WWII worker a 'shuffleboard pilot'
Jean Wilson / 1921-2007
Jean Wilson volunteered for an Army defense job soon after the attack on Pearl Harbor, joining a group that made history as the first American women employed by the military in a war zone.
Wilson worked in the Women's Air Raid Defense detachment at the Air Defense Command Center at Fort Shafter throughout World War II. At a time when further air raids were expected, the WARD members took radio messages from radar operators around the island and kept track of aircraft by moving pieces across a tabletop map. They replaced male soldiers who were deployed to the warfront, the first time women participated in defense of U.S. territory. Their story was told in the 1991 book "Shuffleboard Pilots."
Wilson, 85, died March 23 in Honolulu.
She was born in Honolulu. She worked as an artist and designer. She was a member of the Hawaiian Mission Children's Society and Daughters of Hawaii.
Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. tomorrow at Oahu Cemetery.
She is survived by nieces Kathy Torcaso and Kim Anderson, nephew Kirk Wilson and goddaughter Judy Mayhew.
Mary Malani Alani
April 6, 2007
Mary Malani Alani, 45, of Hookena, Hawaii, a homemaker and Manago's Hotel housekeeper, died in Hawaii Medical Center East. She was born in Kealakekua, Hawaii. She is survived by companion Godfrey Kihe, daughters Emily Alani and Ashley Kihe, mother Louisa, brothers Harvey and Douglas, and sisters Glendora Kenison and Sheraine Alani. Services: 7 p.m. Friday at St. Benedict's Catholic Church in Honaunau, Hawaii. Call after 5 p.m. Mass: 10 a.m. Saturday at the church. Call after 8 a.m. Burial to follow at church cemetery. Luncheon to follow at church hall. Casual attire. Flowers welcome.
Claudia Sales Antonio
April 5, 2007
Claudia Sales Antonio, 85, of Waialua died in Wahiawa General Hospital. She was born in Bacarra, Ilocos Norte, Philippines. She is survived by daughters Diana Toves, Rosita Adams, Estrelita Nichols, Anita Bryant and Josephine Suan; 13 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. Services: 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Mililani Mortuary-Waipio, makai chapel. Call after 9:30 a.m. Burial: 11 a.m. at Mililani Memorial Park. Casual attire. Flowers welcome.
John Juan Aperto
April 2, 2007
John Juan Aperto, 86, of Wailuku, a John of Maui and Sons Co. wood artisan and owner, died in Hale Makua, Kahului. He was born in Waipouli Homestead, Kauai. He is survived by sons John J., Edward, Rodney, Landwood "Bobo," Earl E. "Boise," Winfred "Darryl/Papu" and Donovaun E.; daughters Natalie Darr, Sheila "Momi" Darrell, Prudence "Lehua" Albreski, Trudy "Moana" Bettone, Kelly Aperto, Yvette "Maluhia" Mailo and Laura "Lala" Johnson; sisters Juanita Gayagas-Racca, Trinidad Adams and Leonora Cataluna; 40 grandchildren; and 30 great-grandchildren. Services: 7:30 p.m. Friday at Ballard Family Mortuary. Call after 6 p.m. Additional services: 11 a.m. Saturday at the mortuary. Call after 10 a.m. Cremation to follow. Lunch to follow at mortuary. Aloha attire. No flowers.
Jennie O. Borthwick
April 11, 2007
Jennie O. Borthwick, 78, of Honolulu died at home. She was born in Honolulu. She is survived by sons Harold "Ben" Borthwick and Arnold O'Brien, sisters Katherine Ching and Lei Flocco, three grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. Services: 6:30 p.m. Friday at Borthwick Mortuary. Call after 5 p.m. Aloha attire.
Alfred Cabacungan
April 6, 2007
Alfred "Tony" Cabacungan, 82, of Wailuku, a retired Wailuku Sugar Co. mechanic and U.S. Army veteran who served in World War II, died in Maui Memorial Medical Center. He was born in Wailuku. He is survived by wife Julieta "Juling"; sons Howard, Anthony, David and Elmer; daughters Patricia Gomes-Kaauamo and Carol Cabacungan; brothers Regino and Edward; sisters Dominga Yadao, Martina Aguinaldo and Sister Miriam "Dionise" Cabacungan; nine grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. Services: 7:45 p.m. Friday at Borthwick Norman's Mortuary. Call after 6 p.m. Mass: 11:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Anthony Church. Call after 10:30 a.m. Burial: 12:30 p.m. at Maui Memorial Park. Lunch to follow at mortuary.
Teodora Gampong Cajudoy
March 21, 2007
Teodora Gampong Cajudoy, 93, of Lahaina, a retired Maui Land & Pineapple Co. field worker, died in Maui Memorial Medical Center. She was born in Badoc, Ilocos Norte, Philippines. She is survived by husband Lorenzo, son Jimmy, daughters Juanita Echalas and Clemencia Alcaraz, sister Prudencia Agapay, 12 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and 10 great-great-grandchildren. Mass: 10 a.m. Friday at Sacred Hearts Church in Napili, Maui. Call after 9 a.m. Inurnment: 12:30 p.m. at Maui Memorial Park. Casual attire.
