Obituaries for February 9

Subscribe Now Choose a package that suits your preferences.
Start Free Account Get access to 7 premium stories every month for FREE!
Already a Subscriber? Current print subscriber? Activate your complimentary Digital account.

Kristi Ann Cannon, 60, of Keaau died Jan. 29 at Hawaii Care Choices Pohai Malama Care Center. Born in Billings, Mont., she was one of the last members of the Women’s Army Corps as a cardiac pacemaker nurse, distinguished honor graduate of the Army’s 91 Charlie School for utilities equipment repair, member of National Honor Society in high school and evacuee with her husband in 2018 when their Leilani Estates home was destroyed by lava. Survived by husband, Richard Glenn Cannon of Keaau. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.

Romeo Pascua Castro, 72, of Keaau died Feb. 3 at home. Born in Dupax Del Norte, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines, he was a bus driver for Hawaii County Economic Opportunity Council, papaya farmer and laborer for the former Puna Sugar Co. Visitation 6-7 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 16, at Dodo Mortuary Chapel. Wake service at 7 p.m. Visitation again 8-10 a.m. Monday, Feb. 17 at Keaau Holy Rosary Catholic Church. Mass at 10 a.m. Casual attire. Burial to follow at Homelani Memorial Park, Ilima section. Survived by wife, Lany Castro of Keaau; daughters, Romela (Duane) Wong of Washington, Ruby (Matt) Keesler of Las Vegas and Richelle (Dustin) Maneja-Poole of Washington; sons, Ruel Castro and Reonel Castro of Keaau and Richard Castro of Las Vegas; sisters, Lita Cachola, Evelyn Reglos and Aurora Paano of Philippines, Virgin Silva of South Carolina; brothers, Alejandro Castro, Andres Castro and Lucas Castro Jr. of Philippines; four grandchildren; cousins, nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.

Estelle A. Cruz, 79, of Keaau died Jan. 15 at Hawaii Care Choices Pohai Malama Care Center. Born in Honolulu, she was a bus driver for Roberts Hawaii. Visitation 9:30-10:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 15, at Ballard Family Mortuary. Service at 10:30 a.m. Lunch to follow. Survived by partner, Thomas Teixeira of Keaau; sons, Francis Camacho of Keaau and Dominic Cruz of Maui; daughters, Chevell Hanohano of Maui and Lee Hernandez of Oahu; brothers, Jimmy Kanae and Mathew Defrancia; sister, Judy Smith; 23 grandchildren and 36 great grandchildren. Arrangements by Ballard Family Mortuary.

Gail Susan Heidenfeldt Gali, 61, of Pahala died Jan. 23 in Hilo, Born in Honolulu, she worked for the former Sure Save Supermarkets, Diamond R in Naalehu and Naalehu Fruit Stand, and volunteered delivering meals at Pahala Senior Center and was well-known in the community for her baking. Visitation 8:30-10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 22 at Naalehu Assembly of God Church. Prayer service at 10 a.m. Burial to follow at Naalehu Cemetery. Casual attire. Survived by mother, Miguela “Meg” Heidenfeldt of Hilo; brothers, Bruce (Patty) Heidenfeldt of Hilo, Gary Heidenfeldt of Honolulu and Brian (Deborah) Heidenfeldt of Hilo; sisters, Karen Heidenfeldt, Debra (Kawehi) Ryder of Pahala; caregiver, Deanna Navarro; stepchildren, Colleen, Calvin, Conley, Iris, Misty, Dossi, Robyn, and Danielle; nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.

Ruth Teiko (Ushiroda) Kunitomo, 88, of Honolulu died Dec. 30 in Honolulu. Born in Kealakekua, she was a retired clerk typist at Koko Head Elementary School. Visitation 10-11 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 23 at Hosoi Garden Mortuary in Honolulu. Service at 11 a.m. Casual attire. Survived by sons, Eric (Kimberly) Kunitomo of Kealakekua and Casey Kunitomo of Kailua, Oahu; daughters, JoAnn (Ross) Kawamoto of Hilo and Lisa Kunitomo of Honolulu; five grandchildren. Arrangements by Hosoi Garden Mortuary.

Richard Yoshio Will, 89, of Honolulu died Dec. 9 at Kaiser Permanente Moanalua Medical Center in Honolulu. Born in Hilo, he was retired from the University of Hawaii at Manoa Department of Education, a U.S. Air Force veteran and Hilo High School Class of 1948 alum. Visitation 9-10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 14, at Dodo Mortuary Chapel. Memorial service at 10 a.m. Graveside urn committal service noon at Hawaii Veterans Cemetery No. 2. Casual attire. Survived by hanai daughter, Michelle Murray-Smith of San Francisco; nephews, David Nardini of Hilo and William “Bo” (Teresa) Abney of Orlando, Fla.; niece, Dr. Deborah (Thomas) Abney-Lidahl of Red Wing, Minn. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.