SUNAHO "BABAN" KANESHIRO Died peacefully on March 23, 2014 at the age of 101 years. As a devout Christian, Baban believed and lived Psalm 27:14 "Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart. Wait, I say, on the Lord." Baban was born in Camp 3 in Spreckelsville, Maui on October 24, 1912 to Kiyofumi and Gozei (Matsumoto) Tokuda. She attended school in Okinawa from 1918 to 1928. Baban was the eldest of 4 sisters: Hisayo (Seiki) Higa, Yae (Senkai) Higa, Nobuko, Kiyo Matsuzaki and 5 brothers: Kenichi, Kenyu (Yoshiko), Kenso (Misako), Morio and Kokichi. After her return to Maui she met and married Yeimo Kaneshiro in 1930. They moved to Honolulu to raise their six children: Alice (Shizuo "Billy") Tokuda, Beatrice (Shigeru) Higa, Kenneth (Nancy), Stanley (Diane), Roy (Betty), and Walter (Faithye). As a young widow, Baban worked 25 years in Chinatown at Arakawa Chicken Market until 1983. After retiring, Baban continued to stay active with Olivet Baptist Church, her Okinawan club Aza Gushikawa Doshi Kai and Lanakila Senior Center classes until her 90's. Baban had 15 grandchildren: Russell, Craig (Lois), Wendy (Dean), Sheryl (Edwin), Laurie (Melvin), Bryan (Mia), Derek, Reid (Jari), Joelle (Sam), Dean, Jason, Lisa, Julie (Leroy), Scott and Amy; 12 great-grandchildren: Riley (Stephanie), Edie, Ryan, Alisha, Reyn, Tamlyn, Tomi, Lena, Gabrielle, Mira, Austen, and Maile Jen; and a great great-granddaughter Leia. Baban also leaves numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. A Celebration of Baban's life will be held at 1:00 pm on Saturday, April 20th at Hosoi Garden Mortuary. Casual Attire. Baban -- Doomo Arigatoo Gozaimasu. Aishiteru "You will be in our hearts forever!"
Our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased
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