Saturday, August 16, 1997

Vasconcelles, 90,
epitomized longevity

By Star-Bulletin staff

William J. Vasconcelles Sr., 90, of Aiea, a Honolulu native who worked 50 years for the newspapers here as a printer, died Aug. 5 in Tacoma, Wash., while visiting there.

Vasconcelles’ sons, William Jr. and Walter Sr., also are longtimem Hawaii Newspaper Agency printers.

He and his wife who survives him, Cecilia, celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary July 11 in Tacoma, where their daughter lives.

At the time they celebrated their 65th last year, Star-Bulletin columnist Ben Wood said: “Vasconcelles ... and sons, Walter and Willie, have 135 years of isle printing among them. The senior Vasconcelles worked 40 years for the Advertiser then spent 10 years with the Star-Bulletin Printing Co. Willie and Walter, both with the Hawaii Newspaper Agency, have 45 and 40 years respectively, in the printing world.”

William J. Vasconcelles retired last year, said brother Walter, who still works for HNA.

The senior Vasconcelles began work with the Advertiser in 1922.

“He was the best father a man could ever have,” said son Walter. “I could go on forever, really. He cared about his family a lot.”

The senior Vasconcelles also is survived by daughter Cecilia Carol “CJ” Jones; sisters Eva and Armine; 11 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.

Services were on the mainland.

Gaylon H. Bush, 43, of Waimanalo will be remembered in services Monday. No flowers. Donations suggested to In Trust for Leilani and Keoni Bush, c/o Bank of Hawaii, 1051 Keolu Drive, Kailua, HI 96734. Additional information for an obituary yesterday.

Bernard Figueroa, 64, of Honolulu, died Aug. 2 in Honolulu. Born in Haleiwa, he is survived by mother Mary Lopes; brothers Donald, John, Dennis, Leonard and Edward; sisters Bernitta Laminack, Jeanette Schonefeld, Marie Histo and Violet Okudara. Services: 10 a.m. Monday at Hawaiian Memorial Park Mortuary. Cremation to follow. Call from 9 a.m. Casual attire.

Howard W. Jones, 83, of Kailua-Kona, a retired California gas station manager, died Wednesday at home. He was also a service representative in Kokomo, Ind. and a U.S. Army veteran. Born in Berkeley, Calif., he is survived by sisters Helen Sturm; and caregivers Robert and Judi Toler. Call after 6 p.m. Monday at Keauhou pier. Boarding of the Fairwind will begin 6:15 p.m. Departure: 6:30 p.m. for memorial services and scattering of ashes at sea. Casual attire. Loose flowers and leis welcome.

Mal Soon “Yoon” Lee, 96, of Honolulu will be remembered in services 11:30 a.m. Monday at Korean Christian Church, 1832 Liliha St. Call after 10 a.m. Burial: Oahu cemetery. Casual attire. No flowers. Incorrect information for an obituary Thursday provided by the mortuary.

Peniata M. Niusulu, 84, of Waipahu died Aug. 5 in Waipahu. Born in Fitiuta, American Samoa, he is survived by wife Noema Maulupe; sons Tupulua Tagaloa and Tusitiai, Sam, Saloto and Faauma Maulupe; daughters Faagalo A. Maiava and Avetonu Tivao; 36 grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren. Services: 9:30 a.m. Monday at Mililani Mortuary-Waipio, makai chapel. Call after 9 a.m. Burial: Sunset Memorial Park.

Toshiyuki “Toshi” Okinishi, 69, of Honolulu who died Monday, was born in Hilo. Incorrect information for an obituary Thursday provided by the mortuary.

Fidela S. Sabio, 87, of Lahaina died Sunday in Maui Memorial Hospital. Born in Cabugao, Ilocos Sur, the Philippines, she is survived by husband Teodorico “Ikong”; daughter Corazon Cobangbang; sisters Lumen Sajor, Esperanza Savella and Saturnina Salgado; and three grandchildren. Wake: 7 p.m. Monday at Mililani Mortuary-Waipio, mauka chapel. Call from 6 to 9 p.m. Mass: 9:45 a.m. Tuesday at St. Joseph Church, 94-675 Farrington Highway, Waipahu. Call after 8:30 a.m. Burial: Mililani Memorial Park. Casual attire.

Margaret J. “Peggy” Schneider, 92, of Honolulu will be remembered in a memorial Mass 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at Star of the Sea Church. Additional information for an obituary yesterday provided by the mortuary.

