Obituaries: 04-06-18

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Teruichi Kohashi

Teruichi “Coffee” Kohashi, 87, of Hilo died March 4, 2018, on Oahu. Born in Hilo, he was a retired fire captain with the Inspection Division, Hawaii County Fire Department, member of Kinoole Baptist Church, Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Chapter 6, Boy Scouts of America and a veteran of the U.S. Army and Hawaii Army National Guard.

Private services held. Family requests no flowers and no koden.

He is survived by wife, Tomie T. Kohashi of Hilo; son, Curtis (Susan) Kohashi of Hilo; daughter, Michelle (Galen) Mizuguchi of Hilo; four grandchildren and numerous cousins.

Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.

Milton Iopa

Milton Rosalo Iopa, 63, of Hilo, died March 10, 2018, at Hilo Medical Center. Born on May 15, 1954, in Hilo, he was a former hotel manager for Maui Isana in Kihei. He was also a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Keaukaha Ward.

Private services were held.

He is survived by sister, Val Dean (Sergio Alonso) Castillo of Hilo; nephew; aunt; nieces, nephews and cousins.

Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary, Inc. – Hilo Branch.

Connie Praast

Connie Rae Praast, 67 of Hilo, died March 15, 2018. She was born on Oct. 12, 1950, in California.

Private services held.

She is survived by sons, Jason Matthew Praast, Justin Bradley Praast; numerous uncles, aunts, and cousins.

Arrangements by Ballard Family Mortuary-Hilo.

Violet Lee

Violet Len Oe Lee, 94, of Kapaau, died March 3, 2018, at Kona Community Hospital. Born Aug. 25, 1923, in Kapaau, she was a practical nurse at Kohala Hospital. She was a member of Kalahikiola Congregational Church.

Funeral services were held on March 24 at Kalahikiola Congregational Church and burial at Wainaia Cemetery.

She is survived by her brothers, Robert (Ching Sun) Lee of Volcano, and Joe Lee of Hilo; sisters, Daisy Mak Wai of Hong Kong, Nancy Van Cleave of Kurtistown, and Loretta Lee of Kapaau.

Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.

Ralph Karren

Ralph Lee Karren, 60, of Pahoa died March 12, 2018, at Hospice of Hilo. Born on Oahu, he was a member of the Hawaii Laborers Union, a banquet porter for Kauai Surf and a longline fisherman out of Hilo.

A celebration of life will be held at noon on April 28 at Wailoa State Park (Big Pavilion); casual attire.

He is survived by wife, Christine Ku of Pahoa; sons, Makaou, Makalea and Kamaehu Karren all of Pahoa; stepson, Lance (Carla) Cabanilla-Ku of Oahu; daughters, Shintell (Uriah) Popp of North Carolina, and Shannai Popp of Pennsylvania; sister, Angela (Barry) Florendo of Molokai; brothers, Cisco (Donna) Lagmay, Ricky (Linda) Lagmay, Benny (Tonya) Lagmay of Kauai, Patty Boy (Anita) Lagmay of Oahu, Dennis (Maile) Lagmay and Leroy (Jill) Lagmay of Kauai; a mother-in-law and brother-in-law and sisters-in-law; hanai brothers, Derwin (Sabrina) Josue of Oahu, Sam (Darlene) Peneku of Mountain View, Kenwood (Lei) Alapa and Mitchell (Lyn) Alapa of Kauai; eight grandchildren.

Arrangements by Ballard Family Mortuary.

Mary Lou Magno

Mary Lou Weber Magno, 86, of Volcano, died March 18, 2018, at Hawaii Care Choices’ Pohai Malama Care Center. Born in St. Louis, she was a retired Mountain View Elementary School teacher and member of St. Theresa Catholic Church, and member of several associations such as Hawaii State Retired Teachers Association.

Friends may call at 6 p.m. April 11 at Dodo Mortuary chapel in Hilo for a 7 p.m. service. Friends may again call at 8 a.m. April 12 at St. Theresa Catholic Church in Mountain View for a 10 a.m. Mass. Burial follows at Hawaii Veterans Cemetery No. 2. Family requests casual attire be worn.

She is survived by daughter, Maylyn (Steve) Magno-Gomes of Waipahu, Oahu, Marcia Magno of Volcano; sons, Talmadge Magno of Volcano, Eric (Althea) Magno of Mountain View; sister, Joanne Schall of Richardson, Texas; three grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews.

Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.

Bruce McCullough

Bruce Cochise McCullough, 67, died March 7, 2018, in Hilo. Born Oct. 5, 1950, in Logan, Utah, he joined the U.S. Navy after college and was stationed in Pearl Harbor and received a national defense service medal, good conduct medal, Vietnam service medal, and a Vietnam campaign medal. He was a truck driver of hazardous chemicals for various companies in California and Utah.

A military burial ceremony will be scheduled at a later date at the National Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu. If you are interested in attending the ceremony, please contact Edward McCullough at Edwardmccullough@gmail.com. In lieu of flowers, donations accepted to The Wounded Warrior Project.

Bruce is survived by his son, Edward (Christine) McCullough; four siblings, Debra Perlich of Kentucky, Rebecca Campos of Arkansas, Shane McCullough of Arkansas, and Rory McCullough; and two grandsons.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Phyllis McCullough of Midway, Utah and father, Robert McCullough of Duluth, Minn.

Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary, Inc. – Hilo Branch

Joseph Abelaye Jr.

Joseph Abelaye Jr., of Keaau, died March 27, 2018, at home. Born on May 23, 1942, in Pahala, he was a retired training manager for Robert’s Hawaii Tours.

No services are planned at this time.

He is survived by his mother, sisters, brothers, wife, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Arrangements by Ballard Family Mortuary-Hilo.

Shizuye Shimana

Shizuye Kajiura Shimana, 97, of Hilo, formerly of Honolulu, died Feb. 15, 2018, at her home. Born in Honolulu, she was a housewife.

Private services were held. Family requests no monetary gifts or flowers.

She is survived by daughters, Ann (Stanley) Sato of California, June Shimana of Hilo; sister, Kikuyo Higa of California; two grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews.

Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.

Helen Cann

Helen Theresa Cann, 96, of Hilo died March 28, 2018, at the Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home. Born on Maui, she was a homemaker, employed at the former Hawaiian Holiday Macadamia Nut and member of the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Hilo.

Friends may call 9-10:30 a.m. April 10 at the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Hilo for a 10:30 a.m. funeral Mass. Burial will follow at Hawaii Veterans Cemetery No. 2. Casual attire.

She is survived by daughter, Marilyn (Houston) Carroll of Jena, Louisiana; son, Anthony (Marcelle) Cann of Waikoloa; five grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.

Alice Kaneao

Mrs. Alice Lehuanani Kaneao, 84, of Kailua-Kona, died March 12, 2018, at her residence. Born July 12, 1933, in Kealakekua, she was a room maid at the former Kona Hukilau and the Kona Lagoon hotels. She was a professional musical entertainer and a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

A wake service will be held at 6 p.m. April 13 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Kailua-Kona. Visitation will continue at the church at 9 a.m. April 14 for a 10 a.m. funeral service and burial to follow at Kona Memorial Park in Holualoa. The family requests casual attire and flowers are welcome.

She is survived by her daughters, Yolanda (Greg) Shaftnitz of Washington, Yvonne (Mariano) Naldoza, Alice (David) Lopez-Aguilar, Danielle Kahele, all of Kailua-Kona; son, Warren Kaneao, Jr. of Waikoloa; sisters, Eleanor Kahuli of Nanakuli, Oahu, Genevieve (James) Hoopai of Kohala; 24 grandchildren; 37 great-grandchildren; one great-great grandchild; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary Kona.

Randall Paulson

Randall Scott Paulson, 70, of Pahoa, died March 31, 2018, at Pohai Malama Hospice Care in Hilo. Born in Honolulu, he was a retired carburetor mechanic in Hilo, and a heavy equipment mechanic at Pearl Harbor.

Private services to be held on April 28. Family and friends will be notified of time and place. Condolences can be sent to: P.O. Box 6483 Hilo, HI 96720

He is survived by his wife Niki G. Paulson of Pahoa; sons, Ford Irvine, Phillip Baltando; daughters, Kristy Irvine, Kaleo Baltando; sister Candice Smith; eight grandchildren.

Arrangements by Ballard Family Mortuary-Hilo.

Romaine Armitage

Romaine “Mainey” Kaleo’okalani Armitage, 42, of Hilo, died Feb. 28, 2018, at the Hilo Medical Center. She was born in Wailuku, Maui and was an embalmer with Nakamura Mortuary.

