Gladys Fusako Yap's Obituary
Gladys Fusako Fujimoto Yap, 78, of Kaneohe, Hawaii passed away on March 11, 2017 in Kailua, Hawaii.
She was born to Roseline Sim (Lee) and Walter Noburo Fujimoto in Kahuku, Hawaii on August 9, 1938. She was the third of eight children.
Gladys attended and graduated from Kahuku High School. She then went to business college and studied to become a stenographer. After graduation, she began a career as a stenographer and worked in a plastic surgeon’s office until she married and became a homemaker.
Gladys married the love of her life, Lawrence “Larry” Yap on September 10, 1960 at Sacred Hearts Church and they both lived in Kaneohe.
She was a member of St. Ann’s Catholic Church and was involved in the Kahuku Class of ’56 and the Koolau Senior Hi.
She loved her daughters, grandchildren, parents, mother and father in law, her brothers and sisters.
She enjoyed watching her grandsons play sports or hearing about her mainland grandchildren’s activities. She was their biggest fans and loved calling her family to wish them “Happy Birthday” or “Happy Anniversary.”
Her favorite pastimes, hobbies and activities were: weekly lunch with Kahuku classmates and friends at the Windward Mall Food Court; her love of watching Korean Drama and learning to play the ukulele. She enjoyed listening to Hawaiian music, Na Leo, and Josh Grobin.
Gladys was affectionately called the “Mayor of Kaneohe” or the “Mayor of Windward Mall” by her friends because whenever she was out and about, she knew so many people and would stop and talk story. Even strangers would talk to Gladys and share their life stories!
Gladys is survived by her daughters, Teri Lynn (Ira “Moki”) Yoshikawa, Sheri Lee (David) Tongg and Billie Jo Yap; six grandchildren, Brian Tongg, Paul (Kelly) Tongg, Kevin Tongg, Ian Yoshikawa, Lawrence Yoshikawa and Alisa Yoshikawa; siblings, Walter Fujimoto, Priscilla (Ernest) Cabael, Miriam Fujimoto, Henry (Jo-Ann) Fujimoto, Galan Fujimoto and Ted (Arleen) Fujimoto.
Celebration of Life service for Gladys will be held on Tuesday, April 4, 2017 at St. Ann’s Catholic Church; visitation from 9:30 – 11:00 a.m., eulogy to begin at 11:30 a.m., with Mass to follow at 11:45 a.m. Burial service to follow 1:00 p.m. at Hawaiian Memorial Park Cemetery.
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