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.
Lydia Seo
Mrs. Lydia Aiko Seo, 91, of Honokaa, died Nov. 20, 2019, at her residence in Honokaa. Born Aug. 26, 1928, in Laupahoehoe, she was retired from the State of Hawaii as a cook at the Honokaa Hospital, and was a member of the Hamakua Jodo Mission.
Visitation will be held 10-11 a.m. Dec. 22 at Dodo Mortuary Chapel in Hilo. Funeral service will begin at 11 a.m. Casual attire is requested. No flowers or koden.
She is survived by sons, Stirling (Vivian) Fujimoto of Pearl City, Oahu, Harlan (Katsumi) Seo of Honokaa and Elston (Danette Tavares) Seo of Honokaa; daughters, Mari (Jony Sandoval-Velazquez) Seo of Honokaa and Joy (Bruce) Kawachika of Waimea; brothers, Herbert (Chizue) Fujimoto of Aiea, Harold Fujimoto of Moanalua and Wallace (Alice) Fujimoto of Hilo; sister, Fumiko Kaneshiro of Honokaa; eight grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; numerous nephews, nieces and cousins.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary, Inc. in Hilo.
Jennifer Taliauli
Jennifer Taliauli, 55, of Keaau, died Dec. 6, 2019, at Hilo Medical Center. She was born on Oct. 1, 1964, in Hilo.
Services will be held at Siasi O Tonga, 16-1426 36th Ave. Keaau, on Dec. 20. Visitation is from 8-9 a.m. Services are from 9 a.m. to noon with burial to follow at Alae Cemetery, 1033 Hawaii Belt Road in Hilo.
Jennifer is survived by husband, Paeahelotu Taliauli; son, John (Sharmayne) Taliauli; daughter, Linita (Cyrus) Kapeli-Spencer; brother, Teddy Bondaug; sisters, Annette Bondaug, Carol Bondaug, Judith Bondaug; eight grandchildren.
Arrangements by Ballard Family Mortuary Hilo.
Victorino Riingen
Victorino Sugpatan Riingen, 79, of Keaau, died Dec. 11, 2019, at Hilo Medical Center. Born on April 15, 1940, in Batac Ilocos Norte, Philippines, he was a Macadamia Nut Picker for the Agro Business of Hawaii.
Friends may call 5-9 p.m. Dec. 19 at Dodo Mortuary Chapel. Funeral service is at 7 p.m. Burial to follow at a later date. Casual attire.
He is survived by Gregoria Riingen of Keaau; sons, Roberto (Precy) Riingen and Richard (Melani) Riingen of Keaau, Ronald (Ana) Riingen of Italy and Reynante (Susan) Riingen of Honolulu; daughter, Roserem Riingen (Paterno) Paderan of Ainaloa; sisters, Guillerma Riingen and Rosalinda (Pedro) Pacunayen of Philippines; brother, Felix (Leticia) Riingen, Jr. of Philippineseight grandchildren; numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary, Inc.
Gayle Rosario
Gayle Naomi Rosario, 60, of Keaau, died Nov. 30, 2019. Born in Hilo in May of 1959, she worked for Kadota Liquor in Hilo.
No services. Online condolences: www.homelanimemorialpark.com
She is survived by partner, Hercules Fontes; mom, Kinue Ito; daughter, Dayna Rosario; brother, Glenn Ito; sister, Audrey Jyo; granddaughter; grandsons; great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Jean Black
Jean Elaine Black, 94, of Hawaiian Paradise Park, died Sept. 12, 2019, at Kona Community Hospital. Born Dec. 27, 1924, in Pullman, Wash., Jean lived most of her life in Santa Clara, Calif., where she was third grade teacher for 31 years. During WWII she joined the Navy as WAVE and became an airplane mechanic. At the age of 80 she left her home of 47 years and moved to the island of Hawaii.
A celebration of life will be held 1-4 p.m. Dec. 28, 2019, at the Leilani Estates Park in Leilani Estates from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Light pupu will be served. Casual attire.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Samuel Black in 1998.
She is survived by Sandra Randolph and Linda Swierk of San Diego, Debra Black of Santa Clara, Calif. and Kimberly (Jose) Archuleta of Keaau; 14 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren; numerous hanai grandchildren.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary, Inc.
Gary Okamura
Gary Hideo Okamura, 70, of Laupahoehoe, died Nov. 22, 2019, at a private care home. Born Jan. 3, 1949, in Honolulu, he was a retired park caretaker for the Hawaii County Department of Parks & Recreation.
Private services were held. Family requests no monetary gift or flowers.
He is survived by uncles and aunts, George (Nellie) Tanaka of Fairfield, Calif., Tsuyako Fujitani of Aiea, Oahu, Elsie (James) Doherty of Orlando, Fla., Carole (Hardy) Tsutsumi of Hilo, Shizue Tanaka of Honolulu, Mabel Tanaka of Hilo; and numerous cousins.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Samuel Bannister, Sr.
Samuel Liwaimu Bannister, Sr., 83, of Waimea, died Nov. 26, 2019, at his residence in Waimea. Born on July 9, 1936, in Waialua, he retired from the Department of Water Supply and also from the United States Marine Corps after 20 years of service as a gunnery sergeant, which he served during the Vietnam War.
Friends may call 8-9 a.m. Dec. 27 at the Imiola Congregational Church in Waimea. Funeral service is from 9-10 a.m. Burial to follow at noon at West Hawaii Veterans Cemetery in Kailua-Kona with a military ceremony across from Kua Bay.
He is survived by sister, Esther Pahoa of Killeen, Texas; children, Samuel L. Bannister, Jr., Andrew T. Bannister, Carole L. Nickel and John J. Bannister of Waimea, Sina Kelau, Dale Price, Terry B. Price and Lee Price of Utah; numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary, Inc.
Hong Wong
Hong Keong “Hongie” Wong, 86, of Hilo died Dec. 8, 2019, at Hawaii Care Choices Pohai Malama Care Center. Born in Hilo, he was a retired mail carrier for the United States Postal Service, member of the Wanderers Athletic Club and a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps during the Korean War.
Private services to be held at a later date. Family requests no flowers and no koden.
He is survived by wife, Geraldine “Geri” Wong of Hilo; sons, Royden (Lori) Wong of Hilo, Greg (Janelle) Wong of Hilo; daughter, Joyce (Augie) Taroma of Hilo, Karen (Wayne) Tatsuno of Hilo; brother, H.N. Wong of Oahu; sisters, April Leong of Oahu, Jeany Nakamura of Oahu, Violet Mark of Oahu, May Young of Oahu; eight grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.