Friends may call 4-10 p.m. Apr. 21 at the Wailoa State Park, Large Pavilion for a 4:30 p.m. memorial service. Casual attire.

She is survived by her sons, Robert (Keawaiki Perry) Armitage, III, of Hilo and Darrell Perez, Jr. of Hilo; daughter, Kalei (Austin Cantu) Perez of Hilo; parents, Robert, Sr. and Charmaine Armitage of Hilo; sisters, Larrisa (Kirt) Vesperas of Las Vegas, Wanda Lee (Walter) Rios of Honolulu and Ginger Ann (Robert) Ke of Honolulu; brothers, Robert (Nami Kekaualua) Armitage, Jr. of Hilo and Chad (Shenelle) Armitage of Maui; hanai sisters, Melonee “Tutu” Armitage of Las Vegas, and Chasity Baucom of Hilo; hanai brother, Alfred Magno, Jr. of California; seven grandchildren; numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.

Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary, Inc. – Hilo

Gregorio Failano

Gregorio E. Failano, 72, of Keaau, died March 19, 2018, at Hawaii Care Choices, formerly Hospice of Hilo (Pohai Malama). Born on May 19, 1945, in the Philippines, he was a veteran in the U.S. Army and a retired postal worker for the federal government. He also was member of the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Hilo.

A graveside service was held at the East Hawaii Veterans Cemetery No. 2.

He is survived by sons, Vernon (Kathy) Failano of Oakland, Calif. and Alexander Failano of San Diego; daughters, Jennifer (Nihad) Alibegovic of San Diego, Lorelei (Patrick) Eloriaga of Denver, and Ginger Failano of Keaau; nine grandchildren.

Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.

Nancy Matsui

Nancy Shigeko Matsui, 86, of Hilo, died March 3, 2018, at a care home in Hilo. Born in Pepeekeo, she was a retired salesperson.

Private services were held. Family requests no monetary gifts or flowers.

She is survived by husband, Nobuo Matsui of Hilo; son, Michael (Marcia) Matsui of Hilo; daughters, Diane (Erwine) Kubo and Kathleen (Craig) Yamamoto of Hilo; one sister-in-law; seven grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews.

Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.

Daw Yu

Daw May Yu, 85, of Hilo, died March 27, 2018, at home. Born in Myanmar, she was a housewife.

A service was held.

She is survived by daughter, Kyin (Tin Ngwe) Kyin of Myanmar; sons, Soe (Ni Ni Aye) Myint of Myanmar, Soe Aung of California, Soe (Thi Thi Thein) Win of Hilo; five grandsons and four granddaughters.

Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.

Benjamin Rosete

Benjamin Rosete, of Hilo, died March 13, 2018, in the Life Care Center of Hilo at the age of 84. Born in Keaau on Oct. 6, 1933, he was retired from the Hilo Medical Center as an X-ray technician supervisor. He was a musician (drummer) with various local bands and member of the Hawaii County Band and St. Joseph Catholic Church. He was also an avid fisherman.

Private services held. No flowers. No koden.

He is survived by wife, Susan Rosete of Hilo; son, Benjamin Rosete, Jr. of Hilo; sister, Mercedes Abiley of Kapolei; brother, Pedro (Siri) Factora of Honolulu; step-brother, Anthony (Laura) Rosete of Hawaiian Acres; three granddaughters; numerous nephews, nieces and cousins.

Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary, Inc. in Hilo.

Alfred Farm, Jr.

Alfred Farm, Jr., 76, of Kailua-Kona, died March 10, 2018, at Nakamaru Hale in Holualoa. Born March 17, 1941, in Kohala, he was a handyman for Kona Ace Hardware.

Urn burial will be 9 a.m. April 13 at Kona Memorial Park in Holualoa. Friends may call at noon at Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 73-4202 Mamalahoa Highway, Kailua-Kona, for a 1 p.m. service.

He is survived by mother, Lily K. Farm of Kailua-Kona; daughters, Feline (Keith) Kinnerson of Kauai, Lita (Shane) Catiel of Maui; sons, Troy Cataraha, Ezra (Krecia) Figueroa; brothers, Gerald (Elaine) Farm, Sr. all of Kailua-Kona, Leonard (Linda) Farm; sisters, Audrey (Wayne) Yara all of Kapolei, Sharon Piper of Las Vegas; eight grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews.

Arrangements by Cremation Services of West Hawaii.