Franklin C. Tong Jr., 68, of Aiea is also survived by son Kelly. Additional information for an obituary yesterday provided by the mortuary.

---

Monday, August 18, 1997

Janet T. Armitage, 66, of Whidbey Island, Wash., formerly of Kailua, died in Washington. She was a hostess at Pohai Nani Retirement Home. She was born in New Rochelle, N.Y. Survived by husband G. Nelson Jr.; daughters Nancy Buckley and Leslie J. Donaldson; son G. Nelson III; brother William Tisdale; 2 grandchildren. Services on the mainland.

Mary Ann Benabise, 48, of Nanakuli died Aug. 8 in Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center. She was born in Honolulu. Survived by daughter Geane M.; mother Maria C.; brothers Frederick and Ronald Benabise and Vicente Gesteuyala; sisters Brenda Peters, Irene Pederson and Melody White. Memorial services: 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Mililani Mortuary-Waipio, mauka chapel. Call after 5:30 p.m. Casual attire. No flowers.

Claro B. Cueva, 94, of Honokaa, Hawaii died Tuesday in North Hawaii Community Hospital. He was born in the Philippines. Survived by wife Dominga; daughter Lina Salmo; brother Pascual; sisters Melacia Ablao and Felomina Bautista; 2 grandchildren. Mass: 7 p.m. Wednesday, Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, Honokaa. Call from 6-9 p.m. Services: 10 a.m. Thursday at the church. Call after 9 a.m. Burial: Honokaa Catholic Church Cemetery. Casual attire.

Charlotte Anne Dennis, of Johnson City, Tenn., a 40-year resident of Honolulu and a former hospital nursing supervisor, died Saturday at Colonial Hill Retirement Center. She was born in Washington, D.C. Survived by brother Reyburn H. Dennis. Service: 8 p.m. today, Morris-Baker Funeral Home, Johnson City. Memorial contributions to St. Francis Home Care Service, 2230 Liliha Street, Honolulu.

Hatsuyo Fujimoto, 85, of Honolulu, a homemaker, died Thursday at Hale Pulama Mau. She was born in Hakalau. Survived by daughters Thelma S. Aragaki, Jayne K. Ono, Barbara K. Watanabe and Clara Y. Masaki; brothers Toshi and Burt Kaminaka; 10 grandchildren; a great-grandchild. Service: 6 p.m. Friday, Hosoi Garden Mortuary chapel. Cremation to follow. Casual attire. No flowers.

Masatoshi Hirashima, 79, of Aiea, a Pacific Concrete Co. retiree, died Friday at home. He was born in Puunene, Maui. Survived by sons Earl T. and Ervine M.; daughters Amy M. Hirashima and Mitzi M. Arakaki; sisters Chieko Tanaka, Yoshiko Nishimura, Shizuko Fujimoto and Sakae Ideoka; 7 grandchildren; a great-grandchild. Services were held.

Melvin G. Hogan, 66, of Kohala, Hawaii, a retired merchant seaman, died Aug. 8 at home. He was born in Massachusetts. Survived by son Melvin G. Jr.; daughter Marie A.; caregivers Helen Copeland and Frank Samuels; brother Paul; sisters Marjorie Hogan and Marilyn Wilson. Services at a later date.

Toshiye Ibaraki,72, of Honolulu, died Aug. 10 at St. Francis Hospice. She was born in Honolulu. Survived by husband Charles Atsushi; daughters Charlyn S. Smith, Kathlyn S. Ibaraki and Carolyn F. Tanaka; sisters Nancy Sakata, Connie Mattos, Joyce Ouchi and Jean Johnson; a granddaughter. Services were private.

John Nauliuli Kaneakua Sr.,72, of Honolulu, a retired truck driver and heavy equipment operator, died Wednesday at Queen’s Medical Center. He was born in Honolulu. Survived by wife Bernice; son John N.; daughters Martha Hamada, Ivory Stone, Gretchen Kamai, Lucinda Kaneakua-Kovacic and Ilona Makanani; brothers Walter, Samuel and Arthur; sisters Emily Medeiros, Lucinda Tabenera, Frances Asing and Janice Estavillo; 20 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren. Services: 7 p.m. Wednesday and noon Thursday, Hawaiian Memorial Park Mortuary. Call: 5:30-7 p.m. Wednesday and after 10 a.m. Thursday. Burial 1 p.m. Thursday, Hawaiian Memorial Park Cemetery. Aloha attire.

