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.
Mercedes Enjada Guia
Mercedes Enjada Guia, 89, of Paauilo died Dec. 26 at home. Born in Paauilo, she worked for the former Hamakua Sugar Co., Paauilo Elementary and Intermediate School and Paauilo General Store. Visitation 8-9:30 a.m. Saturday (Jan. 27) at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Honokaa. Mass at 10 a.m. Burial to follow at Kukaiau County Cemetery. Casual attire. Survived by daughters, Jonelle (Dennis) Pascubillo of Hilo and Melissa (Cid) Guia-Matsumura of Paauilo; sons, Nelson Guia of Paauilo and Andrew Guia of Hilo; sister, Dolores “Dolly” Villafuerte of Hawaii Kai, Oahu; sisters-in-law, Vera Genegabus and JoAnn Ebanez of Hilo; brothers-in-law, Peter (Gerry) Ebaniz of Kailua-Kona and Salvador “Sal” Ebanez of Albury, Australia; six grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Melvin Tsuji Kaneshiro
Melvin Tsuji Kaneshiro, 79, of Waimea died Dec. 16 at home. Born in the former Okada Hospital in Honokaa, he was a a retired contractor and heavy equipment operator, 1962 graduate of Honokaa High School, student of the former Church College of Hawaii, veteran of the U.S. Army Chemical Corps and husband of Jeanne Ai Okuna for 31 years until her death in 2000. Visitation 2-3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27, at Imiola Church in Waimea. Memorial service at 3 p.m. Urn burial and reception to follow. No flowers. Memorial donations to North Hawaii Hospice. Survived by children, Noelle Kaneshiro of Novato, Calif., Niel Kaneshiro of Honolulu and Richard Kaneshiro of Waimea; brother, Arnold Kaneshiro of Waimea; sisters, Karen Santos of Hilo and Sharyn Rodriguera of Roseville, Calif.; six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Arrangements by Cremation Services of West Hawaii.
Noli Dela Merced Acol
Noli Dela Merced Acol, 59, of Keaau, died Dec. 19 in Hilo. Born in the Philippines, he worked as a Department of Transportation bus driver. Celebration of life to be held 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27 at Zion’s House of Praise Holiness Church. Survived by wife Sandra M. Talbert-Acol, son Isaiah A. J. Acol, fiance Robin A. Travis, daughter Sharay (Edward Patton) Acol, and numerous grandchildren, aunties, uncles and cousins. Arrangements by Homelani Memorial Park.
Richard Scott Gribbin
Richard Scott Gribbin, 77, of Hilo, died Jan. 15 at Hilo Medical Center. Born in Trenton, N.J., he was a quality control manager with Jas. W. Glover, Ltd. Prayer service to be held at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 29 at the Holy Ascension Orthodox Church in Honomu, with funeral service at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 30 at the same location. Final internment to take place at a later date. Casual attire, no flowers. Survived by wife Barbara of the Big Island, daughters Mary and Melanie of California, brother Jon of New Jersey, and three grandsons. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Christiano Kawika Hashimoto
Christiano Kawika Hashimoto, 86, of Hookena died Dec. 7 in Henderson, Nev. Born in Keei, Kona, Hawaii, he was a retired U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 4, Vietnam War veteran and member of St. Benedict’s Catholic Church. Visitation 7:45-9 a.m. Friday, Feb. 2 at St. Benedict’s Catholic Church in Honaunau. Mass at 9 a.m. Burial noon at West Hawaii Veterans Cemetery. Casual attire. Survived by wife, Virginia Hashimoto of Hookena; sons, Chris Hashimoto Jr., Bruce D. (Frances) Hashimoto and Paul (Kim) Yarborough; daughters, Jennifer Hashimoto, Georgianna (Kenny Raymond) Hashimoto, Mei Ling (Denny) Englert and Audrina (Milton) Angelo; brothers, Simeon Hashimoto and Arnold (Patsy) Hashimoto; grandchildren and great grandchildren; nieces, nephews and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
William “Billy” Kaleionehu Ma‘e
William “Billy” Kaleionehu Ma‘e, 90, of Keaau, died Dec. 1 at home. Born in Papaaloa, he served in the Hawaii Army National Guard for 25 years and worked for Jas. W. Glover, Ltd. Visitation to be held at 9 a.m. Friday, Feb. 2 at Dodo Mortuary Chapel, with funeral service at 10 a.m., to be followed by a full military honor ceremony and burial at 11:30 a.m. at the Hawaii Veterans Cemetery #2 pavilion. Aloha attire. Survived by wife Johanna P. Ma‘e; children William (Val) Ma‘e, Laurinda Brodoski, Marilyn Ma‘e, Sheena Ma‘e, Sharleen (Kalani) Kahalewai and Alwin (Krista) Ma‘e; sibling Richard Salvador; 24 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Margaret Miyoko Wilson
