Obituaries for Sunday, March 1, 2020
Brenda Joyce Moniz
Brenda Joyce Moniz
Brenda Joyce Moniz passed away on Jan. 17, 2020, at the age of 71.
She was born on Oct. 14, 1948, in Lihu‘e, and was employed by Hertz and Dollar/Thrifty Rental Car.
She was preceded in death by parents Joseph and Adeline Perreira, husband Ernest R. Moniz Sr., and brothers Joseph Gonsalves and Wayne Perreira.
She is survived by son Ernest Moniz Jr., daughters Cheryl (Jay) Perreira, Michelle (Rick) Ornellas and April (Gerald) Ancheta, sisters Rose Victorino and Angie Souza, brothers Richard Gonsalves and Godfrey Perreira, seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
A celebration of life is Saturday, March 7, at Holy Cross Church, with visitation from 8:30 to 9:45 a.m., eulogy from 9:45 to 10 a.m. and Mass at 10 a.m.
Borthwick Kaua‘i Mortuary is assisting the family with arrangements.
William ‘Bill’ Wilcox
William “Bill” Wilcox, 78, passed away on Feb. 5, 2020. He was born in Wisconsin on Jan. 28, 1932, and grew up and lived in Livermore, California, until retiring to Kaua‘i in 2010.
He was preceded in death by parents Roy and Leah Wilcox.
He is survived by wife Donna, sons Rick and David and their spouses, grandchildren Dalynn and Karra Wilcox, sister Judith and brother Michael.
After graduating from Santa Clara University, he worked at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in Livermore, California, for 40 years, much of the time in the Laser Division. He was also well-known for his guitar-playing and singing. He entertained professionally in his early years and later on at weddings and events for friends.
He loved animals and could be seen walking his Maltipoo, Cash, every morning, greeting other dog walkers at Kukuiolono Park in Kalaheo.
He was an avid coin and stamp collector, and later in his life assembled a large record and guitar collection. He also enjoyed history. After moving to Kaua‘i, he studied island history and became a tour guide at the Kaua‘i Museum, Grove Farm, and joined the Kaua‘i Historical Society, of which he was president for two years. He loved the slow pace of island life and the many wonderful friends he made here on Kaua‘i.
He will be remembered for the joy he took in hosting dinner parties. He had a wonderful sense of humor, often torturing his guests with puns, delighting in the groans. He enjoyed good wines and good food and often ended the parties with guitar music and singalongs.
His family is very grateful to the many angels at Kaua‘i Hospice for the warm caregiving they provided him. Any donations can be made to that organization.
A celebration of life will be held at the main pavilion at Salt Pond Beach Park on Saturday, March 28, at 3 p.m., where he often enjoyed the magnificent view.
William Keaweoluna ‘Bill’ Enoka Jr.
William Keaweoluna “Bill” Enoka Jr., 78, of Kapa‘a, passed away on O‘ahu on Feb. 22, 2020. He was born in Honolulu on Nov. 24, 1941, and retired as a fire captain with the Kaua‘i Fire Department. He was also a lieutenant colonel with the Civil Air Patrol, served in the Air National Guard and was a flight instructor at Dillingham Air Field.
He was preceded in death by parents William Keaweoluna Enoka Sr. And Julia Ah Fu Enoka, sister Ehulani Enoka Lum, and brother George Keaweoluna Enoka.
He is survived by wife Monica Lizama Enoka, son William Joseph (Dana) Enoka, daughter Angie Moana Marie Enoka, granddaughter Erin Enoka, brother Theodore Keaweoluna Enoka, sister Iris Eluwene (Joseph) Abreu, his last aunty Ikela Keohuloa, and numerous nephews, nieces and cousins.
A celebration of life is Saturday, March 21, at St. Catherine Church in Kapa‘a, with visitation from 8 to 9:30 a.m. and Mass celebrated at 10 a.m.
Kaua‘i Memorial Gardens & Funeral Homeis assisting the family with arrangements.
Jason Kunane ‘Gooba’ Aquino
Jason Kunane “Gooba” Aquino of Kekaha passed away on Feb. 6, 2020, at the age of 46.
