiva) Ramos, Rufino Ramos Jr. and James Ramos, siblings Juliana (Jesus), Agatona (Abraham), Juana (Delphin), Maxima (Jesus), Erlina (Florentino) and Thomas (Rosemarie) Jr., and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and cousins.
Friends may visit with the family on Saturday, Nov. 24, at Kekaha Methodist Church from 9 to 10:45 a.m., where services will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Burial will follow at Kekaha Public Cemetery. The family suggests casual attire. Garden Island Mortuary is assisting the family with arrangements.
Tabatha Harris
May 1, 1967 – July 18, 2018
Family and friends will be gathering at the lifeguard stand by the pavilion and doing a paddle out to Hanalei Pier to celebrate the life of Tabatha Harris on Wednesday, Nov. 21.
She battled multiple sclerosis for over 20 years, and in July lung cancer consumed her and took her to a place without pain.
She is survived by father Joe Harris of Hanalei, siblings Shannon Hagedorn and Joey Kai Harris, niece Alena Harris and nephews Silis and Iokepa Harris. She hung out at the Hanalei pavilion annually in November to keep her tan going, and will be missed by so many.
Aloha Kakou,
There is clearly a longevity thing going on in Kekaha it appears if you read The Garden Island obituaries. There is a unique happening in Kekaha wherein most people passing away are living well into their 80’s and 90’s and a few in excess of 100 years. In comparison to other towns on kauai this is a phenomena…and just what allows this aging longevity to occur. This means people are living into their 9th, 10th, and 11th decades. Congratulations…! ! !
One resident said it is the low stress lifestyle, that most elderly get to live in Kekaha. Certianly Kekaha is away from so much of the hustle and bustle of the rest of the island. What allows this uniqueness out there.
Others say it is primarily people of a certain 1 or 2 cultures living out there. The surnames of the residents out there in the obituaries would would back that up as being a contribution. And that would mean DNA, perhaps?
It is also said that these elderly people lived much of their lives during the plantation era, but then why only Kekaha, well with a smattering of Waimea as well, as to longevity, and similar longevity characteristics. Could it be a spiritual thing wherein certain lifestyles emphasize Happiness over Suffering. In fact some make it a study of mind training that others do not get.
On the other hand these elderly people lived the majority of their lives before the onslaught of the new agricultural GMO TYPE chemicals being used today and relatively recently vs. the different agricultural chemicals used during the sugar plantation era for a century and a half. It would be interesting to know what fertilizers or chemicals were used early on in the 1860’s and forward compared to those chemicals used at the end of the sugar era.
In other words what was the severity of toxicity of the chemicals used in the 1860’s for a century and a half, if any, compared to the toxicity of sugar plantation chemicals used at their relatively recent closing of the last plantations on Kaua’i, especially in Kekaha and Waimea. And compare sugar plantation Ag chemicals of yesteryear to the GMO chemicals of today that are claimed to cause cancer and are outlawed in other countries while tolerated on tiny Kaua’i and even tinier Kekaha.
The burning question remains will the toxicity of chemicals in the new GMO era result in lowering the longevify years for the younger generations living now in Kekaha and Waimea, the Westside, of Kaua’i. This being something only time will tell due to the length of time, several decades, that the modern killer diseases take to terminate life. These diseases being Heart and Vascular diseases, the many Cancers, and Obesity and Diabetes. These are Shame Diseases since their causes are well known to science but kept from the general population, the reason for secrecy is the nature of profit.
And it is amazing to see how many family and friends are getting bigger and bigger as they age, packing on the weight. There could be a new song…”Swollen Faces” sung to the tune of Smiling Faces…Sometime…! This dilemma is well known but tolerated by those who should care…and are charged with caring.
So having touched on people getting literally too big for their britches, is the modern processed, manufactured, Low Nutrient, high dose sugar content, petroleum based chemicals, Fake Colors, Fake Flavors, Real Toxic Preservatives, synthetic vitamins…what’s this food coming to…?
In 40 years, 2 generations, will Kekaha and Waimea still enjoy the stress less longevity of people living in their upper 80’s (young, really) and upper 90’s and even 100+? Or will or has something changed that will end that reward of an active life longevity. Will we read more and more obituaries of people on the far Westside passing away at 40, 50, and 60 years of age life some of the other town have?
A long active healthy life is a terrible thing to waste.
Kekaha has a wonderful tinge of the Blue Zone, but will Ag chemicals turn that gray?
Let’s Hope the GMO chemicals don’t spoil what God has Rendered to date.
Mahalo for reading,
Charles