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. Any questions regarding obituaries should be directed to the mortuary or via email to obituaries@westhawaiitoday.com. Memorial advertisements may be purchased through the newspaper advertising department.
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Tandra Brooks
Tandra Lyn Brooks, 33, of Mountain View, died March 16, 2022, at Hilo Medical Center. She was born in Haiku, Maui.
Friends may call from noon to 4 p.m. April 24 at Onekahakaha Beach Park, large pavilion, for a memorial gathering. Casual attire; no flowers.
She is survived by sons, Jayden Simeona and Ezekiel Brooks; daughters, Promise Simeona and Cheryl Taylor-Brooks; mother, Shari (William) Cariaga; brothers, Samuel Brooks and Donimic Brooks; sisters, Anashe Brooks and Rose Kapumau; and numerous half-brothers and half-sisters, cousins, nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
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Manuel Asencion
Manuel Bernabe Asencion, 95, of Hilo, died Feb. 20, 2022, at Hilo Medical Center. Born in San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte, the Philippines, was a retired seed cutter with the Former Theo. H. Davies Hamakua Sugar Co., a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church and American Legion Post #4 Kohala, and U.S. Army Korean War veteran.
Friends may call at 8:30 a.m. April 25 at St. Joseph Catholic Church for 9:30 a.m. Mass. A mass will be held at 9:30 a.m.Friends may also call at 11:30 a.m. April 27 at Hawaii Veterans Cemetery #2 Pavilion for a committal service. Casual attire.
He is survived wife, Flaviana Simpliciano Asencion of Hilo; son, Joseph (Elma Tomas) Asencion of Hilo; step-son, Shaun Tomas of the Philippines; four grandchildren; one great-granddaughter; and nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
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Noriaki Otani
Noriaki Otani, 93, of Hilo, died March 29, 2022 at Life Care Center of Hilo. Born Sept. 22, 1928, in Hilo, he retired as a carpenter from Jas. W. Glover, Ltd. in Hilo. and was a decorated U.S. Army veteran.
Private services held. The family requests that flowers and koden (monetary offerings) be omitted.
He is survived by wife, Fujie Otani of Hilo; daughter, Shawn (Paul) Paiva of Hilo; sons, Max (Ann) Otani and Brad (Helen) Otani, all of Honolulu; sister, Lorraine Matsu of Hilo; four grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and numerous nephews, nieces and cousins.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
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Maureen Rodrigues
Maureen June Rodrigues, 72, of Hilo, died April 2, 2022, at Hawaii Care Choices Pohai Malama Care Center. Born in Hilo, she was a retired Administrative Assistant for Goodwill Hawaii First to Work program in Hilo.
Friends may call at 5 p.m. April 30 at Dodo Mortuary chapel in Hilo for a 6 p.m. service. Casual attire.
She is survived by son, Evan (Lani Rios) Kelsom of Hilo; daughters, Erin (Paul) Perry and Eden Kelsom of Hilo; stepson, Melvin (Maile Lincoln) Kelsom of Waikoloa; eight grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
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Ralph Kaneao
Ralph Lanui Kaneao, 74, of Waikoloa, died March 18, 2022, at Hilo Medical Center. Born in Kona, he was a former cook for Mauna Lani Bay Hotel, lab technician for the former Hamakua Sugar Company, U.S. Marine Corps Vietnam War veteran, recipient of two Purple Heart medals, member of Disabled American Veterans and member and musician for Honokaa Senior Citizens.
Friends may call at 8 a.m. April 30 at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Honokaa for a 9:30 a.m. eulogy and 10 a.m. Mass with military honors to follow. Family request no flowers.
He is survived by wife, Virginia Kaneao of Waikoloa; children, Ranelle (Russell Crutcher Jr.) Kaneao of Oahu, Radina (Mike) Pollock of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., and Ryler Kaneao of Waikoloa; hanai son, John Gandolf of Waikoloa; brothers, Lloyd (Ligaya) Leslie Jr. of Paauhau, and Peter (Phynee) Lerma Jr. of Utah; hanai sister, Pearl Gomes of Hilo; five grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
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Joanne Arita
Joanne Kikue Arita, 74, of Hilo died Feb. 8, 2022, at her residence. Born in Olaa, she was a secretary for the former Arita Auto Repair, clerk for Prudential Insurance and a cafeteria worker for Sodexo Hawaii at the University of Hawaii at Hilo.
Private services held. The family requests that flowers and koden (monetary offerings) be omitted.
She is survived by brother, Alan (Gail) Shiraishi of Hilo; sister, Stella (Jerry) Itamura of Torrance, California; sisters-in-law, Gwen Santos and Cathy Arita, both of Pepeekeo, and Roxanne Nagasako of Hilo; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
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Joseph Ayers
Joseph Eugene Ayers, 75, of Mountain View died March 28, 2022, at Hilo Medical Center. Born in Turlock, California, he was a heavy equipment mechanic for Island Princess Macadamia, owner/operator of Kahealani Ranch and U.S. Army Vietnam War veteran and Bronze Star Medal recipient.
Private services held.
He is survived by wife, Lora Ayers of Mountain View; daughters, Amy (Phillip) Ayers-Van Loo of Buxton, Oregon, and Jeanette (Dion) Ayers-Kawakami of Mountain View; sister, Jean (Doug) Bucher of McArthur, California, and Sarah (Paul) Curtin of Tyler, Texas; eight grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
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