Editor’s note: Obituaries are published free of charge as a public service. The content is subject to editing to ensure parity treatment and style continuity.
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Joseph Punsalan
Joseph Punsalan, 90, of Hilo and formerly of Honomu died Dec. 13, 2013, at Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home. Born in Honomu, he was a retired truck driver with the former Hilo Coast Processing Co. and World War II Army veteran.
Friends may call at 6 p.m. Jan. 2 at Dodo Mortuary chapel for a 7 p.m. wake service. Friends may also call at 9 a.m. Jan. 3 at St. Joseph Catholic Church for a 10:30 a.m. Mass. Burial follows at the Hawaii Veterans Cemetery No. 2. Family requests casual attire be worn and no flowers.
He is survived by sons, Steven Punsalan and Ronald (Jocelyn) Punsalan, both of Hilo; five grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Jackie Yamamoto
Jackie Lee Yamamoto, 59, of Hilo died Dec. 21, 2013, at Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu. Born Jan. 3, 1954, in Kealakekua, she was a retired rental agent at National Car Rental and member of New Hope Christian Fellowship Church.
Friends may call at 3:30 p.m. Jan. 3 at Dodo Mortuary chapel in Hilo for a 5 p.m. service. Family requests casual attire be worn.
She is survived by husband, Iran Yamamoto of Hilo; daughter, Seilee (Kris) Yahiku of Honolulu; father, Milton Morikami of Hilo; stepmother, LaVerne Morikami of Hilo; sisters, Candace Lee and Lorna Wilson, both of Hilo, Joyce Fleming of San Diego, Myra (Stephen) Lodge of Mililani, Oahu; brother, Francis (Winnie) Morikami of Hilo; one grandson; numerous uncles, aunts, nephews, nieces and cousins.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Janice Akana
Janice Mary Elizabeth Ulii Akana, 77, of Waimea died Dec. 9, 2013. Born in Honolulu, she retired as a medical transcriptionist for Straub Clinic.
Friends may call at 8 a.m. Jan. 4 at Waimea Annunciation Church for a 10 a.m. service.
She is survived by husband, Joshua Akana of Waimea; mother, Kamila Malterre of Honolulu; daughters, Janna (Kimo) Keawe of Kailua, Oahu, Jerri (Alex) Dizol of Waimea; brother, Joseph (Sally) Malterre of Honolulu; sisters, Ritchie (Clifford) Ramseyer of Waimanalo, Oahu, Kami Civetz of Waikoloa, Hazel (Tom) Shaw of Honolulu; four grandchildren; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Arrangements by Borthwick Hawaii Funeral Home.
Valerie Agliam
Valerie “Cracka” Leihuanani Agliam, 51, of Pahoa died Nov. 22, 2013, at Queen’s Medical Center on Oahu. Born Aug. 25, 1962, in Hilo, she was a caregiver for Ohana Health Plan.
Friends may call at 5 p.m. Jan. 4 at Dodo Mortuary chapel in Hilo for a 6 p.m. service. Cremation follows. Family requests casual attire be worn.
She is survived by daughters, Cherylyn (Miguel) Puga of North Carolina, Joslyn Silva of Puna, Sheylyn (Lokela Tavares) Botelho of Hilo; sister, Yolanda (Richard) Kaleohano of Kona; brothers, Bobo (JoAnn Bright) Agliam of Puna, Darrell (Evelyn) Agliam of Hilo, Royden (Pilialoha) Agliam, Terrance (Corrine Moses) Agliam and Ronald (Trisha Savella) Nahakuelua, all of Puna; three grandchildren; numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Daniel Choy
Daniel “Danny” Davis Kaleialoha Choy, 63, of Kailua-Kona died Oct. 28, 2013. Born Nov. 22, 1949, in Honolulu, he was a pastor and music minister.
Friends may call at 1 p.m. Jan. 4 at Grace Community Church for a service. Musicians are welcome to share during a reception to follow.
