Obituaries for Wednesday, April 22, 2020
Helen Irene (Ollis) Huff
Helen Irene (Ollis) Huff
Helen Irene (Ollis) Huff, age 78, formerly of Kauai, passed away in her home with family by her side on April 14, 2020, in Valparaiso, Indiana.
Helen was born in Hammond, Indiana on Nov. 21, 1941. She moved to Kauai in 1972 and made it her home for the next 20 years while married to Ira C Huff III. While living on Kauai, Helen was a pharmacist at Wilcox Hospital, West Side Pharmacy, Eleele Clinic, and Kalaheo Clinic.
Helen’s time with her friends and family on the beaches of Kauai and Kokee picnics were some of her fondest memories. Helen, Ira, and their two children Eric and Margaret moved to Valparaiso, Indiana, in 1992, to be closer to her parents and sister and enjoyed countless Sunday dinners with family again in Indiana.
Helen is preceded in death by her parents Aaron and Margaret Ollis.
Helen is survived by her husband Ira; son Eric Huff of El Paso, Texas; daughter Margaret (Roberto Levy) Huff of Kapolei, HI; stepchildren, Kevin (Patti) Huff of Lawai, Keith (Shauna) Huff of Broomfield, Colorado, Pamela (Laurence) Santistevan of Englewood, Colorado; sister Barbara Ruth Muskin of St. John, Indiana; nieces and nephews, numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren in Colorado and Hawaii, and of course her feline ‘baby’ Kitty-Kitty.
There is no scheduled funeral service at this time; the family will schedule a celebration of life at some time in the future when gathering allows. The family asks that if memorials wish to be made, to please donate to a cancer charity, animal or wildlife charity, or other charity of your choice in her name. Online memorials can be made at www.bartholomewnewhard.com/obituary/Helen-Huff.
Funeral arrangements will be made by Bartholomew Funeral Home.
Susan Y. Matsumoto
Susan Yoshiko Matsumoto passed away peacefully of natural causes on March 24, 2020, at the age of 98. She was born in Seattle, Washington, on Dec. 17, 1921, to Yoshigoro and Okane Kawaguchi.
When she was six the family moved to Downey, California, where they worked on a farm for twelve years. After graduating from high school, Susan attended the Parisian School of Fashion Arts in Los Angeles until the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Soon after, the family would spend the next four years in the Rohwer, AK internment camp. The family was allowed to relocate outside the camp so Susan and her sister, Frances, were able to find work as waitresses at the Devon Gables Tea Room in Bloomfield Hills, MI. While on vacation in Chicago, Susan met Tom Matsumoto, her future husband. They were married on May 3, 1947, and settled in Chicago for twenty years.
In 1965, Susan and Tom moved back to Downey, California, where she worked at the Ferndale Nursery for ten years until she retired in 1977. At this time, they decided to move back to Kauai. In 2000 her husband suffered his second major stroke and Susan took care of him until his death in 2004.
Susan lived in her house in Kalaheo for ten more years. She loved her garden and enjoyed attending services at Kauai Bible Church. At the age of 94 Susan decided to move to Regency at Puakea, an assisted living community. She loved her new home, made friends and always had “too much to do.”
One thing she always wanted to do was to write a book about her life. So, at the age of 94, using all her diaries and memories, her book My Name is Yoshiko, was published in December, 2015. Susan was a remarkable, intelligent, resilient woman who lived a very full life and will be missed.
Preceded in death by her husband Tom and brother Frank.
Susan is survived by her daughter Rachel Ono (Ron); grandchildren, Brent Ono (Daisy), Courtney Vanacore (Lee), and Audra Alvarado (Carlos); great-grandchildren, Maya, Ryu, Olivia and Gavin; sisters, Bernice Yoshihara, Frances Kawabata; sister-in-law Kayoko Kawaguchi; numerous nieces and nephews.
Many thanks to all the staff at Regency at Puakea. Private services will be held at a later date. Susan requested that in lieu of koden, a donation be made to a charity of your choice.
Borthwick Mortuary is assisting with arrangements.
Lolita Galingan Mabini
Lolita Galingan Mabini, 73, of Lihu’e passed away on March 17, 2020. Born on Oct. 24, 1946, in Tayug, Pangasinan, Philippines, she was a retired accountant from Wilcox Memorial Hospital.
Preceded in death by her parents Emilio and Epefania Ballesteros Galingan; her brother Danny Galingan.
Lolita is survived by her loving husband Romie Mabini; sons, Rodney and Kirk Mabini; daughter Lori Mabini; sister Wilma (Trini) Raval. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Bryson and Brianne Nagamine, Ramah Jr., Jahnaiah and Saigejah Wong-Mabini, Rozalyn, Roelene, Kasalie, Rjaee and Jensen Mabini along with her great-grandson Brysten Nagamine; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Services to be announced.
Kauai Memorial Gardens & Funeral Home assisted the family with arrangements.
Bruce Wayne Cosier
Bruce Wayne Cosier passed away at his residence on April 3, 2020, at the age of 69. He was born on Oct. 11, 1950, in Honolulu.
He is preceded in death by son Jamieson “Jay” Cosier; mother Rose Hanawahine Cosier; 3 brothers, and 2 sisters.
He is survived by his wife Lori Cosier of Kalaheo; daughters, Ann (Toledo) Cosier of Keaau, Hawaii, Bricille Cosier Wallace (Horace) of Lihue; son-in-laws, Alika Toledo (Lacey) of Hilo, Hawaii; Marquis Dawkins of Lihue; grandchildren, Trysen (Kimrah) Shigematsu Cosier, Isaiah Toledo, Kobe Toledo, Kamalu Toledo, Isaiah Wallace, Shelbri-Ann Cosier, Tori Dawkins; brothers, David “Butch” Cosier (Cee) of Kailua, Oahu, Gordon “Bobo” Cosier (April) of Oregon, Eric Cosier (Carole) of Waimanalo, Oahu; sisters, Rosemary Tamashiro of Kailua, Oahu, Linda Williams (Dale) of North Carolina; mother-in-law J. Hazel Soto of Kalaheo; numerous uncles, aunts, nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Services to be held at a later date.
Garden Island Mortuary assisted the family with arrangements.
David Aguiar
On April 4, 2020, our dear brother David ascended into the arms of an angel as God called him to return home. David Roy Aguiar of Kauai blessed us with 51 beautiful years.
Preceded in death by Shirley L. Aguiar and Meleana Keliiheleua.
Survived by father LeRoy Aguiar; brother August L. Aguiar, spouse Jade Aguiar and family. Also survived by sisters, Nadine M. Pruitt, spouse Bryan K. Pruitt and family, Carol T. Ramos, spouse Billy Ramos and family, Norma Dale Imada, Russell N. Oyama and family, Yvette L. Joseph and family; numerous aunties, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends of Kauai, Oahu, Maui, Kona, California, Utah, Australia and Texas.
“In me, in you.” “On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.” John 14:20
Herbert N. Kurisu
Herbert N. Kurisu passed away at Wilcox Memorial Hospital on March 18, 2020, at the age of 90. He was born on Oct. 17, 1929, in Lihue. He was a Veteran with U.S. Army/Korean War and a refrigeration mechanic.
He was preceded in death by parents Kazuto and Tane Kurisu; daughter Carol Morimoto; sister Lily Kurisu; brothers Francis Kurisu, Harold Kurisu.
He is survived by wife Yaeko Kurisu; sons Alvin Kurisu of Honolulu, Robin Kurisu of Kauai, Daniel Kurisu (Reina) of Kauai; grandchildren, Michael and Shawn Morimoto, Raiden and Triton Kurisu; brothers Richard Kurisu (Betty) of Honolulu, Lawrence Kurisu of Kauai, sister Jane Kuriki of Kauai; son-in-law Roy Morimoto of Kauai.
Private services were held. Family request no koden, monetary gifts.
Garden Island Mortuary assisted the family with arrangements.
David Ruiz
David Ruiz of Kalaheo, passed away on April 10, 2020, at Hale Kapuna Heritage Home at the age of 91. Born in Kauai on Dec. 2, 1928, he served in The United States Army, Korean War Veteran.
He was a retired superintendent at P.M.R.F. and gunsmith.
He was preceded in death by parents Frank and Pilad Ruiz and brother John Ruiz.
He is survived by sons, Matthew (Brenda) Ruiz, Gerard (Kelli) Ruiz, Mark (Donnel) Ruiz: brothers, Alfred ” Freddy ” (Doris) Ruiz, Frank Ruiz Jr., Guy (Pricilla) Ruiz; sisters, Lucy Kanoa, Marie Lewis, Catherine Martin; 7 grandchildren; 10 great grandchildren; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.
Borthwick Kauai Mortuary assisted the family with arrangements.
