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.
Ruth Springer
Ruth Springer, 66, of Pahoa, died Sept. 12, 2019, at Hawaii Care Choices Pohai Malama Hospice.
Survivng relatives are asked to please contact Ballard Family Mortuary at 935-8445.
Peter Mac Donald
Peter Ian Mac Donald, 74, of Mountain View, died Sept. 3, 2019, at the Hilo Medical Center. Born on Oahu, he was the former warden at Kulani Correctional Facility and HCCC and a member of St. Theresa Catholic Church.
Visitation will take place 9-10 a.m. Sept. 26 at St. Theresa Catholic Church. Mass will take place at 10 a.m. Family requests casual attire.
He is survived by spouse, Cynthia Mac Donald of Mountain View.
Online condolences: www.homelanimemorialpark.com
Sue Morita-Rodrigues
Sue Sueko Morita-Rodrigues, 76, of Hilo, died Sept. 1, 2019 at her residence. Born in Kohala, she was a contracting specialist for the Kilauea Military Camp.
Private services were held.
She is survived by spouse, Edward Rodrigues of Hilo; sons, David Morita of Hilo, and Edward Rodrigues, Jr. of Lakewood, Calif.; daughters, Betty Rodrigues of Hilo, Debbie Cervantes of Long Beach, Calif., and Joy Rodrigues of Wilmington, Calif.; sister, Carol (Tad) Saito of Hilo; brother, Stanley Kayatani of Oahu; one daughter-in-law; eight grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews.
Online condolences: www.homelanimemorialpark.com
Patricia Imai
Patricia Jean Ululani Imai, 78, of Ocean View, died Aug. 25, 2019, at Queen’s Medical Center. Born April 15, 1941, in Kealakekuashe was a maintenance worker for the federal government and a member of St. Benedict’s Catholic Church.
A wake service will be held from 4-8 p.m. Sept. 27 at St. Benedict’s Catholic Church in Honaunau. Visitation will continue at the church at 8 a.m. Sept. 28 and Mass will begin at 11 a.m. The family requests casual attire and flowers are welcome.
She is survived by her daughters, LarrieJean (Kelly) Holiday of West Fork, Ark., Gwen Scott of Kainaliu, Anna Imai of Ocean View, Debbie (Colbert Kaio) Chun of Honolulu, Persi (Melvin) Imai-Young of Ocean View; hanai son, Larry Imai II of Ocean View; sister, Ruby Ann Kahoonei of Honaunau; brothers, Wayne (Vera) Kekuewa of Honolulu, Zadoc (Yong-ae) Kekuewa of Honaunau; 15 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary Kona.
Yasuko Niimi
Yasuko “Mildred” Niimi, 88, of Mountain View, died July 3, 2019, at home. Born in Hilo, she was a retired pre-school teacher at the Kaumana Drive Baptist Church Keikiland, and a member of the Church of the Holy Cross and Hui Okinawa.
Private family services held.
She is survived by sons, James (Nora) Thompson of Reston, Va., Richard (Caroline) Niimi of Mountain View and Robert (Cynthia) Niimi of Kurtistown; daughters, Jasmine Thompson of Mountain View and Pearl (Eugene) Worley of Irvine, Calif.; brother, Kenneth (Gayle) Higa of Hilo; sisters, Jane Uyeki of Hilo and Betsy (Clyde) Barker of Orangeville, Ill.; 10 grandchildren, numerous great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary, Inc. – Hilo.
Robert Nakamura
Robert Bunji Nakamura, 95, of Hilo died Aug. 31, 2019, at his residence. Born in Holualoa, he was a retired general contractor. Friends may call 10-11 a.m. Sept. 27 at Dodo Mortuary Chapel; memorial service at 11.
Casual attire. In lieu of flowers and koden, donations may be made in memory of Robert Nakamura to Hawaii Care Choices (formerly Hospice of Hilo).
She is survived by daughters, Joy (Curtis) Kimura of Waimea, Kauai, Liann (Terence Yagihara) Ching of Hilo; son, Barry Nakamura of Pasadena, California; one daughter-in-law; six grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Gwen Calpito
Gwen Evalani Calpito, 50, of Ocean View, died Sept. 14, 2019, at her residence. Born Nov. 21, 1968, Wailuku, Maui, she was a laundry attendant at Lipoa Laundromat on Maui.
A celebration of life will be held at 2 p.m. Sept. 26 at Waiohinu Park. The family requests casual attire.
She is survived by her husband, Mariano Calpito Sr. of Ocean View; daughters, Gwen Vinuya of Kihei, Maui, Glory Calpito, and Margie Calpito of Ocean View, Cristi Calpito of Kahului, Maui; son, Mariano Calpito Jr. of Ocean View; parents, Samson and Gwen Vinuya; sisters, Linda Vinuya and Annie Vinuya, all of Ocean View; hanai brother, Leroy Villaverde of Wailuku, Maui; two grandchildren; numerous cousins.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary Kona.
Sally Rose
Sally Jean Rose, 87, of Kailua-Kona, died Aug. 15 at her residence. Born July 5, 1932, in Oakland, Calif., she was a retired charter fishing business owner.
Service information to be announced at a later date.
She is survived by son, Christopher Rose of Lahaina, Maui; grandchildren, Michelle Rose of Kailua-Kona, Kim Rose of Haiku, Maui; four great-grandchildren.
Arrangements by Cremation Services of West Hawaii.