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Age 80, of Waipahu, passed away on Oct. 5, 2022. She was a longtime special education teacher at Honowai Elementary School in Waipahu. Ethel was married to Joe Oshiro until his death in 2010, and she is survived by her children, Joleen Oshiro, Jo Ann Kimura and Jolson Oshiro, and granddaughters Mia Sen and Dara Ann Kimura.Ethel was born on Maui to Takeo and Masue Tanaka on Dec. 18, 1941, and grew up in Haiku with her brother Paul, and sister, Betty (Nakata). She graduated from Maui High School in 1958, attended Maunaolu Junior College on Maui and San Jose State College in California.
She met Joe at Maunaolu, and together they went to school in San Jose, where they both graduated in 1963 with degrees in elementary education. They married soon after graduation and returned to Oahu to settle in Waipahu, where they raised their family.
Ethel spent more than a decade as a stay-at-home mom, then returned to the classroom in the late 1970s. She retired from Honowai in 2003 after more than 20 years of teaching and enjoyed spending time with her family.
Ethel and Joe's favorite vacation spot was Las Vegas, and they visited that city once or twice a year for many years.
She leaves behind her children Joleen (Noel Sen), Jo Ann (Darren) and Jolson (Jonathan Tupua); granddaughters Mia and Dara Ann; sisters-in-law Nancy (Paul) Tanaka, Kiyoko (Kenichi) Oshiro and Lois (David) Oshiro; brother-in-law James (Betty) Nakata; and 17 nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by Joe; parents Takeo and Masue Tanaka; and siblings Ichiro Tanaka, Paul Tanaka and Betty Nakata.
A memorial service will be held Friday, Dec. 2 at Mililani Memorial Park, Mauka Chapel; 5 p.m. visitation, 6:30 p.m. service. Face mask required.
