Terry Davilee Kaiini Ernest Ah Yo's Obituary
Terry Davilee Kaiini Ernest Ah Yo Obituary
Terry Davilee Ka?i?ini Burgess Ernest Ah Yo was born in Honolulu, Hawaii on April 26th, 1950, to David Ka?ono Lindsey Sr. and Lillian Mae Burgess, as Davilee Ka?i?ini Burgess. She was hanai’d to and eventually formally adopted by her aunt on her mother’s side, Harriet, and her uncle, Manuel Ernest. She grew up on O?ahu and lived most of her life in ?Aiea. She married Melvin Ah Yo and had a son and a daughter. She loved her family and the many friends that made up an even bigger extended family.
Terry was part of the first graduating class from Alvah Scott Elementary, attended ?Aiea Intermediate, ?Aiea High, St Andrew’s Priory, and eventually graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1968. She also went on to attend and get her certificate in Cosmetology from the College of San Mateo in 1975, also becoming a licensed massage therapist later in life. She was confirmed as a member of Our Savior Lutheran Church in ?Aiea in 1964.
Besides being a wonderful wife and mother, she was a model, performed the hula in Waikiki for Halau Hula o Maiki and the Kahauanu Lake Trio, was a hairdresser at JCPenney’s salon, a massage therapist, a volunteer wig and make-up artist with the Hawaii Opera Theater, a super chaperone and supporter of the Hawaii Youth Opera Chorus, and retired as the office manager for Bete Mu?u Inc.
Terry had many talents and she loved using them to help others, instilling in those around her the value of hard work, kindness, generosity, humility, courage, laughing often, eating dessert first, and being a loving and caring person. She loved to travel, loved to dance, loved to garden, and loved her flowers and making leis. She loved beautiful things and making things beautiful.
She fought through multiple bouts of cancer, from when she was 19, all the way up until her final moments. While undergoing rehabilitation at the Care Center of Honolulu, gathering her strength for the battle ahead, she passed away on the morning of April 17th, 2024. Her optimism, strength, and hope never seemed to faulter during the challenging times, and she continues to inspire those who knew her.
Terry Davilee Ka?i?ini Ernest Ah Yo is survived by her husband, Melvin; son, Mark; daughter, Melanie; and 3 brothers, Bunny, David, and Norman and 3 sisters, April, Mae-Nell, and Mackie. She leaves behind her extended family and all the many friends she made along the way.
Please join us in celebrating Terry on Friday, June 7, 2024, at Mililani Memorial Park in the Mauka Chapel. Visitation begins at 5:30pm with services to follow. In celebration of Terry, if you have a Bete, wear a Bete. And while Terry loved flowers, donations in her name to the American Cancer Society can be done at https://donate.cancer.org/
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to the family, please visit our floral store.
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