He is survived by wife, Donna Park Choy of Kailua-Kona; sons Anthony Choy and Benjamin Choy, both of Kailua-Kona; brother, David Choy of Kaneohe, Oahu; sisters, Lydia Mae Bernado of Colorado, Marjean D’Anjou of Maine, Marilyn Choy-Gibson of Kaneohe, Oahu; eight nieces; four nephews; three grandniece; three grandnephews; numerous cousins.
Arrangements by A Hui Hou Crematory &Funeral Home of West Hawaii.
Roy Leoneza Sr.
Roy Ancheta Leoneza Sr., 63, of Keaau died Dec. 6, 2013, at Hilo Medical Center. Born Sept. 15, 1950, in Hilo, he worked for the former Puna Papaya Co.
Friends may call at 2 p.m. Jan. 4 at Zion’s House of Praise Holiness Church, 170 Makaala St., for a service. Family requests casual attire be worn.
He is survived by son, Roy (Kyra) Leoneza Jr. of Hilo; brother, Alliento Gallegos of Kona; sister, Visitacion (Harry) Fernandez of Waimea; two grandsons; numerous nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Mac Sunabe
Mac Matsushige Sunabe, 89, of Hakalau died Dec. 5, 2013, at Life Care Center of Hilo. Born June 27, 1924, in Hakalau, he was retired diesel mechanic for the former Hilo Coast Processing Co. and member of the Hakalau Jodo Mission and Hakalau-Wailea Kumiai.
Friends may call at 10 a.m. Jan. 4 at Dodo Mortuary chapel in Hilo for an 11 a.m. service. Family requests casual attire be worn and no flowers.
He is survived by wife, Agnes Sunabe of Hakalau; son, Russell (Sheri) Sunabe of Honolulu; daughters, June (Melvin) Kaetsu of Hakalau, Patti (Howard) Kodama and Eva (Steven) Miura, both of Hilo, Lisa (John) Min of Honolulu; sisters, Edythe Tanaka and Judy (George) Ichikawa, both of Honolulu; 10 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; numerous nephews, nieces and cousins.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Caroline Tomich
Caroline Wallace Tomich, 89, of Honokaa died Nov. 25, 2013, at her home. Born in Los Angeles, she was a homemaker; a retired elementary school teacher; member and community volunteer with Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, American Cancer Society and American Red Cross; and a lifetime member of the University of California at Berkeley Alumni Association.
Friends may call at 8 a.m. Jan. 4 at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Honokaa for a 10 service. Family requests casual attire be worn. In lieu of flowers or monetary gifts, donations may be sent to the American Cancer Society, Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church or North Hawaii Community Hospital.
She is survived by husband, P. Quentin Tomich of Honokaa; sons, Michael (Hannah Springer) Tomich of Kukuiohiwai, Peter (Samantha) Tomich of Hilo; daughters, Catherine Luthe and Marcia (David) Rose, both of Kalopa, Margot (John David) Griffith of Volcano; nine grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Carole Moniz
Carole C. Moniz, 89, of Hilo died Dec. 10, 2013, in Honolulu. Born May 15, 1924, in Waimea, Kauai, she was a retired receptionist and secretary for a law firm.
Friends may call at 9:30 a.m. Jan. 6 at St. Joseph Catholic Church for a 10:30 a.m. service. Committal services follow at 1:30 p.m. at Hawaii Veterans Cemetery No. 2. Family requests casual attire be worn.
She is survived by caregivers, Darrell and Yvonne Perreira of Kaneohe, Oahu; numerous nieces and nephews.
Gwendolyn DeMoss
Gwendolyn “Gwen” K. DeMoss, 64, of Naalehu died Dec. 24, 2013, at home. Born Feb. 11, 1949, in St. Louis, she was a homemaker and retired from Proctor &Gamble in Hunt Valley, Md.
Services have been held. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn. A committal service will be held at a later date in Pennsylvania.
