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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Jennie Chesebro
Jennie Chesebro, 94, of Kapaau died March 15, 2016, at home. Born April 7, 1921, in Niulii, Kohala, she was a homemaker and member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Kohala Ward.
Friends may call at 9:30 a.m. April 16 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Kohala Ward for an 11 a.m. service. Burial will follow at Hawi County Cemetery. Aloha attire.
She is survived by son, Thomas III (Theresa) Chesebro of Mililani, Oahu; daughters, Dolly (Paul Jr.) Antonio of Kohala, Shirley Gouveia of Kona, Joan (Bradley Sr.) Ballesteros of Kona; numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and cousins.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Kalena Medeiros
Kalena Nalehua Soares Medeiros, 18, of Hilo died March 26, 2016, in Honolulu. Born in Hilo, she was employed at the Diamond Head Cove Health Bar “Da Cove” on Oahu.
Friends may call at 3 p.m. April 16 at Dodo Mortuary Chapel for a 4:30 p.m. celebration of her life. Scattering of her ashes will take place at 10 a.m. April 17 at Keaukaha. Casual attire.
She is survived by father, Alika Medeiros of Hilo; mother, Brandy (Chris) Cabasa of Honolulu; sister, Keana Medeiros of Hilo; brother, Nick Miyasato of Honolulu; maternal grandfather, Aaron (Gwen) Miyasato of Hilo; maternal grandmother, Ruth Miyasato of Hilo; numerous cousins, aunts and uncles.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Virginia Leinaala
Virginia Leinaala Oleyte, 83, of Pahala, she passed away on Feb. 26, 2016, at Kau Hospital. She was born on Jan. 2, 1933, in Waimea, Kauai. She was a cook/baker for the former Sea Mountain at Punaluu Black Sands Restaurant and Kau Hospital and she also was a member of the Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Pahala.
Friends may call on April 16 at the Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Pahala. Visitation will be from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Memorial Mass will be at 10 a.m. Casual attire.
She is survived by sons, Ernest (Lenora) Oleyte and Andy (Rose) Oleyte of Pahala, Christopher (Cyndee) Oleyte of Pahala; daughters, Elaine Lorenzo of Volcano, Sandra (Edward) Polido and Suzanne Sakata of Pahala, Patricia (Jack) York of Arkansas; sister, Janet Francisco of Waianae, Hawaii; sister in-law, Ruby Ann Kahoonei of Kailua-Kona; brother in-law; numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Milton Yamasaki
Milton Tetsuo Yamasaki, 71, of Waimea died March 6, 2016, at the North Hawaii Community Hospital. Born in Honokaa, he was a retired agriculture research manager for the University of Hawaii at Manoa.
Friends may call at 9 a.m. April 16 at Dodo Mortuary chapel for a 10:30 a.m. celebration of his life. Casual attire.
He is survived by wife, Harriet Yamasaki of Waimea; daughters, Rae Saito of Honolulu, Charisse Lindsey of Mililani; Pahu; mother, Pat Yamasaki of Waimea; brother, Raymond (Gertrude) Yamasaki of Waimea; sister, Karen (Isaac) Akashi of Hilo; two grandsons, numerous nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Sita Soesman
Sita McCarthy Soesman, 39, of Waikoloa died on March 17, 2016, at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. Born Jan. 9, 1977, she worked at Hualalai Resort for the past 19 years, most recently as property specialist at Hualalai Realty, and was a plein air artist.
Friends may call from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. April 16 at Hualalai Resort for a celebration of life.
She is survived by her husband, Patrick Soesman; son Marley, parents, Rasa and Tom McCarthy; siblings, Tulsi McCarthy, Rupa (Laurel) McCarthy, Garuda (Irene Honig-McCarthy) McCarthy; numerous nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Cavazos Funeral Home.
Terry Cabral Sr.
Terry Glen “Butch” Cabral Sr., 68, of Pahoa died March 29, 2016, at home. Born in Honolulu, he was a retired heavy equipment operator and former crane service owner on Oahu.
Friends may call at April 17 at the Dodo Mortuary for a 5 p.m. funeral service, followed by cremation. The family requests casual attire and that flowers be omitted.
