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.
Sue Watanabe
Sue Sumiko Kajiwara Watanabe, 102, of Hilo, died Sept. 25, 2019, at home. Born Jan. 23, 1917, in Hilo, she was a retired medical transcriber for Kaiser Hospital.
No services. Family requests no monetary gifts or flowers.
She is survived by daughter, Sharon Matsumoto of Hilo; grandson, Dean (Chelsi) Matsumoto of Hilo; and two great-grandsons.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Kimiko Smith
Kimiko Tomita Smith, 59, of Hilo, died Sept. 27, 2019, at the Hawaii Care Choices Pohai Malama Care Center. She was born in Fukuoka, Japan and was an elementary school teacher at Ke Kula O Nawahiokalaniopuu.
Private services are planned. Donations may be made to Hawaii Care Choices Pohai Malama Care Center in memory of the late Kimiko Smith.
She is survived by husband, Thomas Smith of Hilo.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary, Inc. – Hilo.
Isao Nakagawa
Isao “Joe” Nakagawa, 93, of Hilo died Sept. 21, 2019, at the Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home. Born in Hilo, he was a floral farmer, groundskeeper at the University of Hawaii-Hilo, member of the Honpa Hongwanji Hilo Betsuin and a veteran of the U.S. Army during World War II.
Private services.
He is survived by daughter, Joy (Renald) Fukuoka of Wailuku; son, Neal (Jen) Nakagawa of Hilo; brother, Yoshimasa (Akiyo) Nakagawa of Hilo; four grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Elsie Stevens
Elsie Frances Meyer Stevens, 100, of Waipunalei, died Sept. 20, 2019, at Legacy Hilo Rehabilitation and Nursing Center. Born June 1, 1919, in Laupahoehoe, she was a homemaker and member of Saint Anthony Catholic Church and Laupahoehoe Senior Citizens.
Friends may call at 8 a.m. Oct. 9 at Saint Anthony Catholic Church in Laupahoehoe for a 10 a.m. Mass. Burial follows in church cemetery. The family requests casual be worn.
She is survived by sons, Norman (Pinky) Stevens of Ookala, Billy Stevens of Waipunalei; daughters, Charlotte Branco of Papaikou, Carol (Richard) Niimi of Mountain View; one son-in-law; 16 grandchildren, 37 great-grandchildren, nine great-great-grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Bonny Ichimaru
Bonny Gale Ichimaru, 61, of Hilo, died Sept. 29, 2019, at the Hawaii Care Choices Pohai Malama Care Center. She was born in Hilo and was a homemaker.
Private services held.
She is survived by husband, Shinichi Ichimaru of Hilo; sons, Michael Ichimaru and George Ichimaru of Hilo; daughter, Davelyn (Ricardo) Garza of Pepeekeo; mother, Eleanor (David) Gusman of Keaau; brothers, David (Joyce) Prudencio of Hilo and Sydney (Lulu) Prudencio of Keaau; sister, Paula (Joe) Hanohano of Hilo; three grandchildren, numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary, Inc. – Hilo.
Dean Nakanishi
Dean “Uncle Dean” “Naka” Toshio Nakanishi, 63, of Pepeekeo, died Sept. 16, 2019, at home. Born Feb. 12, 1956, in Hilo, he was retired from the County Department of Public Works Roads Division and a member of Honomu Hongwanji Mission.
Private services were held. Family requests no monetary gifts or flowers.
He is survived by mother, Mildred Nakanishi of Pepeekeo; brother, Wayne (Janet) Nakanishi of Hilo; sisters, Ann (Larry) Monson of Seattle and Ellen (Raymond) Oshiro of North Richland Hills, Texas; a sister-in-law, numerous nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.