Lillian Ayako Kawagoe

Lillian Ayako Kawagoe was born on September 12, 1932 in Lihue, Kauai to Tadaitsu and Shizu Matsumoto.  Her father was a cane worker and made furniture in his spare time, he passed away in January 1969.  Her mother was a homemaker and passed away in the early 1950s.  Lillian was the youngest of 12 children, three died at birth.  Brothers were Roy, Teruto, Larry, Haruo and Satoru.  Sisters included: Kay, Irene and Sally.  All siblings have also passed.

Lillian graduated from Kauai High School in 1950.   She met Roy Yasuo Kawagoe and they were married on March 17, 1951.  Lillian is survived by two sons Ralph and Keith and two daughters Laura and Lynne (Curtis) Okazaki along with 7 grandchildren, Jennifer, Theresa, Tamara, Lance, Blaine, Lisa and Kassidee and 5 great grandchildren, Tyler, Wyatt, Kaden, Tessa and Kaiya. Along with many nieces, nephews, sister-in-laws and brother-in-laws and many friends. Jennifer and her family live in Kentucky, Theresa and her family live in Arkansas, Tamara and her husband live in Las Vegas and Kassidee is in college at UC Riverside, California and the rest of her immediate family live on Oahu.

Roy and Lillian lived in Moiliili after they got married and soon after bought a house in Wahiawa Heights. In 1969 they designed and moved to their custom built house in Mililani. Lillian had many jobs that included working at a drug store in Wahiawa, substitute teacher, helped her sister Irene at the first okazuya in Mililani, manager at the first recreation center in Mililani, book-keeper at Dots and Marians for many years and ending her career at First Baptist Church in Wahiawa.  Many don’t know but she even got a degree in Library Science but never pursued employment because she liked being close to home.

Lillian was an adventurer and went on trips to Thailand, Mexico, Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, China, Washington, Florida, California and of course many times to Las Vegas.  She was a member of Wahiawa and Mililani's FCE known as Family Community Education and worshipped at First Baptist Church in Wahiawa and Mililani Baptist Church.

When the family moved to Mililani, many people stopped by the house to take pictures of the yard that was filled with hapu’u (fern) trees and hundreds of anthuriums.  Lillian loved anthuriums and orchids.  She also loved to cook and bake and always bragged about what she made or how someone’s food could taste better.... some of her desserts that people remember her by are red velvet cake and almond float. Two things that she never cared for were mayonnaise and cheese.  Although she made macaroni salad, she never ate it and probably didn’t eat pizza until she was in her late 60's.

In January 2018, Lillian fell in her home and fractured her hip.  She was ambulanced to Pali Momi where she had hip surgery and was later transferred to Wahiawa Hospitals rehab center.  After a few weeks of rehab, they discovered she had a dislocated hip and was advised that because it was dislocated too long they could not put her hip back into socket and had a second surgery.   She continued to have rehab but because she was in continuous pain and disliking rehab it was recommended that she transfer to a care home in Waipahu with hopes of her doing better outside of the rehab facility.  On April 24th the family was advised that she was not eating and going downhill.  Lillian passed away on April 25th due to congestive heart failure and hypertension.

Visitation will be 5:00 pm Saturday June 30, 2018 at Mililani Memorial Park and Mortuary's Makai Chapel followed by memorial service at 5:30 pm.

Casual attire. Flowers welcome. 

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