Phillip Lopez Espaniola Sr., 80, of Hilo died Jan. 30 at Hilo Medical Center. Born in Hilo, he was a truck driver for the former Moses Co., the former Libby McNeil and Libby Pineapple on Molokai and HT&T Hawaii, and Hawaii Army National Guard 299th Infantry veteran from 1956-62. Visitation 5-6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 22, at Dodo Mortuary Chapel. Celebration of life at 6 p.m. Casual attire; flowers and lei welcome. Survived by wife, Alberta “Momi” Espaniola of Hilo; sons, Phillip (Jessica) Espaniola Jr., Leroy (Elaine) Espaniola Sr. and Phillip (Lila) Espaniola III of Hilo; daughter, Laura (Tony) Rosete of Hilo; sister, Helen Tolentino of Hilo; 17 grandchildren, 36 great-grandchildren and a great-great-grandchild; niece, nephews and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Nicholas J. Keppinger, 57, of Hilo died Feb. 1 at Hawaii Care Choices Pohai Malama Care Center. No known survivors. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Earl Yoshito Kunitake, 71, of Holualoa died Jan. 29 at Life Care Center of Kona. Born in North Kona, he was a coffee farmer and cook at King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel. Celebration of life 9 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 20, at West Hawaii Veterans Cemetery in Kailua-Kona. Casual attire. Survived by brothers, Chikao Kunitake of Holualoa, Larry (Maxine) Kunitake of Palm Harbor, Fla., John Kunitake of Holualoa, Ernest (Kathleen) Kunitake of Honalo, Michael (Jean) Kunitake of Valencia, Calif., and Daniel (Eleanor) Kunitake of Holualoa; sisters, Eleanor (Kiyoshi) Hamada of Los Angeles, Carol (Robert) Koshi of Anaheim, Calif., Marie Kuramoto of Hilo, Dinah Kunitake, Jeanne Koyanagi and Helen (Jeffrey) Lorance of Holualoa; nieces, nephews, an aunt and uncle and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Elsie Tamako (Sugihara) Matsumoto, 92, of Rose Hill, Kan., died Feb. 8 at home. She was born in Hilo. Survived by son, Gary (Nancy) Matsumoto of Rose Hill; daughter, Joy Matsumoto of Volcano. Online condolences: shinklemortuary.com.
Dolores Serrao Ramos, 88, of Paauilo Mauka died Feb. 9 at home. Born in Hilo, she was a retired postmaster at Honokaa Post Office for 22 years, cattle rancher, member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Honokaa Ward, Portuguese Chamber of Commerce and its honoree in 2015, Hamakua Traffic and Safety Committee, past president of Paauilo Mauka Kalopa Community Association, board member of North Hawaii Community Federal Credit Union and director of the Family History Center for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Visitation 8:30-9:45 a.m. Saturday (Feb. 16) at the Honokaa Ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Memorial service at 10 a.m. Aloha attire. Survived by, daughter, Pamela (David Hipp) Ramos of Waimea; sisters, Idamae (Ray) Chavez of Kohala and Iwalani Levei of Utah; sister-in-law, Lenore Serrao of Hilo; two grandchildren; nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Marcy P. Unilongo, 63, of Hilo died Jan. 17 at Kaiser Moanalua Medical Center in Honolulu. Born in Tamboli, Allacapan, Cagayan, Philippines, she owned Marcy’s Variety Store and was a member of New Hope Hilo. Visitation 6-9 p.m. Monday (Feb. 18) at Dodo Mortuary Chapel. Wake service at 7 p.m. Visitation again 9-10 a.m. Tuesday (Feb. 19) at the chapel. Funeral service at 10 a.m. Burial to follow at Homelani Memorial Park. Casual attire. Survived by daughter, Vanessa P. Unilongo of Hilo; son, Marvin Gil P. Unilongo of Hilo; brothers, Rudolfo (Lydia) Paudan of Hilo, Hermee (Mimi) Paudan of Seattle and Noel (Benita) Paudan of Honolulu; sisters, Erlinda (Manuel) Corpuz of Las Vegas, Mercyfe (Allen) Tacras of Honolulu, Carlina (Melicio) Tumbaga and Lolita (Ernesto) Martinez of Hilo; nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
The late Felisa Halena Sesson Kaniho was survived by, among others, sons, Thomas Dean (Tissy) Kaniho of South Point Road and Keone (Edana) Takahashi of Waipahu, Oahu; and daughter, Myra (Alfred) Keanu of Discovery Harbour. Incomplete and incorrect information was submitted for an obituary published Sunday.