Born on June 6, 1973 in Waimea, he was a crew leader with Syngenta.
He was preceded in death by father Alejandro “Sonny” Aquino and son Moses Aquino.
He is survived by mother Karin Aquino of Kekaha, wife Jerowina Aquino, daughters Ashley Agor of Washington, Jaslin Aquino, Shania Aquino, Naomi Vidinha and Pfeiffer Aquino, all of Kekaha,and Martina Aquino of Montana, sons Wyatt Aquino and Waylon Aquino of Kekaha, brother James (Sandra) Aquino of San Diego, sister Stacy (Joey) Aquino Bagain of Kekaha, and grandson Hunter Aquino-Ortiz (deceased).
A celebration of life is Saturday, March 14, at King’s Chapel in ‘Ele‘ele, from 9 a.m. to noon.
Borthwick Kaua‘i Mortuary is assisting the family with arrangements.
William Anthony Heresa
William Anthony Heresa, 54, passed away at home in Anchorage, Alaska, on Dec. 28, 2019. He was born in Lihu‘e on March 6, 1965, and worked as a mail handler and equipment operator for the U.S. Postal Service. Prior, he served in the U.S. Navy for six years.
He was preceded in death by stepfather William T. Barry, father William C. Heresa, grandparents Crescencia and Frederico Lopez, grandfather Domingo Laranio, grandfather Saturnino Rellin, aunts Hazel V. Rellin and April J. Rellin, and cousin Kevin J. Kaminski.
He is survived by mother Dolores “Dolly” Barry of Collinsville, Oklahoma, aunts Martha (Dennis) Kaminski of Chicago, Annie Rellin of Lihu‘e, Sheila (Ralph) Schmarje of Tempe, Arizona, Carmela Cabacungan of Lihu‘e and Novella (Lawrence) Natividad of Waimea, uncles Timothy Laranio and Wayne (Leilani) Laranio of Kapa‘a, and numerous more aunts, uncles and cousins.
His graveside memorial service with military honors will be at 11 a.m. at Kaua‘i Veterans Cemetery in Hanapepe on Saturday, March 7. Lady Ipo Kahaunaele will officiate. Arrangements in Alaska were by Legacy Witzleben Funeral Home.
Charlene Gorgianna Medrano Singleton
Charlene Gorgianna Medrano Singleton passed away at Harbor-UCLA Medical Hospital in Torrance, California, at the age of 73. She was born in Lihu‘e on Sept. 4, 1946, and was the superintendent for the City of Los Angeles Street Maintenance Department.
She was preceded in death by parents Saturnino and Setsuko “Joyce” Medrano and brother Steven Shigeo Medrano.
She is survived by husband Mathis Singleton and adopted son Mathis Singleton Jr., sisters and brother from Kaua‘i Pamela Medrano Jardin, Lavenda Medrano and Mel Satoru Medrano, and numerous aunts, nieces, nephews and cousins.
Visitation and service are on Friday, March 6, at 2 p.m. at Inglewood Memorial Mortuary in Los Angeles, and burial will follow at the mortuary’s cemetery.
Memorial services will be held on Kaua‘i at a later date.
Arthur ‘Arte’ E. Palama
Arthur “Arte” E. Palama of Kalaheo and Hawai‘i Island passed away on Feb. 13, 2020, at home.
He was a self employed general contractor with Palama Contracting.
He was preceded in death by parents David K. and Marie Rapozo Palama, sister Claire Pereira, and brothers Ronald, Thomas and Clarence Palama.
He is survived by wife Lena K. Chang Palama, son Roger Wailae (Taira Kajiwara) Palama, daughter Alice “Nalani” (Randall Soares) Palama Soares, grandchildren Liana K. (Jake Youn) Palama, Wailana (Kyle Blackstad) Blackstad, Kamuela (Gina Taniguchi) Palama, Leina (Keali‘i Punley), Alanna Fernandez, Lokela Ho‘okano (Kira Lanning) Palama, Kaeo (Kadejah Lagundino) Palama, Kekai Ho‘okano Palama, Kahinu Li Palama Soares, Kawaihine Palama and Kahia‘ai Palama, great-grandchildren Kamea Palama Alquiza, Kirra Blackstad, Kahanu Blackstad, Wehilani Blackstad, Liliua K. Palama Youn, Kana‘i Taniguchi Palama, and brothers David (Moana) Palama and Stephen (Kathy) Palama.
