Julia Keano Needham's Obituary
Celebration of life services were held for Julia "Dolly" Keano Kane Needham on Thursday, February 23, 2017 at the Waimanalo Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Burial was Friday, February 24, 2017 at the Valley of the Temples-Aupuni Lani Site. Julia was born on May 4, 1928 in Honolulu.
She is survived by her children, son, Paul Kekua, Jr. (Lori), daughter Glenna-Lee Nalani Togo (Dennis), and son, Kevin Nawai (Heidi). Her husband, Paul Kekua and daughter, Paula Kulamanu Taosoga preceded her in death. She has 14 grandchildren and 28 great-grandchildren.
She was known to her loved ones as Dolly. She contracted whooping cough at 2 weeks old that left her legally blind. She attended the Kawananakoa Experimental School for the Blind from the 3rd through the 9th grade. Even with her impaired eyesight she graduated from McKinley High School in 1946. Shortly after her graduation, she married dad.
Mom worked at the Tripler Army Hospital for 21 years with her mom, one uncle and two aunts. She had an insatiable appetite for reading even though she had to use a magnifying glass. Mom was musical; she played the piano by ear which meant she could listen to a piece of music and come home and play it. She had a beautiful voice but no one heard her because she would sing behind closed doors.
Dad stopped smoking and drinking because of her. Mom was an active and devoted member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Dad decided to join the Church and from then on never drank nor smoked again.
What is most impressive about mom is that she took care of her mother, Grandma Kane for 7 years in her home with Alzheimer's until she died; Grandma was 97. 18 months later, Dad was diagnosed with Alzheimer's and she cared for him another 14 years; he died at home at 88 years old. By the time dad had passed, mom was showing signs of dementia.
Mom peacefully passed away at the age of 88 on Friday, February 17, 2017 in Salt Lake City, Utah under the tender loving care of her son, Paul, daughter-in-law, Lori, and her granddaughter, Alicia.
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