Obituaries | 10-10-14

Subscribe Now Choose a package that suits your preferences.
Start Free Account Get access to 7 premium stories every month for FREE!
Already a Subscriber? Current print subscriber? Activate your complimentary Digital account.

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.

Date of publication cannot be guaranteed. Memorial advertisements may be purchased through the newspaper advertising department.

Dionicio Pira

Dionicio “Doning” V. Pira, 89, of Honokaa died Oct. 4, 2014, at Hilo Medical Center. Born April 8, 1925, in Pidigan, Abra, Philippines, he retired from the Hamakua Sugar Plantation Co. in the cultivation department and was a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Honokaa.

Friends may call at 8 a.m. Oct. 14 at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Honokaa for a 10 a.m. service. Burial will follow at the Honokaa Catholic Cemetery. Family requests casual attire be worn.

He is survived by wife, Luica Pira of Honokaa; daughters, Elizabeth Paz of Philippines, Yolanda Quisguy and Evelyn Cano, both of Honokaa, Marlyn Tashiro of California, Jenyn Noble of Oregon; sons, Eduardo Pira, Liberato Pira, Rene Pira and Roland Pira Sr., all from Honokaa; sisters, Magdalena Quezada and Juanita Pira, both of Philippines, Lucia Baldos of Honokaa, Paula (Romeo) Carsola of California; 37 grandchildren; 45 great-grandchildren; numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.

Hecubuan Damo

Hecubuan “Buan” Kuualoha Damo, 57, of Kailua-Kona died Sept. 27, 2014, at North Hawaii Community Hospital. Born Jan. 6, 1957, in Kealakekua, he was a maintenance worker at Waimea and Kohala airports and member of UPW Local 646 AFL-CIO.

Friends may call at 1 p.m. Dec. 27 at Hale Halawai for a 2:30 p.m. celebration of life. Refreshments follow. Family requests casual attire be worn. For information, call 896-0257.

He is survived by wife, Celeste Damo of Kailua-Kona; daughter, Raymi Damo of Kailua-Kona; brother, Paul Palacat Sr. of California; sisters, Florence Lerback and Caroline (Ronan Fukushima) Damo, both of Kailua-Kona, Doris (George) Simmons of Anderson, Calif.; numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

Arrangements by Cremation Services of West Hawaii.

Ian O’Brien

Ian Michael O’Brien, 46, died Oct. 4, 2014, in Clearlake, Calif. He was born Dec. 26, 1967.

He is survived by wife, Dianne O’Brien of Clearlake, Calif.; children, Malia and Michael O’Brien, both of San Jose, Calif.; stepdaughters, Ashley, Brittany and Courtney Hendrix; mother, Jeanne Conway of Fond du Lac Wis.; brothers, Patrick O’Brien of Sacramento, Calif., Dan (Cecelia) O’Brien of Rohnert Park, Calif.; sisters, Meghan (Rick) Shively of Ocean View, Clare (and Ron) Hartman of Sebastopol, Calif., numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.

Randa Stewart

Randa Laura Stewart, 94, of Kailua-Kona died Oct. 6, 2014, at her residence. Born Oct. 1, 1920, in Boston, she was a retired business woman.

No services are planned.

She is survived by daughters, Lori (William) Owens of Kailua-Kona, Cynthia Stewart of Cleveland; brother, Jack (Norma) Mitchell of Los Angeles; one granddaughter; numerous nieces and nephews.

Arrangements by Cremation Services of West Hawaii.

Ralph Nishioka

Ralph Nishioka, 90, of Hilo died Sept. 26, 2014, at Hale Anuenue Restorative Care Center. Born in Hilo, he was a retired safety coordinator with Jas. W. Glover Ltd., member of the Honpa Hongwanji Hilo Betsuin, former first aid instructor for the American Red Cross, former Cub Scout leader, and a World War II Army veteran, serving as an interpreter in the Military Intelligence Service.

Private services were held. Family requests no monetary gifts.

He is survived by wife, Kikue Nishioka of Hilo; daughter, Joan (Edward) Tamori of Wailuku, Maui; son, Eric (Lynn) Nishioka of Hilo; brother, Richard (Hanae) Nishioka of California; sisters, Shizuko Nishioka, Eiko Okui and Teruko (Toshiro) Matsunaga, all of Hilo, Takeko Ide of Honolulu; three grandchildren; one great-grandson; numerous nieces and nephews.

Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.

Ruth Taylor

Ruth Fern Taylor, 92, of Kapaau died Sept. 26, 2014, at Kohala Hospital. Born in Wisconsin, she was a retired office clerk, former manager at Winchell’s Donuts and worked at her son’s family business, Big Island Poultry.

Private services were held.

She is survived by sons, Larry (Marianne) Taylor of Hilo, Gary (Rosalie) Taylor of Texas; brother, Gene Loss of Washington; sister, Elizabeth Crim of California; seven grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews.

Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.