Nancy Kimie Kado's Obituary
Nancy Kimie Kado
November 29, 1937 – April 24, 2026 (88 years)
Nancy Kimie (Taise) Kado of Pearl City passed away on Friday, April 24, 2026 at the age of 88.
She was born in Naalehu, Hawaii to Masato and Clara (Segawa) Taise, the youngest of their seven children.
Young Nancy was a true country girl and a bit of a tomboy, who loved climbing trees and wearing her favorite overalls so that she had pockets to take both her marbles and her slingshot wherever she went. She also loved and looked up to all of her older siblings, and would later tell her children of her many fond memories of growing up with them.
During these rough-and-tumble years, she caught the eye of her first-grade classmate, Richard Kado, who confessed his love immediately, finally winning Nancy over in high school. But the wait was worthwhile – they remained sweethearts for the rest of their lives.
After graduating from Pahala High School in 1955, Nancy and Richard moved on to the University of Hawaii in Honolulu, where they earned degrees in Education. They married in 1961 after their college graduation, eventually settling in Pearl City on Oahu, where they raised their three children.
Nancy taught elementary school for 34 years, 24 of them at Honowai Elementary in Waipahu. She retired from teaching in 1993, only to turn the family room of her home into another classroom filled with play areas and homemade letter, number, and color charts – this time for her grandchildren.
She was a gifted seamstress with a keen interest in family history, and these two interests were often reflected in her projects. She loved crafts, cooking and baking, and was always making something beautiful or delicious for her family. Every sewing or embroidery project, every dish or dessert had a bit of family history or tradition woven into it, or became part of a new family tradition with her creativity and love. For Nancy, it was always family first, and she was the very heart of her family.
She will be remembered, amongst other things, for her kind and caring heart, her quiet, no-nonsense way of getting things done efficiently, and her selfless strength. She will be greatly missed.
Nancy was preceded in death by her beloved husband Richard, as well as siblings Herbert, Bea, Rick, Helen, and Alice. She is survived by her son Kel Kado (Helen); daughters Kendis Kado and Kory-Jo Kado-Fukuda (Brandt); grandchildren Krystalynn, Klaryssa, Kaela, Lily, Milla and Harper; one great grandchild; brother James Taise (Dianne); sister-in-law Loretta (Nonaka) Taise; brother-in-law Iwao Yonemitsu; brother-in-law Ralph Watanabe; sister-in-law Seiko Kitsutani (George, deceased); sister-in-law Fannie Kado (Harold, deceased); many nieces and nephews.
Services will be held Monday, June 15, 2026 at Mililani Memorial Park Mauka Chapel. 5:30 pm visitation, 6:30 pm service. Casual attire.
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