Perla B. Alonzo

PERLA B. ALONZO, 78 of Mililani, Hawaii, passed away on February 6, 2020,  in Mililani, Hawaii. She was born in San Jose City, Nueva Ecija, Philippines. Retired from the State of Hawaii, as a Teacher for the Department of Education.  She was a member of Our Lady of Sorrows. 
She is survived by daughter Juliet (Jonathan) Wingate; sisters, Cholita (Honorio) Santos and Lilia Bambao; brother, Manuel (Precy) Balbin; grandchildren, Hunter Wingate, Hannah Wingate and Noah Wingate. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, cousins and extended family.  She is preceded in death by husband Romeo C Alonzo and brother Jose Balbin, as well as parents Transfiguracion Balbin and Celestina Castro Balbin.
Perla enjoyed many hobbies such as listening to music, travelling, crochet, ceramics, gardening, reading, crosswords, playing Scrabble and cards, chess, watching movies, shopping, and following UH sports - especially men's and women's volleyball and basketball.  She enjoyed collecting jewelry and was ever the entrepreneur, opening and managing her own Filipino restaurant "Bayanihan".  Her favorite performer was Elvis Presley, although she owned many records ranging from Luciano Pavorotti to her 50's and 60's Pop hits to Classical instrumentals.  She was learning to play the ukelele in the years leading up to her diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease. She looked forward to volunteering in many activities and spending time with her many, many friends and family. Perla always enjoyed chocolates and other sweets as well as sharing them with others.  She learned to cook but was very good at knowing where to acquire heartfelt meals to serve her family and friends.  
Her pride and joy were her family, especially her grandchildren - Hunter, Hannah and Noah.  Although she was geographically distanced from them in Florida, she spoke of (bragged about) them as much as she could.  She wished she could be with them more.
Her family has many people to thank, through the years, and most recently while she was homebound.  All of her friends from Solomon Elementary School, and especially Linda Tavares and Jan Turner, for taking her where they could and visiting her often.  All of her friends from Our Lady of Sorrows, and especially Rose Layugan, Pacing Baron, and Terry Ignacio.   The volunteers at Project Dana, especially Iris Aurio and Charline.  All of her Homeland friends, especially Bess, Channing and Glen Fukuda; Bong and Clem Benemerito, Ellen Dona, Renato and Cecily Layugan, Wally Higa, Bernie and Christy Cagauan, and most of all Gloria Valera, Lisa Valera, and Lani Calma. And those from St. Johns Catholic.
Special special thanks go to Anne and Jonathan Kim, and their sons Nathan, Noah and Joshua.  And warm aloha to her caregivers Norma Labrador and Sheila Bruno of Lou's Quality Home Healthcare Services; Nurse Jez, Michael, Chaplains Erin and Larry, and Jared of Bristol Hospice;  Chris of Kokua Medical;  and her care team at Waipio Kaiser.
Although Conchita and Julian Valera have gone to be with the Lord, Perla can not forget all of their love and compassion and generosity showed to her by Auntie Conching and Uncle Julian. And last but not least, her granddaughter Hannah moved in November 6, 2019, and lived with Lola the last few months.  Perla vastly enjoyed seeing Hannah every day and night since then.
Many that knew her, experienced her friendliness and knowledge and ability to accomplish whatever her mind was set on doing.  Until the very last, Perla did what she wanted to do how she wanted to do it.  She would have done more, if her body would have allowed her to keep up with her mind.
 

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