Takeo Kohatsu, 88, of Honolulu, a retired butcher for A&H Higa Market, died Wednesday in Kuakini Hospital. He was born in Ookala, North Hilo. Survived by wife Yoshiko; brothers Kenneth T. and Walter T.; sisters Margaret T. Kohatsu, Betty Y. Ishizaki and Alice Y. Kohatsu; 4 grandchildren; 3 great-grandchildren. Services: 4 p.m. Wednesday, Hosoi Garden Mortuary. Cremation to follow. Casual attire. No flowers.

Margaret T.S. Kwon, 67, of Pearl City died Aug. 5, in Kaiser Hospital. She was born in Honolulu. Survived by husband James; daughters Geraldine Ornellas, Susan Kane, Gailynn Archuleta, Elizabeth Simeon and Marlene Pezario; sons Garrick, Stephen, David and Darrell; sisters Jennie Villanueva, Louise Inouye and Sheila Shinn; 15 grandchildren; 7 great-grandchildren. Services: 10:45 a.m. tomorrow at Mililani Downtown Mortuary. Call after 10 a.m. Burial: Sunset Memorial Park. Casual attire. No flowers.

Edward Y.F. Liu, 90, of Honolulu died Aug. 7 in Pearl City. He was born in Hawaii. Survived by sons Edwin “Sonny” and Leighton; daughters Linda Mae Chang and Evelyn Tam; brothers Eugene, Harold and Richard; 7 grandchildren; 5 great-grandchildren. Services were private.

Damaso L. Manera, 84, of Kaneohe, a stevedore with Castle & Cooke, died Aug. 5 in St. Francis Hospital. He was born in the Philippines. Survived by wife Yolanda B.; sons Randy, Arnel, Renee and Ricky; brothers Chrisbulo and Enriqueto; sisters Eustaquia Portela, Maria Manera, Amanda Ballesteros, Leonora Vallenciano and Epefania Dingal; 4 grandchildren. Rosary: 7 p.m. tomorrow, Mililani Downtown Mortuary. Call 6-9 p.m. Mass: 11 a.m. Wednesday, Co-Cathedral of St. Theresa. Call after 8:30 a.m. Burial: Valley of the Temples. Casual attire.

Edgardo V. Martin, 46, of Honolulu, a hairstylist at J. Mansour, died Aug. 10 in St. Francis Hospital. He was born in Honolulu. Survived by wife ClaireLane L.; children Jennifer P. Foo and Shane-Nah K. Martin and Edgardo V. Martin Jr.; mother Nina; a granddaughter. Wake: 7 p.m. today, Mililani Mortuary-Waipio, makai chapel. Call 6-9 p.m. Services: 11 a.m. tomorrow at the mortuary. Call after 8:30 a.m. Burial: Mililani Memorial Park. Casual attire.

Ronald Terence Masaki, 35, of Honolulu, a tank integrity engineer specialist with Chevron USA, died Thursday at Malama Ohana. He was born in Honolulu. Survived by wife Sylvia; son Terence Seiji; parents Gilbert S. and Kiyono Masaki; brother Isaac Wayne; sister Patricia Ann. Service: 6 p.m. Thursday, Hosoi Garden Mortuary chapel. Casual attire.

Gail Takeko Okumura, 68, of Honolulu, a retired practical nurse, died last Monday at her home. She was born in Lanai City. Survived by brothers Harris H. Fujii, Roy H. Fujii and Richard M. Fujii; sisters Thelma T. Taniguchi, Lucille K. Katada and Marion Y. Imai. Services were private.

Mary S. Petrous, 88, of Honolulu died Aug. 10. She was born in Detroit. Survived by daughters Dottie Jackson and Marian Eilerts; son Raymond; 6 grandchildren; 7 great-grandchildren. Private services. No flowers. Donations suggested to Star of the Sea Church, Kahala.

Domingo S. Rodrigues, 91, of Waipio Acres, a rigger at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard, died Tuesday in Wahiawa General Hospital. He was born in Lihue. Survived by sons John, Domingo Jr. and Albert; daughters Annie Torres, Lydia Rodrigues and Josephine Quinones; brother Albert; many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren. Prayer service: 7 p.m. tomorrow, Mililani Mortuary-Waipio, mauka chapel. Call 6-9 p.m. Graveside services: 10 a.m. Wednesday, Greenhaven Cemetery. Casual attire.

Miyuki Sato, 90, of Honolulu died Aug. 7 at home. She was born in Kohala, Hawaii. Survived by sons Dr. Clifford and James; daughters Margaret Kojima and Mae Usui; sister Nora Sumida; 6 grandchildren; 7 great-grandchildren. Private services.