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 to obituaries@westhawaiitoday.com. Memorial advertisements with photos may be purchased through the newspaper advertising department.
Joel Ravey
Joel Kalani Ravey, 62, of Kunia, passed away in Ewa Beach on Tuesday, February 21, 2023 Joel was born to Joe and Annie Ravey in Ewa, Hawaii on July 20, 1960, but always called Hilo his home. He was a resident of Oʻahu for over 30 years and during that time, he worked in various mechanic jobs, many within the Department of Transportation. He also was Veteran in US Army. Visitation at Dodo Mortuary Chapel, 199 Wainaku St., Hilo, Hawaii, on Sunday, May 28, 2023 from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.; Memorial Services/ Celebration of His Life at 10 a.m. A graveside services with Miltary Honors will be held at the East Hawaii Veteran Cemetery No. 2 (Pavilion) at 12 noon (110 Laimana St., Hilo, Hawaii) on Tuesday, May 30, 2023. JoeUrn burial to follow He is survived by children, Eston Ravey, Joshua Ravey, Pomaika’i Ravey of Hawaii; five grandchildren, Zion David-Ravey, Israel Ravey, Punahoa Ravey, Ka’iokea Lyau, and Victoria-Ann Ravey; sisters, Beverly Gonsalves, Winona (Mike) Hooser, Annette (Giles) Nakamoto and Ipo (Poncho Sampedro) Carvalho; brother, Joe “Felix” Ravey; Numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Robert Medeiros
Robert Medeiros, Sr., 64, of Hawi, Hawaii died March 26, 2023 at his residence. Born in North Kohala, Hawaii on June 5, 1958, he was a self-employed small engine repairman and a U.S. Army veteran. Visitation will be held at 9 a.m. June 10, 2023 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Hawi; mass will begin at 10 a.m. Celebration of life to follow, after military honors, at the Medeiros’ residence. The family requests casual attire. He is survived by his wife, Gerda Medeiros of Hawi; daughter, Natja (Elton) Medeiros of Honokaa; son, Robert (Kawai) Medeiros Jr., of Las Vegas, NV.; brothers, John (Cindy) Medeiros of Kohala and Jeffery (Desiree) Medeiros of Hawi; sister, Alicia (Benny) Ramos of Hawi; 5 grandsons; 1 granddaughter; 1 great granddaughter; 1 hanai grandson and 2 hanai granddaughters; numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Marsha Swanson
Marsha Rae Swanson, 74, of Mt. View, passed away on Wednesday, April 5, 2023 at residence, born on July 3, 1948, in Douds, Iowa; she was a retired secretary for Swanson Building Company of Edmonds, Washington. She also was a graduate of University of Washington. Preceded in death, husband, Bruce Swanson She survived by children, Stephanie (Winston Flawless) Nepon and Christianna (Paxson Sherwin) Swanson of Hawaii, Kirstin (Chester) Uchida of Washington; six grandchildren. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Suzanne Wheeler
Suzanne Michele Wheeler, 69, of Kailua Kona, Hawai‘i passed away on April 7, 2023 in Kealakekua. She was born on January 8, 1954, in Indiana, Pennsylvania. Suzanne worked as an executive for a computer software business.She is survived by daughters Tracy Bertovich of Kailua Kona; Jocelyn (Jonathan Cronan) Bertovich of Waianae, Hawai’i; Kristi (Raymond) Rappaport of Georgia; brother Raymond (Debra) Blanchard of Montrose, Colorado; sister Jane (Louis) Di Bridge of Mill Spring, North Carolina; four grandchildren and one great-grandchild.Private services will be held. Online condolences may be posted on www.ballardfamilymortuaries.com. Services provided by Ballard Family Mortuary-Kona.
George Leras, Jr.
George Michael Leras, Jr., 80, of Keaau, died April 8, 2023. He was born in Pennsylvania on October 15, 1952 and was a Navy veteran.Online condolences: www.homelanimemorialpark.com. He is survived by his sister and numerous nieces and nephews.
