Gloria Mercado Banister, 72, of Hilo died Jan. 9 at home. Born in the Philippines, she was a homemaker, attended The House Hilo and was a member of Senior Young at Heart Ministry. Visitation 10:30-11:30 a.m. Saturday (Feb. 1) at Ballard Family Mortuary. Service 11:30 a.m. Lunch 12:30 p.m. Burial 2 p.m. at Homelani Memorial Park. Survived by husband, William Banister Sr. of Hilo; sons, William Banister Jr. of Oahu and Wilbert Banister of Hilo; daughters, Jane (Rupert) Fox IV of North Carolina, Ruby-Julie (Paul) Eley of Virginia and Christy (Samuel) Bongo III of Oahu; 13 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Arrangements by Ballard Family Mortuary.
Kiyoko Imada, 91, of Keaau died Jan. 16 at Hilo Medical Center. Born in Umauma, she was a retired teacher at Keaau and Mountain View elementary schools and member of Puna Hongwanji Mission. Visitation call 3-4 p.m. Saturday (Feb. 1) at Puna Hongwanji Mission. Memorial service at 4 p.m. Casual attire. Survived by sons, Wesley Imada of Orange County, Calif., and Bernie Imada of Keaau; daughters, Pearl (Kent) Iboshi of Honolulu and Jewelle (Jeff) Keiser of Muskego, Wis.; brothers, Tamotsu Isa of Santa Barbara, Calif., and Isawo Isa of Honolulu; brother-in-law, Tim Miyasato of Mililani, Oahu; sister-in-law, Kazuko Isa of Honolulu; four grandchildren and a great-granddaughter; nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
John E. Laguardia, Jr., 89, of Kailua-Kona died Jan. 24. He was born in New Brunswick, N.J. Survived by wife, Loretta Laguardia of Kailua-Kona; children, John, Karen, Barbara, Rachell, Mark and Rick; grandchildren. Arrangements by Ballard Family Mortuary.
Gwendollyn Annette Perreira, 74, of Hilo died Dec. 9 at Life Care Center of Hilo. Born in Hilo, she was homemaker and a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church. Visitation 9-10 a.m. Friday (Jan. 31) at St. Joseph Catholic Church. Mass at 10 a.m. Casual attire; lei welcome. Survived by sons, Andy (Evelyn) Perreira of Aiea, Oahu, Mark (Roxanne) Perreira of Kaneohe, Oahu, Michael (Becky) Perreira of Vail, Ariz., and James (Maria Leonila) Perreira of Mountain View; sisters, Yvonne (Tommy) Rezentes and Noreen (Ezekiel) Luiz of Hilo; 15 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren; nieces, nephews and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Shirley Miyoko Sakoda, 80, of Hilo died Jan. 14 at home. Born in Los Angeles, she was retired from HT&T Truck Center and a member of Honpa Hongwanji Hilo Betsuin Kyodan and Buddhist Women’s Association, Hilo Hooganji, Hilo Daijingu, Hilo Daijingu Keishin Fujinkai and Hilo High School Class of 1957. Visitation 9:30-11 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 2, at Dodo Mortuary Chapel. Memorial service at 11 a.m. Casual attire; no koden (monetary gifts). Survived by daughters, Lori (Curt) Tanaka of Hilo, Gail (Sean) Fox of Honolulu and Sandra (Joseph) Aguiar of Kurtistown; sister-in-law, Hatsumi Kondo of Hilo; seven grandchildren and a great-grandchild; nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.