Mercedes Morales Capati
April 5, 2007
Mercedes Morales "Mercy" Capati, 61, of Ewa Beach, a retired Defense Finance Accounting Service employee at Ford Island, died in Houston. She was born in Guagua, Pampanga, Philippines. She is survived by husband Danilo M.; daughters Maria E.C. Brathapan and Maria Lorela M. and Danmerle M. Capati; brothers Prudencia and Hercules Morales; sister Myrna U. Morales; and two grandchildren. Mass: 7 p.m. Friday at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, 91-1004 North Road, Ewa Beach. Call after 6 p.m. Services: 10 a.m. Saturday at the church. Call after 9 a.m. Burial: 11 a.m. at Mililani Memorial Park. Casual attire. Flowers welcome.
Flora Binongcal Carrancho
April 7, 2007
Flora Binongcal Carrancho, 70, of Honolulu, a retired care home operator, died in Arizona. She was born in the Philippines. She is survived by children Nanette Eleccion and Audie, Allen and Elmer Carrancho, Nora Asuncion and Aurora Sera; brothers Artemio, George and Augustin Reyes; sister Carolina Aranda; and 16 grandchildren. Services: 7 p.m. Friday at Kalihi Union Church. Call after 5:30 p.m. Burial: 9 a.m. Saturday at Hawaiian Memorial Park. Casual attire. No flowers.
Benjamin Hartley Jr.
March 22, 2007
Benjamin Hartley Jr., 84, of Wahiawa died in Wahiawa General Hospital. He was born in Ottumwa, Iowa. He is survived by wife Yasuko "Bea," daughter Yasmine Sieber, brother Bob and sister Betty Tinker. Services: 10 a.m. Friday at First Baptist Church of Wahiawa, 1233 California Ave. Call after 9:30 a.m. Committal services: 1 p.m. at Schofield Barracks Post Cemetery. Casual attire. No flowers.
James Alexander Kumukahili Hoke
March 29, 2007
James Alexander Kumukahili Hoke, 91, of Honolulu, retired Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard electrician, died in Honolulu. He was born in Honolulu. He is survived by sons Richard and Gerard, daughters Jacqueline Malina and Edwina Mossman, 10 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren. Mass: 8 p.m. Friday at St. Augustine Church. Call after 6:30 p.m. Services: 9 a.m. Saturday at the church. Call after 7:30 a.m. Burial: 10 a.m. at Hawaiian Memorial Park. Aloha attire. No flowers.
Violet Lawrence Gouveia Perreira
April 13, 2007
Violet Lawrence Gouveia Perreira, 84, of Lihue, a domestic engineer, died. She was born in Lihue. She is survived by children Jackie, Patrick and Glenn Silva, Linda Crommy, Wayne Perreira, Corlene Rapozo, Cheryl Miranda and Parmalee Dato; brother Albert L. Gouveia; sister Julia Silva; 25 grandchildren; and 32 great-grandchildren. Mass: 10 a.m. Friday at Immaculate Conception Church. Call after 9 a.m. Burial to follow at Kauai Memorial Gardens. Casual attire.
Delbert John Gouveia Santos
April 11, 2007
Delbert John Gouveia Santos, 30, of Aiea, a cabinetmaker, died in Kapiolani Medical Center at Pali Momi. He was born in Hilo. He is survived by fiance Jamie Perry, hanai son Jayven Ah Yuen, daughter Seysha-Marie Mehau-Santos, hanai daughter Jordyn Ah Yuen, father Albert Gouveia Jr., mother Darlene, brother Devin Gouveia, sisters Antolene Nahoopii and Alberta Wolf, stepsister Sheila "Edie" Azevedo, and grandparents Albert Sr. and Frances Gouveia and Jeanette Cortez. Services: 6:30 p.m. Friday at Borthwick Hawaii Funeral Home. Call after 5 p.m. Cremation to follow. Casual attire. Leis welcome.
Esther Kaleinani Smythe
April 9, 2007
Esther Kaleinani Smythe, 98, of Waianae, a retired administrator, died in Waianae. She was born in Waikiki. She is survived by children Patricia M. Burch, BS McEwen, and Orrin H. and Mervin L. Smythe; brothers Daniel and Victor DeFries; sisters Violet Anakalea, Antoinette DeFries and Helen Sham; 13 grandchildren; and 29 great-grandchildren. Services: 7 p.m. tomorrow at Hawaiian Memorial Park. Call after 5 p.m.
Ernest Nicolas Tacderan
April 2, 2007
Ernest Nicolas Tacderan, 72, of Honolulu, a retired Aloha Airlines senior lead airline mechanic, died in Honolulu. He was born in Kahului. He is survived by wife Cralina; children Patrick Tacderan, Karin Villanueva and Christine Pamaylaon; sisters Helen, Frances, Clara, Linda, Dolores, Maggie, Kathleen, Bernie, Marilyn and Norma; and seven grandchildren. Services: 7 p.m. today at Hawaiian Memorial Park. Call after 6 p.m. Mass: 9:30 a.m. tomorrow at Our Lady of the Mount Catholic Church. Call after 9 a.m. Burial: 11 a.m. at Hawaiian Memorial Park.
You can also search the Hawaii State Library System's Hawaii Newspaper Index online for older obituaries at
www.librarieshawaii.org. The index goes back several decades.