Amy Abe
Mrs. Amy Sueko Sakai Abe, age 65, passed away on April 14, 2023 at her residence in Hilo, Hawaii. She was born in Hilo, Hawaii on September 17, 1957 and retired from KTA Super Stores and Sure Save Supermarket as a cashier. She was a member of Zion’s House of Praise Holiness Church in Hilo, Hawaii. Visitation will be held at Dodo Mortuary Chapel in Hilo, Hawaii on May 27, 2023 (Saturday) from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.; memorial service will begin at 11:00 a.m. Casual attire is requested. Wearing of face masks is requested. On-line condolences at www.dodomortuary.com. She is survived by mother, Sueno Saruwatari of Pepeekeo; brother, Bert Saruwatari of Honolulu; sisters, Lynn (Glenn) Abe of Waipahu, Faye (Gordon Liborio) Saruwatari of Hilo, Gail Saruwatari of Pepeekeo and Eva Saruwatari of Pepeekeo; nephew, Grant (Carole) Abe of Hilo; grandnephews, Brayden Abe of Hilo and Brycen Abe of Hilo; an uncle, numerous aunts and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Leonard Gonsalves
Leonard “Leo” Andrew Gonsalves, Sr., 81, of Pahoa, Hawaii, died on Sunday, April 30, 2023 at Hilo Medical Center. He was born on November 10, 1941 in Hakalau, Hawaii. He was a retired production worker for Frank Foods and a tractor operator for the former Hamakua Sugar Company. He was a member of the I.L.W.U. Bowling League and an avid hunter. Visitation will be held from 8:30 to 9:15 a.m. on Friday (May 26, 2023) at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Hilo; Funeral Mass at 9:30 a.m.; burial to follow at Alae Cemetery. Aloha attire and flowers welcomed. Condolences may be sent to: RR3 Box 1299, Pahoa, Hawaii 96778. Survived by, wife, Jody Gonsalves of Pahoa; daughter, Stephanie (Darrel) Branco of Kurtistown; step-children, Carl (Jan) Beavers, Jr. of Pahoa, Karla (Bully) Gabriel of Honokaa and Peter Vana, Jr. of Pahoa; 3 grandsons; 7 step-grandchildren; 6 step-great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Lemona Whitney
Lemona Robert Whitney, 86, of Waikoloa, Hawaii died May 3, 2023 at Kaiser Moanalua Hospital. Born in Hilo, Hawaii on March 15, 1937, he was a retired computer operator for the Internal Revenue Service. He was active in Hawaiian Cultural activities, a member of the Waikoloa Village Seniors, Annunciation Catholic Church, and a U.S. Navy veteran. Visitation will be held at 8 a.m. June 2, 2023 at Annunciation Catholic Church in Waimea, Hawaii; mass will begin at 9 a.m. with burial to follow at the West Hawaii Veterans Cemetery in Kailua-Kona. The family requests casual attire and flowers are welcome. He is survived by his stepdaughters, Michelle (John) Sakurai and Theresa Van Gieson, all of Honolulu, Patricia (Marc) Serrano of San Jose, CA., Nancy Thompson of Portland, OR.; stepsons, Donald (Susie) Van Gieson and Kimo Van Gieson, all of Maryland, Pono (Ajija) Van Gieson of Santa Monica, CA.; brothers, Delbert Whitney and sister, Nani Camacho, both of Hilo; 19 grandchildren; numerous great grandchildren; several nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Alan Dalao
Alan B. Dalao, 84, of Hilo, Hawaii died May 15, 2023 at Hospice of Kona’s Nakamaru Hale. Born in Paauhau, Hawaii on September 5, 1938, he was a truck driver and crane operator for Hamakua Sugar Company and a retired member of the Hawaii National Guard. Memorial service will be held at 9 a.m. June 7, 2023 at Veteran Cemetery #2 in Hilo. The family requests casual attire. He is survived by his daughters, Brandalee (Ben) Kalanui of Oregon, Tina Marie Whitney of Kailua-Kona, Roberta Rodrigues of Hilo, Maryellen Dalao and Selina Dalao, both of Honolulu; sister, Veronica Carvalho of Hilo; numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Viktor Merkulov
Viktor Merkulov, 62, of Keaau, passed away on May 17, 2023 at Queens Medical Center. Born October 9, 1960, in Russia, he worked as a driver, a stone mason and a mechanic. He is survived by wife, Yelena Merkulov; sons, Vitaliy, Dmitriy, Igor, John, David, Joseph; daughters, Viktoriya, Olesya, Marina, Angelica; brother, Valeriy; sisters, Galina, Alina, Nina; 5 grandchildren; in addition to numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. Services will be held Saturday, May 27, 2023; Visitation 9:30-10, Service 10 a.m., Burial at Alae Cemetery, 1 p.m. Arrangements by Ballard Family Mortuary.