Obituaries for Jan. 28

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Jay Juan Serain, 98, of Hilo died Jan. 17 at home. Born in the Philippines and retired as a truck and tractor operator for O’okala and Laupahoehoe Sugar Companies. Visitation at Immaculate Heart of Mary in Papaikou on Feb. 4 at 9 a.m.; Funeral Mass at 10 a.m. Survived by wife, Beatrice Serain of Hilo; sons, Rudy Serain of Hilo, Jay (Margaret) Serain of Hilo, Daryl (Diane) Serain of Captain Cook; daughter, Karon (Michael) Serain-Darnall of Honolulu; brothers-in-law, Toribio (Rosalinda) Sagucio, Mauro Sagucio, Steven Sagucio, Conrad (Noe) Sagucio, Teoderico Mendoza; seven grandchildren, four great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews. Casual attire. Arrangements by Borthwick Hawaii Funeral Home, Hilo.

Wayan Padilla DeCosta, 21, of Lahaina, Maui, died Jan. 24 in Lahaina. Born in Hilo, he worked as a server at the 5 Palms restaurant in Lahaina. Visitation at Borthwick Hawaii Funeral Home, Hilo, on Wednesday at 10 a.m., followed by 11 a.m. funeral service. Survived by mother, Anita Padilla; father, John “Abo’D” DeCosta; companion, Kristen Simeone; brothers, Efe DeCosta, and Orlando DeCosta; sisters, Chioke DeCosta, AnNur DeCosta, and Khedija Yamini; numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins. Arrangements by Borthwick Hawaii Funeral Home, Hilo.


John August Moniz, 76, of Kaneohe, Oahu, died Jan. 26. Born in Kohala, he retired from Hawaii Preparatory Academy as a groundskeeper. He has gifted his body to the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine. No services. Survived by wife, Opal Moniz; son, Thomas Liphard; daughter, Kathleen Enos; brother, Raymond Moniz; sister, Jessica Koyonagi; three grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.


Mary Elizabeth NovoGradac, 81, of Kailua-Kona died Jan. 15 in Honokaa. Born in Eagle Rock, Calif., she was a homemaker. Private services to be held. Survived by daughters, Elizabeth (Stuart) Wade of Honolulu, Linda (David) Ka’apu of Waimea, Lisa Grinstead of Terre Haute, Ind.; sons, George NovoGradac Jr. of Portland, Ore., Harry NovoGradac of San Diego, Calif.; 12 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Arrangements by Cremation Services of West Hawaii.


Earline Gail Pagan, 54, of Pahoa, formerly of Honolulu, died Jan. 22 at Hilo Medical Center. Born in Honolulu. Visitation at Borthwick Hawaii Funeral Home, Friday from 5-7 p.m. Casual attire. Survived by husband, Derek Henry Pagan of Mountain View; parents, Joan G. and Frank A. Flores of Pahoa; sons, Denton (Michelle) Freitas of Pahoa, Dominic (Jill) Freitas of Pahoa; daughter, Darilyn Ahloy of Honolulu; brother, Dexter (Naomi) Freitas of Honolulu; sisters, Ronalyn Freitas of California, Karen (Clayton) DeSilva of Keaau, Ro-Ann (Steven) Martin of Keaau, Alare Freitas of Volcano, Deborah (Kenneth) Flores of Pahoa; numerous nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Borthwick Hawaii Funeral Home, Hilo.


James “JR” Frederick Rogers, 63, of Kailua-Kona, died Jan. 13 at his residence. Born in Cranston, R.I., he was the owner of James F. Rogers Certified Public Accountant Inc., treasurer and member of Kona Mauka Rotary Club, member of Mokuaikaua Congregational Church, a long-term treasurer, president and paddler for Keauhou Canoe Club, and was a volunteer for many community serving events. Celebration of life on Feb. 4 at 10 a.m. at Keauhou Canoe Club Halau at Keauhou Bay. Survived by wife, Marcia Rogers; sons, Evan Rogers and Parker Rogers, all of Kailua-Kona. Arrangements by Cremation Services of West Hawaii.


Jay Juan Serain, 98, of Hilo died Jan. 17 at home. Born in the Philippines and retired as a truck and tractor operator for O’okala and Laupahoehoe Sugar Companies. Visitation at Immaculate Heart of Mary in Papaikou on Feb. 4 at 9 a.m.; Funeral Mass at 10 a.m. Survived by wife, Beatrice Serain of Hilo; sons, Rudy Serain of Hilo, Jay (Margaret) Serain of Hilo, Daryl (Diane) Serain of Captain Cook; daughter, Karon (Michael) Serain-Darnall of Honolulu; brothers-in-law, Toribio (Rosalinda) Sagucio, Mauro Sagucio, Steven Sagucio, Conrad (Noe) Sagucio, Teoderico Mendoza; seven grandchildren, four great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews. Casual attire. Arrangements by Borthwick Hawaii Funeral Home, Hilo.