He is survived by wife, Anona Cabral of Pahoa; sons, Terry (Joey Kaonohi) Cabral Jr., Matthew Cabral, both of Pahoa, Ashley (Joy) Maiava of Hauula, Oahu, Keith Lopes of Hilo; daughter, Ronell (Derrick Delima) Maiava of Hauula, Oahu; brothers, Albert Cabral, Damien Cabral, both of Maui, Veu Tupuola of Honolulu, Anthony Tupuola of Pearl City, Oahu; sisters, Hazel Kaolulo of Hilo, Eleanor Lepaoa Pacheco of Kanaio, Maui, Babbette Kamanu of Glenwood, Mary Lee of Hilo, Daverline Richards of Wahiawa, Oahu, Gene Kama of Waipahu, Oahu, Mary-Ann Cabral of Maui, Theresa Cabral of Honolulu; seven grandchildren; numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary, Inc. – Hilo
Chance Dias-Elderts
Chance Noa Kahuahi Dias-Elderts, 14, of Keaau died March 26, 2016, at the Hilo Medical Center. Born in Hilo, he was a student at Keaau High School and a former member of the Puna Canoe Club.
Friends may call at 9:30 a.m. April 17 at Dodo Mortuary chapel for an 11 a.m. celebration of his life. Cremation to follow. Casual attire.
He is survived by mother, Carleen (Gregory Rodrigues Jr.) Dias of Keaau; brothers, Damien (Katherine Harvey), Kalani, Jonah, Kapena, William, all of Keaau; grandparents, August Sr. and Melinda Dias, both of Keaau; great-grandmother, Mercy Viernes of Keaau; numerous cousins, aunts and uncles.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Hideo Funada
Hideo “Henry” Funada, 92, of Hilo died April 7, 2016, at Life Care Center of Hilo. Born Jan. 26, 1924, in Hilo, he was retired from the former Hawaiian Equipment Co., a World War II U.S. Army veteran, and member of Hilo Church of the Nazarene and Kupulau-Haihai Kumiai.
Friends may call at 5 p.m. April 18 at Dodo Mortuary chapel in Hilo for a 6 p.m. service. Graveside committal service and burial are scheduled for 9 a.m. April 19 at Hawaii Veterans Cemetery No.2. Family requests casual attire be worn and no flowers.
He is survived by sisters-in-law, Carole Funada of Hilo, Nobuko Oshiro of Honolulu; nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Kiyoshi Fujiyoshi
Kiyoshi Fujiyoshi, 91, of Hilo died March 21, 2016, at the Life Care Center of Hilo. Born in Ookala, he was a retired diesel mechanic for Dole Pineapple.
Private services held.
He is survived by son, Kyle (Lois) Fujiyoshi of Hilo; two granddaughters; sisters, Jane Matsui of Lanai, Ethel Kawano of Oahu; numerous nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Gary Haase
Gary “Too Tall” Haase, 68, of Kailua-Kona, died April 9, 2016, at Nakamaru Hale. Born Feb. 16, 1948, in Yankton, S. D., he was a laborer and a protea farmer.
Private service.
He is survived by daughter, Melissa Bennett of Iowa; sons, Zac Haase of Nebraska, Daetona Haase of Kailua-Kona; sister, Marian Haase of Nebraska; brothers, Dale Haase of Italy, Rick Haase of Georgia; two grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Cremation Services of West Hawaii
Mildred Kuwana
Mildred Orino Kuwana, 100, of Pahoa, died April 3, 2016, at Life Care Center of Hilo. Born Feb. 1, 1916, in Honomu, she was a retired Pahoa Post Office postmaster and member of Hilo Higashi Hongwanji Mission Kyodan and Fujinkai, Kyu Pahoa Kumiai, Pahoa Nikkei Jin Kai, and NARFE (National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association).
Private services were held. Family requests no monetary gifts or flowers.
She is survived by son, James Kuwana; daughters, Eleanor Odo, Lorraine (Roy) Nakamura; eight grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, two great-great-grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Donald McGrorty
Donald “Don” Carlon McGrorty, 82, of Keaau died April 3, 2016, at a private care home. Born Oct. 15, 1933, in Los Angeles, he was a retired heavy equipment operator for Hilo Coast Processing, an employee of California Hawaii Foliage, proprietor of The Grove in Kailua, Oahu, and a veteran of the U.S. Air Force.
Private services. Condolences may be posted at homelanimemorialpark.com.
He is survived by daughters, Leslie (Richard) McCormick of Newport, Wash., Kristen Luning of Keaau; son, Kurt (Sharyn) Munchmeyer of Kailua, Oahu; sister, Maureen (Larry) Bowen of Anaheim, Calif.; six grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews.