In Memory

Roberta Thomas (Fujioka) VIEW PROFILE

From the Albuquerque Journal, August 19, 2015

September 10, 1946  - August 13, 2015 

Ms. Roberta Thomas Fujioka, age 68, of Kaneohe, HI, a Benn Pacific Group Real Estate Broker, passed away at Kaiser Foundation Hospital in Honolulu. She was born in Albuquerque, NM. 
Survived by sons, Dean Fujioka & Scott Fujioka; daughter, Tiffany Fujioka; one grandson, Jonah Makuch.   Visitation will be from 4 to 5:00 p.m. Friday August 21, 2015 at First Presbyterian Church of Honolulu at Koolau. Service begins at 5:00 p.m. Celebration of life at a later date.

 

From this website - www.1formom.org

Aloha Auntie Berta

Memorial Service – Friday, August 21st at 4:00 pm

After a 4.5-year battle with stage IV non-small cell adenocarcinoma lung cancer, we said goodbye to our mom, Roberta Fujioka, on Thursday, August 13th.  From the moment she was diagnosed, she fought fiercely and with incredible positivity, radically changing her lifestyle and nutrition and inspiring others along the way.  After being stable since January of 2014, she recently lost vision in her right eye and learned that her cancer had spread to her brain and spine and underwent two weeks of radiation therapy.  She was admitted to the ER on Tuesday night, August 11th and was diagnosed with flu and pneumonia.  Dean was with her from midnight that night and Tiffany flew back in on the last seat on the last plane from Seattle on Wednesday night.  All of her children were with her as she transitioned to the next phase of her journey, which she did peacefully, without pain, and on her own terms.  Although she never gave up, we are slowly discovering just how at peace she was and how much she was embracing life to its absolute fullest at the end.  She was full of energy and grandma spunk during Tiffany, Jason, and Jonah’s visit the weeks before.  On Saturday, August 8th, she had her home and soul blessed by Keola Conner and Kanoa Switzer of E Ho’omanamaiola.  Mom spent the next days living it up Roberta style.  We learned that she went to the beach, saw a movie, took Dean’s car for a joy-ride to Makaha, went skinny dipping (twice!) at the beach and in a pool, picked Dean and Stephanie up from the airport, exclaiming with both hands up, “I can see!”, made dinner, and hung out with friends.  She was 150% on Monday, going non-stop from 5am until 11pm, and having a ball.

She was mom to us, but many in her circle know her as Auntie Berta, and she was much more than an auntie.  She was a daughter with a sense of adventure, a sister with an undying love, a rabid UNM Lobo fan, a wife with a knack for having fun, a protective yet liberating mother to three children, a teacher of challenging and controversial subjects to so many Kaiser High School students, an entrepreneur, Real Estate Broker, business owner, partner and co-worker who fought for her clients and curly dresses, a dedicated UH Warrior sports fan, a scholar and advocate of nutrition to help fight cancer, the best of grandmas, and a friend who would literally drop everything to help you out, make you a lei from her Puakenikeni tree, and give you a hug.

Memorial Service

Please join us for a reception and memorial service at First Presbyterian at Ko’olau on Friday, August 21st.  Visitation and reception begins at 4pm, followed by the service at 5pm.  Light pupus and beverages to be served during the reception.  

First Presbyterian Church of Honolulu at Ko’olau
45-550 Kionaole Road
Kaneohe, Hawaii 96744

Celebration of Life

We are also throwing a Celebration of Life to honor mom’s 69th birthday on Saturday, September 12th.   Please join us for a paddle out ceremony in the morning at Lanikai to scatter her ashes, followed by the mother of all parties on Kailua beach later in the day with music, food, entertainment, laughter, and excellent company. Check 1 for mom  for updates and details.

Donations

Mahalo for all of the aloha and support you have given us during this time.  We are so happy to see how much our mom was loved by so many.  If you would like to make a donation to Auntie Berta’s Memorial, please click on the Paypal  link below. Initial donations will help to cover costs of services.  Any greater amount will go to assist in the dissemination of Auntie Berta’s wealth of information about anti-cancer foods, to launch her recent line of home made all natural salves “Skinsational”, “Wound Warrior”, and “Hawaiian Healer” and to subsidize an anti-cancer menu across hospitals, schools, and other institutions.  The even greater goals are to assist all mothers with cancer, and eventually all moms.



 
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08/21/15 12:34 PM #10    

Carol McElvaney (Skaggs)

 

I'm so glad I got to see Roberta earlier this year when she came to see Cissy.  She looked great and seemed her bubbly, sweet self.  She talked about how much she loved spending time with that adorable grandson last year.  How lucky her children were to have such a special mother.  My heart goes out to them.  She will be missed very much by everyone who knew her. 


08/21/15 09:18 PM #11    

David Fish

As we continue to add classmates to the "In Memory" portion of our website, we are continually reminded of what a wonderful and memorable class we had.  What a vibrant bunch we were and are!.  Roberta was a lively member of our class who loved life and squeezed every drop with zest and passion.  We all do well to take that example from her and apply it to our lives.  Her defiant drive to the end speaks volumes.  My Beth was of the same cloth.  Thank God for them and the example of how to fight they have left us with.  We will miss you Roberta!!  Thanks!

We have many classmates that are fighting battles.  Keep them in your thoughts and prayers.


08/21/15 10:19 PM #12    

Jim Singer

Like all of us I am saddened over losing a great friend.  I can't remember that far back when I didn't know Roberta since we grew up together on the same block in Albuquerque.  The others who made up that neighborhood gang were Ron Harris, Joan Kearney, Marilyn McDaniel, Myrna Smyer, and Bob Barber.  Joanne Moses and John Thorson were only a block away (I hope I didn't forget anyone). How fortunate we were way back then to grow up together, although we probably took it for granted that all kids had the same luck.

I would like to say to all of you who have made such nice comments about Berta that you are a continuation of my aforementioned luck. We had a fantastic group of great people at Highland. I wish for all of us many years of continued health and happiness.

 


08/22/15 07:40 AM #13    

Nancy Ballard (Webster)

I too have many happy memories of grade school with Berta although I didn't live on that block. She continued to be a good friend through high school and college and many of my memories were filled with zany things we did. She was always game to have fun. Like David Fish's comment about gathering the most out of life and appreciating every day, we need to do that even more as we approach 70.  I think we should be about planning a low effort but fun gathering to celebrate our 70th birthdays in style next year....


08/22/15 08:41 AM #14    

Carole Crawford (DeArman)

What a precious person, inside and out!  Berta was a treasured friend and wonderful role model for living life to the most.  Prayers for her children and grandson and love to all her extended family.  We will one day be united where there is no sickness or dying and no tears.

Carole Crawford DeArman


08/22/15 08:53 AM #15    

Mary May (Sproul)

Aloha, dear Berta. We were room mates in Hawaii in 1968. Berta was always up beat and making friends. We were cocktail servers at the Halikulani Hotel. Many times vacationers would ask her to go places with their families or just for a meal. We did a lot of growing up the year. She met her future husband, Dean, at the hotel. Roberta was a wonderful mother and raised succesful children. She will be missed.

Mary May Sproul


08/22/15 10:11 AM #16    

Tom H Barsanti

Such sad news.  My thoughts are with her family and friends.


08/23/15 11:25 AM #17    

Vaunetta Frizzell (Miller)

i am saddened for Berta's family.  it really only seems like yesterday that we were all together in hallways, classes and after school functions. Berta was one that was always nice to everyone. Bless Berta's family.  


08/23/15 10:39 PM #18    

Cheryl Webber (Current)

Love and prayers to her family...she was such a beautiful person

08/31/15 02:43 PM #19    

Betty Vance (Nye)

Wonderful memories of Roberta through school.  Always a nice person with a beautiful smile.  Condolences and comfort to family and friends. 


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