March 6, 1927- April 21, 2017. When it comes to unconditional love, John Mariani, our Papu, remains our inspiration and holds a special place in our hearts. He proudly worked for decades for the City and County of Honolulu. On top of that, he took other jobs on weekends to help put all four of his children through school. The work was hard. But he never complained. After 64 years of marriage, as his wife fought pancreatic cancer, he would make her three different breakfasts every day–and sit in a wooden chair by her bedside hoping she would eat, just a nibble was fine. When she passed away, he often put his own heartache aside, and chose to focus on making sure his children and grandchildren would be fine. He learned to cook new recipes by watching the food channel and thumbing through cookbooks. He tried his best to remember all of the kids' and grandkids' birthdays, promptly dispatching birthday cards from a stack of blank cards that his wife had left behind for him. And he reminded us all that family should always come first. In an ever-growing family, he was the peacemaker. He was always there for us. He showed us all how to love and care for each other, particularly when times were tough. He taught us what it means to truly support your family, in more ways than one. He was proud of his children and all they had accomplished, and prouder still of his grandchildren and great grandchildren, for all that he knew they would become. He loved life, but he loved his family even more. When cancer came his way, he made sure we all knew he would fight to get better. And he did. He was able to go to Las Vegas, one last time, to celebrate his 90th birthday. The night he passed away, we all knew he was right where he belonged: with Granny, his wife. Together. Again. Papu, give our Granny a hug from all of us. We are: His sisters, Dorothy Komomua, Rose Colon, and Nola Santiago; his son, Timothy Mariani; his daughters, Joan (Doug) Gomes and Jeanne (Richard) Mariani-Belding; his grandchildren, Angela Mariani, Namaka Kuroda, Kelley (Jerry) Martin, Kenney (Stephanie) Gomes, Kerrey Gomes, Kristie (Jay) Espiritu, Jake Belding, and Ikaika (Monica) Belding; and his great-grandchildren, Dax and Zan Martin, Khloe and Atom Gomes, Diego and Kaleo Espiritu, and Enoka Belding. Visitation will be on Friday, June 2 from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., followed by Mass at 11:30 a.m. at St. Patrick's Church in Kaimuki. Burial will be at 1:00 p.m. at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl.
March 6, 1927- April 21, 2017. When it comes to unconditional love, John Mariani, our Papu, remains our inspiration and holds a special place in our hearts. He proudly worked for decades for the City and County of Honolulu. On top of that, he took other jobs on weekends to help put all four of his children through school. The work was hard. But he never complained. After 64 years of marriage, as his wife fought pancreatic cancer, he would make her three different breakfasts every day–and sit in a wooden chair by her bedside hoping she would eat, just a nibble was fine. When she passed away, he often put his own heartache aside, and chose to focus on making sure his children and grandchildren would be fine. He learned to cook new recipes by watching the food channel and thumbing through cookbooks. He tried his best to remember all of the kids' and grandkids' birthdays, promptly dispatching birthday cards from a stack of blank cards that his wife had left behind for him. And he reminded us all that family should always come first. In an ever-growing family, he was the peacemaker. He was always there for us. He showed us all how to love and care for each other, particularly when times were tough. He taught us what it means to truly support your family, in more ways than one. He was proud of his children and all they had accomplished, and prouder still of his grandchildren and great grandchildren, for all that he knew they would become. He loved life, but he loved his family even more. When cancer came his way, he made sure we all knew he would fight to get better. And he did. He was able to go to Las Vegas, one last time, to celebrate his 90th birthday. The night he passed away, we all knew he was right where he belonged: with Granny, his wife. Together. Again. Papu, give our Granny a hug from all of us. We are: His sisters, Dorothy Komomua, Rose Colon, and Nola Santiago; his son, Timothy Mariani; his daughters, Joan (Doug) Gomes and Jeanne (Richard) Mariani-Belding; his grandchildren, Angela Mariani, Namaka Kuroda, Kelley (Jerry) Martin, Kenney (Stephanie) Gomes, Kerrey Gomes, Kristie (Jay) Espiritu, Jake Belding, and Ikaika (Monica) Belding; and his great-grandchildren, Dax and Zan Martin, Khloe and Atom Gomes, Diego and Kaleo Espiritu, and Enoka Belding. Visitation will be on Friday, June 2 from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., followed by Mass at 11:30 a.m. at St. Patrick's Church in Kaimuki. Burial will be at 1:00 p.m. at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl.Our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased
