FAMILY PLACED OBITUARY

ALICE HARUKO NAKANDAKARI MARIANI
5-18 ALICE MARIANI newALICE HARUKO NAKANDAKARI MARIANI August 4, 1929- April 24, 2014 There are those who live, and there are those who share their lives with others. Alice Mariani touched the lives of many and shared her love unconditionally with her family and with the many charities she supported over the years. She was born in Honolulu, the daughter of Koji Nakandakari and Uto Hokama, both of Japan. She was, indeed, special. She reared four children, putting them all through private school, at a time when money was always tight. Orphaned at 17, she took care of her two younger brothers, through thick and thin. And she always made sure all of her children had a place to turn, when they needed one most. She loved her husband beyond measure, and they rarely missed a meal together. But for those closest to her, it is the little things that will be missed and treasured. She enjoyed working the slot machines in Vegas. She loved orchids, especially sweet- smelling honohono; and she made the absolute best nishime, with plenty of perfectly tied konbu, and carrots cut just so. She made trips to the bookmobile and to the library to instill the love of books, reading and learning in her children; and she wore her navy blue cotton shirt with clusters of cherries on it, for years, even after an unexpected encounter with Clorox left a white speck on it. She urged us all to "squeeze the buffalo" so when hard financial times came, all would be well. And softly, secretly, she told each and every one of her four children that each was her favorite child and we all felt that way. On April 24, 2014, after a two-year fight with pancreatic cancer, she joined her eldest son, Jonathan Mariani, in a place that must be heaven because she is there. She left behind her legacy of love. And we will do our very best, to carry her goodness in our hearts each and every day. We are: John L. Mariani, her loving husband of a week shy of 64 years; her son Timothy Mariani; her daughters, Joan (Doug) Gomes and Jeanne (Richard) Mariani-Belding; her grandchildren, Angela (Hazel) Mariani, Namaka Kuroda, Kelley (Jerry) Martin, Kenney (Stephanie) Gomes, Kerrey Gomes, Kristie (Jay) Espiritu; Jake Belding and Ikaika (Monica) Belding; and her great-grandchildren, Dax and Zan Martin, Khloe Gomes and Diego Espiritu. Private Services will be held, with burial to follow at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl. Aloha, Granny you will be forever in our hearts.

Our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased

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