May Otani Obituary

MAY TERUE OTANI May Terue Otani, 102, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her family on November 22, 2023. Akira, her husband of 74 years, passed away on July 24, 2021, at the age of 100. Due to covid precautions a private service was held for him. Akira's obituary appeared in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser on August 15, 2021. We will be celebrating the lives of May and Akira on July 6, 2024, at the Waiokeola Congregational Church. May was born on May 23, 1921, in Bothell, Washington, to Kane and Kametaro Funai who were both immigrants from Kumamoto, Japan. May was the sixth of eight children. She grew up on her family's vegetable farm. At Bothell High School she was in the marching band, pep squad, chorus and was also the senior class secretary. After graduating in 1940 she was attending business school when World War II began. Then all Japanese American families living along the West Coast were sent inland to internment camps. They were at the Minidoka Internment Camp in Idaho when her mother passed away while three of May's brothers had volunteered and were serving in the U.S. Army. Although her mother passed away in camp and there were many hardships, May said there were happy times, too, and she made many lifelong friends there. Akira and May met each other shortly before the war ended and later married in Honolulu. Through the years May enjoyed gardening, sewing, egg decorating, haku lei making and karaoke singing lessons. She also sang in the choir and Hawaiian singing group at Waiokeola Church, and she was also active in the 442nd Uta No Kai singing group. May will be remembered for her friendly personality and warm smile. May is survived by children, Laura (Raymond) Gota, Daniel (Lei), and Floyd (Joey); grandchildren, Neal Gota, Myles Gota, Karen (Daniel) Brewer, Denise (Tom) Curran, Andrew, Megan and Matthew; and great-grandchildren, Clara Brewer, Elise Brewer and Colette Curran. May was predeceased by her brothers Kart, George, Aubrey, Toshio and Frank, and sisters Lilly Uyeda and Alice Waterer. A service celebrating the lives of May and Akira will be held on July 6, 2024, at Waiokeola Congregational Church at 4705 Kilauea Avenue. Visitation from 10:00 am with service to follow at 11:00 am. Aloha attire. Arrangements Provided By: Hosoi Garden Mortuary