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.
Hilda De Costa
Hilda “Gramma Hilda” Eva (Correa) De Costa, 87, formerly of Hilo and Pahala, died July 6, 2017, at Life Care Center of Hilo. Born in Honomu, she was a cafeteria helper for the DOE, member of the Foster Grandparent Program tutoring SPED students at Waiakea Elementary School and Hilo Union School and member of St. Joseph Catholic Church.
Friends may call at 8 a.m. on Sept. 5 at St. Joseph Cathlic for a 10 a.m. Mass. Casual attire, no flowers. Private scattering of ashes.
She is survived by sons, Gordon (Patricia) De Costa, of Mountain View, and Leroy De Costa of Waimea; daughters, Debra (Walter) Wong Yuen, of Pahala, and Charna (Aaron) Ontiveros, of Las Vegas; sister, Marjorie Tubbs, of New York; nine grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Ballard Family Mortuary.
Joseph Whitney
Joseph W.L. Whitney, 68, of Hilo, died Aug. 17, 2017, at Kona Community Hospital. Born in Hilo, he was a retired senior lifeguard at the Kawamoto Swim Stadium and a U.S. Navy Vietnam War veteran and U.S. Coast Guard Reserve veteran.
Friends may call at 5 p.m. on Sept. 6 at Dodo Mortuary chapel for a 6 p.m. service. Casual attire. Scattering of his ashes will take place at a later date.
He is survived by wife, Diane Whitney, of Hilo; son, Jody (Jodie) Whitney, of Hilo; brothers, Lemona (Wilma Jeane) Whitney Jr., of Waikoloa, Hinano (Mary) Whitney, of Virginia, and Delbert (Lillian) Whitney, of Hilo; sister, Small Nani Whitney, of Hilo; daughter, Heide Whitney of California; two granddaughters; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Benjamin De Mello III
Benjamin “Ben” De Mello III, 84, of Hilo, died Aug. 19, 2017., at Hilo Medical Center. Born April 9, 1933, in Hilo, he was a retired truck driver and rodeo truck driver for the military and a U.S. Navy Korean War veteran.
Friends may calla t 10 a.m. on Sept. 7 at Dodo Mortuary chapel for an 11 a.m. service. Burial to follow at Hawaii Veterans Cemetery No. 2.
He is survived by sons, Joseph De Mello, of San Diego, California, and Benjamin De Mello IV, of the mainland; brother, Caesar De Mello, of Hilo; sisters, Ivy Lidig and Leilani Carver, both of Las Vegas, Nevada.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.