Margaret Miyoko Wilson, 99, of Pahoa, died Dec. 11 at the Hale Anuenue Restorative Care Center. Born in Honolulu, she was a 20-year-employee at KFC and a retired cafeteria worker at Pahoa School. Visitation to be held from 8-10 a.m. Jan. 30 at Dodo Mortuary Chapel, with memorial service to follow at 10 a.m. Casual attire, no flowers. Survived by numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
So Chun Lam Cheng
So Chun Lam Cheng, 98, of Hilo, died Jan. 15 at the Hilo Medical Center. Born in China, she was a homemaker and cook. Visitation to be held from 9:30 – 11 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 31 at Dodo Mortuary Chapel, with funeral to begin at 11 a.m. and burial to follow at Homelani Memorial Park. Casual attire. Survived by sons Peter Cheng of Hilo, Raymond (Anna) Cheng of Australia and Julio (Mati) Cheng of Spain; daughters Yan (Chi Fun) Lung of Mountain View and Genia (Gene) Garcia of Hilo; brother Yuc Len Lam of Hilo, eight grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Corrine Michiko Yamano
Corrine Michiko Yamano, 71, of Hilo, died Jan. 14 at Legacy Hilo Rehabilitation and Nursing Center. Born in Pahala, she was a retired Hawaii County DMV worker. Visitation to be held from 3-4 p.m. Friday, Feb. 2 at Dodo Mortuary Chapel, with funeral to begin at 4 p.m. and cremation to follow. Casual attire. Survived by brothers Terrence Yamano of Kona and Wendell Yamano of Hilo; niece Mika Womack of Kingsville, Tex.; nephews David Yamano of Clearlake, Calif., and Damon (Cory) Yamano of McKinney, Tex.; grandnephew Ryan Yamano; grandnieces Leilani and Katie Yamano; and numerous cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Thelma Lucille Ventura
Thelma Lucille Ventura, 96, of Hilo, died Jan. 10 at Hilo Medical Center. Born in Hilo, she was a homemaker and a member of the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Hilo, where visitation will be held from 8:30 – 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 30, with funeral Mass to begin at 9:30 a.m. Burial to follow at the East Hawaii Veterans Cemetery. Casual attire. Survived by daughters Sharon Crivello of Hilo, Charlene (Sid) Kiriu of Hilo, Debra Ventura of Hilo, Patricia (Ben) Carvalho of Pahoa, Sandra Mariano of Hilo and Lisa (Mike) Berman of Kailua-Kona; sisters Vivian Kapono of California and Patricia Rasmussen of Georgia; 18 grandchildren, 33 great-grandchildren, four great-great-grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Zenaida Quisquirin Viloria
Zenaida Quisquirin Viloria, 78, of Kailua-Kona, died Dec. 26 at Hilo Medical Center. Born in the Philippines, she was an employee at Burger King in Kona. Local funeral services held, with additional services to be held in the Philippines. Survived by sons Ricardo (Maricel) Viloria, Jr. of the Philippines, Roland (Maria Jorane) Viloria of Kona and Rommel Viloria of Kona; daughters Mary Jane (Romeo) Mico of the Philippines, Marilyn (Joel) Abogadie of the Philippines, Mary Ann (Jessie) Raboy of Kona and Maricel (Lyon) Case of Kurtistown; 24 grandchildren, two great grandchildren, three sisters and one brother. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Ruben Arambula Villanueva Sr.
Ruben Arambula Villanueva Sr., 78, of Hilo died Jan. 9 at Hilo Medical Center. Born in Mexico, he was the founder and retired owner of Reuben’s Mexican Food. Services pending. Survived by sons, Reuben (Tanya) Villanueva of Hilo, John Nobriga of Honolulu, Jerod (Shaney) Kahoalii of Hilo, Jason (Bethany) Kahoalii Antonio and Jerome Heath of Kona; brothers, Luis Villanueva and Ramon Villanueva of Mexico, Vicente Villanueva of Hilo; grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Arleen Etsuko Yoshimura
Arleen Etsuko Yoshimura, 76, of Hilo died Jan. 3 at Life Care Center of Hilo. Born in Hilo, she was a retired public schools teacher, actively involved in DECA Inc., formerly Distributive Education Clubs of America, and former real estate agent and cookbook author. Private services were held. No koden (monetary gifts). Survived by husband, Glenn Yoshimura of Hilo; son, Kelsy (Sheri) Yoshimura of Honolulu; daughter, Kari (Andrew) Tarter of Apex, N.C.; brother, Brian (Lynn) Tanimoto of Hilo; sisters, Linda (James) Hong of Hilo and April (Stan) Michaels of Honolulu; three grandchildren; cousins, nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Gale Fumiko Brumaghim
Gale Fumiko Brumaghim, 68, died Aug. 29 at Kona Community Hospital. Born in Kealakekua, she was a grocery store cashier and stock clerk for a local grocery store and worked a coffee farm alongside her husband. Private services held on January 10. Survived by husband, Wayne Brumaghim of Kealakekua; son, Wayne Brumaghim Jr. of Kailua-Kona; daughter, Krystal Brumaghim of Kealakekua; sisters, Janell Okumura and Kathleen Yamagata, both of Kealakekua. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.