Obituaries for Thursday, July 6, 2023

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Leatrice Tatsutani

Leatrice Tatsutani, 80, of Hilo, died May 28 at the Life Care Center of Hilo. She was born in Kona and was a retired dental assistant and a member of New Hope – Hilo. Visitation 11 a.m.- noon Saturday, July 8 at the Dodo Mortuary chapel. Memorial service at noon. Casual attire; no koden (monetary donations). Survived by mother, Miyoko Sugai of Honolulu; brother, Nolan Sugai of Kona; sisters, Lorraine (George) Muraoka of Ewa Beach, Frieda (Larry) Lawrence of Las Vegas, Patricia (Bill) Wolff of Huntington Beach, Calif. and Pauline Sugai of Kona; numerous nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.

Janet Chavaries

Janet Mae Chavaries, 84, of Hilo, passed away on June 27, 2023 at Hilo Medical Center. Born June 24, 1939, in Hilo; she was a Cook for Goya’s, Mino’s and Koji’s Lunch Shops in Hilo. Friends may call on Wednesday, July 12, 2023, at Dodo Mortuary Chapel, Visitation from 9 to 10 a.m.; Funeral Services at 10:30 a.m. Casual attire Burial to follow at Homelani Memorial Park (Ilima Section) at 1 p.m. She is survived by Companion, Eugene Fernandez of Hilo; children, Matthew (Claudette) Chavaries of Keaau, Tara Chavaries and Eric (Betty) Chavaries of Hilo; 12 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren; brothers, John (Joyce) DeCoito, Jr. of Pahoa, Patrick (Charlotte) DeCoito, George (Christy) DeCoito, Russell (Toshiko) DeCoito of Hilo; numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.

Gilbert Benevides

Gilbert Pacheco Benevides Jr., 64, of Mountain View, died June 22, 2023 at Hilo Medical Center. Born in Hilo, he was an auto mechanic and U.S. Army veteran.Friends may call at 4 p.m. July 19, 2023 at Dodo Mortuary chapel in Hilo for a 6 p.m. service. Friends may call again at 8 a.m. July 20, 2023 at Saint Theresa Catholic Church in Mountain View for a 10 a.m. Mass. Burial follows at Hawaii Veterans Cemetery No.2. Family requests casual attire be worn. He is survived by wife, Mary Lou Benevides of Mountain View; daughter, Ashley Benevides of Mountain View; son, Kenrick Benevides of Mountain View; mother, Marie Benevides of Hilo; sisters, Natalie Chaves and Yvonne (Paul) Caitano of Hilo; hanai mother, Fanny Gouveia of Kona; numerous nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.

Barbara Darling

Barbara Hess Darling, 88, of Keaau, died June 24, 2023 in Hilo. Born in Kingston, Pa., she worked in the banking industry and as a licensed practical nurse. Friends may call at 9 a.m. July 13, 2023 at Dodo Mortuary chapel in Hilo for a 10 a.m. service. Graveside urn committal service follows at Hawaii Veterans Cemetery No.2. She is survived by children, David Robbins of Peru, Mass., Judith Delbene of Lake City, Fla., Michael (Krystal) Robbins of Denison, Texas; step children, Barbara (Steve) Naslund of Prescott, Ariz., Richard (Ria) Darling of Stafford, Va.; brothers, Richard (Carla) Hess, Henry (Kathleen) Hess; sister, Nancy Allen; 6 grandchildren, 6 great-grandchildren, numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and hanai, church and Micronesian families. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.

Walter Quinones

Walter James Quinones, Sr. 83 of Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, Died June 22, 2023, at Kaiser Moanalua Oahu. Born in Wailuku, Maui on November 19, 1939. Walter served his country in the United States Air Force and later became a Police Officer and K9 handler for the Fremont (CA) Police Department and an Airport Police Officer for the State of Hawaii, Keahole Airport, Kailua-Kona, HI. He is Survived by his Wife LaVerne Kahoalii Quinones of Kailua-Kona, Children Walter Quinones Jr. (Jean) of Sarasota Florida, Roxanne D’Onofrio (Matt) of Long Island New York, Erica Mendes (Greg Souza) of Shingletown California, Nathan (Kellie) Mendes of Bella Vista California, 1 Great Grandchild, 11 Grandchildren. Services will be held at West Hawaii Veterans Cemetery on July 14, 2023, 11 a.m. Arrangements by Oahu Mortuary.

Akemi Matsumoto

Akemi Matsumoto, 90, of Kealakekua, Hawaii, died February 21, 2023 at her home. Born in Hilo, Hawaii on February 22, 1932, she was a retail sales clerk at the Ben Franklin Store, and a member of the Kona Hongwanji Buddhist Temple and the Buddhist Women’s Association. Private services were held. The family requests no koden (monetary gifts). She is survived by her husband, Richard Matsumoto of Kainaliu; daughters, Edith (Mel) Morimoto of Capt. Cook, Catherine (Vincent) Pang of Kailua, Oahu; brothers, Masaharu (Lisa) Go of Tacoma, WA., Harry (Lorree) Go of Guadalajara, Mexico, Herbert (Nancy) Go of Honalo; sisters, Mayumi (Kumio) Matsumoto of Keopu, Suemi Matsumoto of Kaneohe, Oahu, and Daisy Hotema of Pearl City, Oahu; numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.

Julia Waters

Julia Kane Waters, 89, of Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, died June 15, 2023 at her residence. Born in South Kona, Hawaii on March 14, 1934, she was a homemaker, a member of Mokuaikaua Congregational Church and a U.S. Marine Corps veteran. Private services are being planned. She is survived by her sister, Constance Freeman of Kailua-Kona; brothers, Joseph (Joyce) Puou of Nanakuli, Oahu, and Lawrence (Helen) Puou of Holualoa; caregivers, Karl and Renee Puou of Kailua-Kona; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.

Frank Soares

Frank Soares, 79, of Kapaau, Hawaii, died June 7, 2023 at Kohala Hospital. Born in Kohala, Hawaii on April 7, 1944, he was a retired equipment operator II for the State of Hawaii, Department of Highways Division. A graveside service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on July 23, 2023 at the Kohala Seventh Day Adventist Church cemetery at 55-3361 Akoni Pule Hwy. in Hawi. The family requests casual attire. He is survived by his wife, Anita Soares of Kapaau; stepson, Ryan (Jomargaux) Cabais of Toronto, Canada; brothers, Harry (Momi) Soares of Halaula, and Robert (Nancy Kresge) Soares of Smithville, Tennessee; several nieces, nephews, and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.

Winona Wong

Winona “Nina” Wai Oi Wong, 67, of Ocean View, died May 20, 2023 at Kona Community Hospital. Born in Singapore on April 6th, 1956, she worked at Hertz Rental Car. A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, July 22, 2023 on Oahu. For more details, please text or call (808) 217-4279. Online condolences: homelanimemorialpark.com She is survived by her longtime partner, Larry Rios; sons, Jeremy Mercado and Joshua Mercado; daughter, Nicole Mercado; siblings Bertram Wong, Jackie Shirai, Warren Wong, Wayne Wong, Winifred Chung, and Wanda Johnson; and 11 grandchildren.

Thomas McCandless

Thomas H.K. McCandless, Sr., 69, of Keaau passed away on June 22. He was born in Seattle, Washington. A celebration of his life will take place at a later date. Survived by daughters, Francina Akalaonu and Brandy McCandless; son, Christopher H.K. McCandless; sisters, Helen Ferry, Thelma Teixeira and Madeline Hiram; half-brother, Clifford Figueroa; half-sister Marie Miller; numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.