She is survived by husband, James DeMoss of Naalehu; sons, Mike Durakovich and James DeMoss Jr., both of Pennsylvania; mother, Erma Hendricks of Ocean View; brothers, Sam Hendricks of Alaska, Terry Hendricks of Oregon, Thomas Hendricks of Hawaii; sisters, Patricia Nemeth of Indiana, Priscilla Sae Lim of Oklahoma, Roberta Wiesemes of Illinois; four grandchildren; one great-grandchild; numerous nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Catherine Singleton
Catherine “Cay” Wilson Reynolds Singleton, 92, of Kapaa, Kauai, died Dec. 15, 2013. Born June 15, 1921, in Louisville, Ky., she was a real estate agent, radio personality and property developer.
Services were held. Condolences may be posted at caysingleton.simplesite.com.
She is survived by sons, James, Richard, Joseph, Christopher and Keith Singleton; eight grandchildren; two great-grandchildren.
Robert Gaffney
Robert A. Gaffney, 72, of Keaau died Aug. 26, 2013, at home. He worked as a purchasing agent for the County of Hawaii and Vietnam War Army veteran.
Scattering of ashes will be held at a later date.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Robert Sumner-Mack
Robert Whitcomb Sumner-Mack, 78, of Hilo died Dec. 11, 2013, at Hilo Medical Center. Born in Richmond, Va. he was a retired public health physician and administrator and member of Master Gardeners, Big Island Bee Association and Hawaii Concert Society.
No services are planned.
He is survived by wife, Nan McCowan Sumner-Mack of Hilo; stepson, Drew (Dottie) Sumner of San Diego; daughters, Laura Mack and Danielle (Chris) Mack Francis, both of Philadelphia; sister, Patricia (Charles) Churchman of Virginia; four grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Gudrun Chaffin
Gudrun Lina Chaffin, 59, of Waikoloa died Dec. 16, 2013, at her residence. Born July 10, 1954, in Schwenningen, Germany, she was a banquet worker at the Hilton Waikoloa.
Private services will be held.
She is survived by husband, Timothy Chaffin of Waikoloa; daughters, Danielle Chaffin and Nichole Chaffin, both of Waikoloa; sister, Traudi Newerla of Germany; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
James Shimabukuro
James Matsuo Shimabukuro, 85, of Mountain View died Nov. 19, 2013, at Hilo Medical Center. Born in Honaunau, he was a retired meat cutter with Foodland on Oahu and the former Emjay’s in Hilo and an Army veteran.
Private services were held. Family requests no monetary gifts.
He is survived by wife, Lillian Shimabukuro of Mountain View; sons, Craig Shimabukuro of Mountain View, Keith (Sarah) Shimabukuro of Highlands Ranch, Colo.; sisters, Yukie Oshiro of Kaneohe, Oahu, Emi Shimabukuro of Honolulu; several cousins, nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Michael Allen
Michael Ray Allen, 70, of Ninole died Dec. 7, 2013, at Hilo Medical Center. Born in Dallas, he was a retired salesman.
Private services were held.
He is survived wife, Gerry Allen of Ninole; sons, Brandon (Kaori) Allen of Honolulu, Christopher (Sally) Allen of Mountain View, Stacey (Sally) Allen of Maui; brothers, Jerry (Susan) Allen of Austin, Minn., Theodore (Pat) Allen of Houston; six grandchildren; one great-granddaughter; nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Herbert Kamiyama
Herbert Sachio Kamiyama, 80, of Hilo died Dec. 13, 2013, at his residence. Born Jan. 7, 1933, in Hilo, he was the proprietor of Kini Po-Po Creations Inc.
Private services were held. Family requests no flowers and monetary gifts.
He is survived by wife, Elsie Kamiyama of Hilo; sons, Russel Kamiyama and Dwayne (Julie) Kamiyama, both of Hilo; brother, George (Amy) Kamiyama of California; sisters, Dorothy (Seigo) Shiigi of Hilo, Ellen Onaga of California; one grandson; numerous nephews, nieces and cousins.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Helen Yanagihara
Helen Kinuko Yanagihara, 89, of Hilo died Nov. 26, 2013, at Life Care Center of Hilo. Born in Hilo, she was a retired sales clerk with J.C. Penney.
Private family services were held. Family requests no monetary gifts.
She is survived by husband, Alvin Yanagihara of Hilo; brother, Atoru Shikuma of Hilo; one nephew; one grandniece; one grandnephew.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.