A celebration of life is Saturday, March 14, at Holy Cross Church in Kalaheo, with visitation at 8 a.m. and Mass to be celebrated at 10:30 a.m.
Borthwick Kaua‘i Mortuary is assisting the family with arrangements.
Athena Rose Sweet
Athena Rose Sweet, 59, of Lihu‘e, passed away on Feb. 22, 2020. She was born in Lihu‘e.
She was preceded in death by father Ricardo Estacio Sr.
She is survived by sons Reuben (Pattie-Ann) Estacio of Lihu‘e, Frank Daligdig of Lihu‘e, Kwinton (Wavery) Estacio of San Antonio, Texas, Ka‘eo (Cassey) Sweet of Kapa‘a, and Kawika (Richell) Sweet of Kapa‘a, daughter Valoralyn (Patty) Estacio of California. grandchildren Kealani, Anarah, Keala, Nanea, Arianny, Welina, Patrick, Theish-Rae, Orion, Patti and Taylor, mother Abigail Estacio of Kapa‘a, brothers Ricardo Estacio Jr. of Lihu‘e and Orlando Estacio of Lihu‘e, and sisters Aurea Jones of Lihu‘e, Cheryl Estacio of Lihu‘e, and Kym Estacio of Lihu‘e.
Services to be held at a later date.
Garden Island Mortuary is assisting with the family with arrangements.
Brenda Elizabeth Barnes
Brenda Elizabeth Barnes, a loving mother and grandmother, cherished sister and beloved aunt who savored the arts, culture and literature and whose experiences across the globe gave her a gracious wisdom and sense of humor, died on Jan. 26, 2020. She was 80.
She was born on June 2, 1939, one of the first to be born at Wilcox Memorial Hospital in Lihu‘e, in what was then a territory of the United States. She lived in Kealia with her parents and sisters, attending Kapa‘a schools and later Punahou High School on O‘ahu until her family moved to Napa Valley in 1955.
She graduated from St. Helena High School in 1957 and went on to become valedictorian at Napa Junior College. In 1959, her parents and sisters moved to Puerto Rico, where she worked at the Aguirre Credit Union while studying comparative English literature at the University of Puerto Rico, a fitting focus for someone who would remain a voracious reader throughout her life.
In 1962, she moved to Orleans, France, to marry her high school sweetheart. There, 13 months apart, she gave birth to her two daughters, Tracy and Kelly. While raising her new family, she also worked in various capacities for NATO until she and her family moved to New York in 1966.
Four years later, her son, Jon Robert, was born. In 1975, Brenda and her children moved from White Plains to Bedford Hills. She left her job working in perfume and cosmetics at Macy’s to take a position with Laerdal Medical, the medical-device company that makes lifesaving training equipment.
In the ensuing years she would travel numerous times to the company’s headquarters in the coastal town of Stavanger in southwest Norway, finding herself absolutely charmed by the country.
In 1995, she relocated to Mt. Kisco, which she loved. She continued to commute to Laerdal until she retired in 2013. She cherished the freedom of retirement. She enjoyed going to the movies, attending the Metropolitan Opera in New York City, spending time with her beloved cats and, of course, prodigiously reading books.
She developed COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), which slowed her down a bit, and later suffered fractured ribs in a fall, which led to her hospitalization in November 2019. In late January this year, she succumbed to complications from COPD while in the hospital.
She is survived by daughters Tracy (Rich) Cairo and Kelly (Peter) Rubicam, three grandchildren, sisters Carol Barnes and Tammy (Philippe) Renault, niece Remy Renault, nephew Jean-Luc (Jessic) Renault, and grand-nephew Luc.
A private memorial luncheon for family and friends will take place later this year.
