Obituaries: 04-09-19

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. Content is subject to editing for parity treatment and style continuity. Date of publication cannot be guaranteed. Memorial advertisements may be purchased through the newspaper advertising department.

Jo Ann Abiley

Jo Ann Pualani Abiley, 52, of Keaau, died April 2, 2019, at Hilo Medical Center. Born on Oct. 1, 1966, in Honolulu, she was the East Hawaii operations manager for The Food Basket and owner of Pualani Cleaning Service. She graduated from UH-Hilo with a bachelor’s degree and was a member of Heritage Christian Fellowship.

A celebration of life will be noon April 27 at the family residence, 15-1690 Puakalo Street (30th Avenue) in Keaau. Casual attire.

She is survived by husband, Jeff Abiley of Keaau; daughters, Jolene (Rory) Koi of Naalehu, Kathie Lee of Maui and Abigail Domen of Oahu; son, Joshua Domen of Hilo; brother, John Lee of Hilo; sisters, Cindy (Jose) Enovejas of Hilo and Melissa Lee of Hilo; six grandchildren; numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.

Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary, Inc. – Hilo Branch.

Sherry Valentine

Sherry Valentine of Anchorage, Alaska and Kailua-Kona, died on March 31, 2019, at her home in Kona. Born April 28, 1943, in San Diego, she worked for the State of Alaska Department of Community and Regional Affairs and the Division of Elections. She was a co-founder of the Breast Cancer Focus Group and a volunteer with the Aleutian and Pribilof Islands Restitution Trust and with Hospice.

A celebration of life will be held at the Alaskan Native Heritage Center in Anchorage. Memorial services in Kona are pending. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Kona. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.

She is survived by her husband, Major General Jake Lestenkof, Ret.; son, Neal Marvin (Eliana) of Houston; and brother, Dennis Valentine (Roxi) of Anchorage.

Star Silva

Star Kuuipo B.J. Silva, 38, of Keaau, died March 21, 2019, at Hilo Medical Center. Born on Sept. 6, 1980, in Maui, she was a homemaker and stay at home grandma.

Friends may call from 10-11:30 a.m. April 14 at Dodo Mortuary Chapel for an 11:30 a.m. celebration of life. Casual attire; flower lei are welcomed.

She is survived by fiancé, Reonel Castro of Keaau; daughters, Shar (Ezra Antonio) Silva Shin and Kira-Ann (Riley) Pavao of Hilo, Caitlin (Coltin) Villaruz of Mossy Rock, Wash.; mother, Valerie Pacheco of Mossy Rock, Wash.; father, Sterling Silva of Kauai; sisters, Shawnda Silva and Jonalynne Silva of Riverside, Calif., Natasha Silva of Mossy Rock, Wash.; maternal grandparents, Juan and Julie Pacheco of Hilo; one grandson; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts and uncles.

Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary, Inc.

Maile Mattos

Maile Louise Mattos, 86, of Hilo, died March 30, 2019, at Hawaii Care Choices Pohai Malama Care Center. Born Oct. 19, 1932, in Glenwood, she was retired from the United States Postal Service, Hilo Post Office after 30 years and was the first woman window clerk on the Big Island and a member of Saint Joseph Catholic Church, Kaumana-Piihonua Community Association, Big Island Portuguese Cultural Club and Ke Ola Pono No Na Kupuna – Alu Like.

Friends may call at 5:30 p.m. April 15 at Dodo Mortuary chapel in Hilo for a 7:30 p.m. service. Friends may again call at 8 a.m. April 16 at Saint Joseph Catholic Church in Hilo for a 10 a.m. Mass. Graveside committal service and burial at 9 a.m. April 17 at Hawaii Veterans Cemetery No.2. Family requests casual attire be worn.

She is survived by sons, Damian (Kelly) Mattos and Kevin Mattos of Hilo, Nathan (Ipyana) Mattos of Keaau, Michael Taylor of South Bend, Ind.; daughters, Bernadette “Bernie” (Darrell) Gillis and Mary Lou (Gilbert, Jr.) Benevides of Mountain View, Kathleen (Preston) Mendoza of Henderson, Nev.; brothers, Bernard (Gail) Waltjen, Jr. of Discovery Harbor, Richard Waltjen of Kauai; sisters, Pearl “Nani” Kalilikane of Hilo, Jewel “Loke” Andrade of Pahala, Ellen “Mohala” Garcia of Hilo, Leimomi “Yonne” (Randy) Moniz of Keaau; 19 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren, two great-great-grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews.

Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.

Chet Woolley

Chet Hilburn Woolley, 52, of Volcano, died March 6, 2019, at the Hilo Medical Center. He was born in Towson, Md. and was a U.S. Naval Academy graduate at Annapolis, Md. and a lieutenant commander with the U.S. Navy where he was a diving officer, surface warfare officer, an oceanographer, was involved in Navy special operations and was awarded the National Defense service medal, a member of the Keaukaha Canoe Club, Disabled American Veterans, Military Officer Association and the Navy Mutual Aid Association.

Visitation 4-5 p.m. April 14 at the Dodo Mortuary chapel where a funeral service will be held at 5 p.m., followed by cremation. Friends may also call at noon April 16 at the Hawaii Veterans Cemetery No. 2 columbarium for urn committal services with military honors. Casual attire.

He is survived by his wife, Suzanne Kamaluhia Woolley of Volcano; sons, Nigel Kealii Woolley and Liam Kaiakea Woolley of Volcano; parents, Craig and Elizabeth Woolley of Waitsfield, Vt.; brother, Mark Woolley of Warren, Vt.; hanai brothers, Melvin Mason, Jr. of Hamakua, Telson K. Chang and Chris Rooke of Hilo; hanai sisters, Dolly Baniaga of Milolii, Carrie Lapinig and Robin Williams of Hilo, Lisa Week of Kailua-Kona; one mother-in-law; one brother-in-law; numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews and hanai family.

Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary, Inc. – Hilo.