On September 13, 2018, Patsy Gomez passed away at the age of 99 due to respiratory failure at Queen's Hospital, surrounded by her children and family. The second daughter of Arataro and Kiku Maeda Yamamoto, Patsy was born in Honolulu on September 4, 1919. With her two brothers and two sisters, she grew up on what is now Kekaulike Street and College Walk along River Street. She graduated from McKinley High School, the Queen's Hospital School of Nursing and the University of Hawaii. Her nursing career began at the Alsup clinic in downtown Honolulu, followed by years at Tripler Army Hospital, Waimano Home Hospital and Kaneohe State Hospital. As a young nurse, she met and married Mamoru Tagashira of Sprecklesville, Maui. Over the next 20 years, they raised three children Dennis Shoichi Tagashira, Gail Satsuki Tagashira and Joan Hifumi Tagashira Wylie. After earning her B.A. in sociology from the UH, she became a recreational specialist with the City and County of Honolulu before retiring. She married Edward Louis Gomez and moved to Nanakuli until he passed away. Her siblings Doris Shimada, Tatsuji Yamamoto, Joji Yamamoto and in 2017, Esther Yamamoto predeceased her as did her four step-children, Brother Edward Louis (Kaui) of St. Louis Schools, Claire Gomez, Brendan and Bibiana Gomez Flazer. During her 30 years as a retiree, Patsy found a fulfilling world of activities including dance, crafts, travel, and volunteer work. She studied hula and international ballroom dance, took up Japanese doll making, resumed knitting and crochet, and visited Japan, Greece, Alaska, the Caribbean, and took numerous trips to California and Las Vegas. But it was her work with Catholic Charities that she took great pride in and gave her some of her proudest moments. She was honored as Volunteer of the Year by former Mayor Jeremy Harris. With every UH football and baseball game, memories of how fond she was of her beloved Rainbow Warriors are recalled by her family as she cheered and clapped for each touchdown, home run, even the close plays. Sunday evening get-togethers to watch KIKU dramas and dine were a staple and after a year, they are sorely missed by those who loved her. On Dec. 22, 2018, marking 100 days after her death, her ashes were scattered off Waikiki. A gathering to remember her will be held Sept. 14 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Honolulu.
On September 13, 2018, Patsy Gomez passed away at the age of 99 due to respiratory failure at Queen's Hospital, surrounded by her children and family. The second daughter of Arataro and Kiku Maeda Yamamoto, Patsy was born in Honolulu on September 4, 1919. With her two brothers and two sisters, she grew up on what is now Kekaulike Street and College Walk along River Street. She graduated from McKinley High School, the Queen's Hospital School of Nursing and the University of Hawaii. Her nursing career began at the Alsup clinic in downtown Honolulu, followed by years at Tripler Army Hospital, Waimano Home Hospital and Kaneohe State Hospital. As a young nurse, she met and married Mamoru Tagashira of Sprecklesville, Maui. Over the next 20 years, they raised three children Dennis Shoichi Tagashira, Gail Satsuki Tagashira and Joan Hifumi Tagashira Wylie. After earning her B.A. in sociology from the UH, she became a recreational specialist with the City and County of Honolulu before retiring. She married Edward Louis Gomez and moved to Nanakuli until he passed away. Her siblings Doris Shimada, Tatsuji Yamamoto, Joji Yamamoto and in 2017, Esther Yamamoto predeceased her as did her four step-children, Brother Edward Louis (Kaui) of St. Louis Schools, Claire Gomez, Brendan and Bibiana Gomez Flazer. During her 30 years as a retiree, Patsy found a fulfilling world of activities including dance, crafts, travel, and volunteer work. She studied hula and international ballroom dance, took up Japanese doll making, resumed knitting and crochet, and visited Japan, Greece, Alaska, the Caribbean, and took numerous trips to California and Las Vegas. But it was her work with Catholic Charities that she took great pride in and gave her some of her proudest moments. She was honored as Volunteer of the Year by former Mayor Jeremy Harris. With every UH football and baseball game, memories of how fond she was of her beloved Rainbow Warriors are recalled by her family as she cheered and clapped for each touchdown, home run, even the close plays. Sunday evening get-togethers to watch KIKU dramas and dine were a staple and after a year, they are sorely missed by those who loved her. On Dec. 22, 2018, marking 100 days after her death, her ashes were scattered off Waikiki. A gathering to remember her will be held Sept. 14 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Honolulu.
Our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased
