Obituaries for December 11

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Benjamin “Bully” Joseph Joaquin, Jr., 50, of Keaau, died Dec. 2 at home. Born in Honolulu, he was a former laborer for Iniki Demolition & Abatement, and member of the AFL-CIO Local 368. Friends may call 9 to 11 a.m. Sunday at Dodo Mortuary Chapel, Hilo; memorial service at 11 a.m. Aloha attire. Survived by wife, Haunani Joaquin of Keaau; sons, Iwikauikaua (Naupaka) Joaquin and Mokila Joaquin, both of Keaau; daughters, Hinaikamalama (Randall Guadiz) Joaquin and Kahele Joaquin, both of Keaau; father, Benjamin Sr., and Yolanda Joaquin of Makawao, Maui; sisters, Patricia (Clyde) Rodrigues of Castle Rock, Colo., Jennifer “Lisa” (Brian) Joaquin of Kapolei, Oahu, and Tanya (Geoff) Takahashi of Las Vegas, Nev.; brother, Sean (Kim) Joaquin of Kahului, Maui; numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.

Benjamin “Bully” Joseph Joaquin, Jr., 50, of Keaau, died Dec. 2 at home. Born in Honolulu, he was a former laborer for Iniki Demolition & Abatement, and member of the AFL-CIO Local 368. Friends may call 9 to 11 a.m. Sunday at Dodo Mortuary Chapel, Hilo; memorial service at 11 a.m. Aloha attire. Survived by wife, Haunani Joaquin of Keaau; sons, Iwikauikaua (Naupaka) Joaquin and Mokila Joaquin, both of Keaau; daughters, Hinaikamalama (Randall Guadiz) Joaquin and Kahele Joaquin, both of Keaau; father, Benjamin Sr., and Yolanda Joaquin of Makawao, Maui; sisters, Patricia (Clyde) Rodrigues of Castle Rock, Colo., Jennifer “Lisa” (Brian) Joaquin of Kapolei, Oahu, and Tanya (Geoff) Takahashi of Las Vegas, Nev.; brother, Sean (Kim) Joaquin of Kahului, Maui; numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.

Celestine “Sally” A. Mattos De Ponte, 85, of Hilo, died Dec. 3 at Hilo Medical Center. Born in Hilo, she was a retired Community Service Worker for the County of Hawaii and member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Hilo. Friends may call 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday at Dodo Mortuary Chapel; wake service at 6 p.m. Friends may also call 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Monday at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Hilo; Mass at 10 a.m. Casual attire. Burial to follow 11 a.m. at Alae Cemetery. Survived by sons, Donald (Victoria) Mattos of Kau, George De Ponte and Kenneth (Florence) De Ponte, both of Hilo; brother, Frank Andrade Mattos of Hilo; four grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren; numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.

Felicia “Phil” Balaga Gabriel, 86, of Mt. View, died Nov. 23 at home. Born in Honolulu, she was a retired executive secretary at Pearl Harbor, Oahu, and member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, Hilo. Friends may call 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday at Dodo Mortuary Chapel; funeral service at 6 p.m. Friends may also call 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. Saturday at Dodo Mortuary Chapel; Prayer service at 9 a.m. Casual attire. Burial to follow at Hawaii Veterans Cemetery No. 2. Survived by husband, William M. Gabriel, Sr. of Mt. View; sons, John A. (Candace) Gabriel of Reno, Nev., William M. Gabriel, Jr. and Stephen J. (Susan) Gabriel, both of Hilo, Daniel Gabriel of Oahu; daughter, Serena (Russel Sr.) Botelho of Hilo; eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren; numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.

Consuelo Defiesta Apana, 72, of Santa Clara, Calif., formerly of Keaau, died Nov. 6 at Hilo Medical Center. Born in Santa Maria, Ilocos Sur, Philippine, she was a homemaker and member of the congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Friends may call 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday at Dodo Mortuary Chapel; memorial service at 7. Casual attire. Survived by daughters, Leilani (Harold) Haines of Keaau, Tammy (Joseph) Apana-Dianda of Woodland Hills, Calif.; brothers, Ernesto (Dominicia) Defiesta of San Jose, Calif., Rosalino (Valermina) Defiesta of San Jose, Calif., Bonafacio (Nancy) Defiesta of Kaneohe, Enrique Defiesta of Honolulu; six grandchildren, one great-grandchild, numerous nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.