Monday 23 April 2007

Memorial service honors brave mother

There was not an empty seat inside the mauka chapel of the Mililani Memorial Mortuary, so many stood to take part in celebrating the life of Sharnell Onaga, a woman who captured the hearts of the community during her fight with cancer. There was sadness, but there was also laughter as they remembered a woman who had lived a full, loving life.

Ron Boyer, who gave the eulogy, said, "Close your eyes for a minute and imagine Sharnell giving you one of her million-dollar smiles. See what I mean? No words can describe how she made you feel when you were on the receiving end of one of those awesome smiles."

Onaga's eldest daughter Kaila sang "Hero", by Mariah Carey. For those who knew her, even those who had only heard of her, Onaga was a hero. She was a courageous mother who fought her battle with leukemia every step of the way. She had delayed treatment while pregnant with her third child. She later gave birth to a healthy baby girl. While searching for a bone marrow donor, she helped dramatically increase the number of potential donors on Hawaii's bone marrow registry. She was an inspiration.

"She was my mirror, shining back at me with the world of possibilities and a witness who sees me at my worst and best and loves my anyway," said Celita Milare, Onaga's sister-in-law.

A helicopter dropped flower petals as Onaga's daughters, her husband and her family prepared to lay her to rest. Friends wiped away tears and said their final goodbyes. About a dozen birds were released, representing togetherness, freedom, peace and love. Onaga was all of that.

(KGMB9)



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