Emilia Rego Souza 's Obituary
Mom was a woman of many talents. In her youth, she loved competition with her 3 brothers and 4 sisters. She was resilient and persistent with life itself considering how she persevered through it’s challenges in the last few years with us. She played sports to the point that she became quite a tumbler and with age that was an asset. She died young, she would say, at the age of 94. Still active up to the last month and a half of her life, she loved to be where the action was and went to daycare at St Francis 3 days of the week because we were boring. In addition, she also attended her great grandchildren’s sports activities both during the week and on weekends as well. When on the mainland she went to work daily, volunteering for the local soccer association doing things like folding uniforms and shredding papers in the office. Keeping active and being useful was her thing.
When dad was alive and retired, she loved to go to Vegas along with her brother, sisters, their spouses and her friends and neighbor and could be very persistent when it came to her favorite machines. She shared what she knew with everyone and would never waiver with encouragement and support for them. Card games were also a favorite pastime for her and was even known to do flashcards with her great grandchildren when they first came home from school from her bedside toward the end. At night for relaxation she would do both word and picture puzzles and watch Wheel of Fortune, her favorite game show.
She was a homemaker and took pride in her world. Bird watching, gardening , sewing and cooking were her hobbies and she never hesitated to share her food, plants or her sewing talents with others. Her home was immaculate as well as her yard and with the help of the Manoa weather, she would say her plants thrived. She kept the birds happy with her chimes and table scraps as well. She’d sit in the back yard and feed the birds and throw ball with the dog. Her home was always open to both family and friends who would often stop by for the avocados.
She loved her children and often had hanai’ children to baby sit also. Up to the age of 85, she was babysitting her great grandchildren. You could find her under the table playing ‘cars’ with her great grands up to the last few months of her life. The doors were always open to all and the love always shared. Through the years she did volunteer work both at the church as a secretary and as a reading tutor at our school in addition to sharing her sewing talents.
Yes, she lived life to the fullest and wouldn’t have it any other way and with every passing day she would say “Thanks be to God.” and when she awoke the next morn she would thank Him again for the new day.
She is survived by 3 daughters -Annette (Joseph) Gardner and Diane (Gerard) Fischer, “hanai “ daughter Aileen Sodetani, a brother Robert Rego, 6 grandchildren, Joe-Ann (Ryan) Perreira, Stephanie (Christopher) Holden, Jennifer Fischer, Thomas Fischer and “hanai“ grandsons Bryson and Brandon Sodetani. Also survivors include, 4 great-grandchildren, Joelle Kamaile Perreira, Ryan Kapono Perreira, Christpher Makana Holden and Emily Malia Holden.
Visitation: 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at St. Pius X. Services: 11:30 a.m. Mass at noon. Burial: 2 p.m. at Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery
What’s your fondest memory of Emilia ?
What’s a lesson you learned from Emilia ?
Share a story where Emilia 's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Emilia you’ll never forget.
How did Emilia make you smile?