Helene Matsunaga, widow of U.S. senator
By David Waite
Advertiser Staff Writer
Helene Matsunaga, wife of the late U.S. Sen. Spark Matsunaga, died Saturday at an assisted care home on Kalakaua Avenue of complications from Parkinson's disease. She was 79.
Former state Sen. Matt Matsunaga said four of her five children were present when his mother died in her sleep at about 3:45 p.m.
Matsunaga
Matsunaga said he will remember his mother most for her "selfless and giving nature.
"She devoted her life to supporting my dad in his political endeavors," he said. "My father was a workaholic in his days in D.C., and my mother held the family together."
Matsunaga said he remembers his mother hauling him or his brother and sisters to after-school sports practices, music lessons and various events up and down the East Coast.
Holidays were a special time at the Matsunaga house in Washington, D.C., he said.
"If my mother or father found out someone was in town from Hawai'i and they really didn't have any place to go for the holidays, they would invite them to stay with us," Matsunaga said.
His mother was born Helene Tokunaga on Feb. 10, 1925. She attended McKinley High School and married Spark Matsunaga in 1948.
Hawai'i Democratic Party Chairman Brickwood Galuteria said, "Helene Matsunaga, along with her husband, the late Sen. Spark Matsunaga, were examples for all of us. They were loving parents and grandparents, were committed to the people of the Islands, and devoted to public service."
In addition to Matt, Helene Matsunaga is survived by daughters Karen Hardman of Maryland, Diane Segars of Mississippi and Merle Matsunaga of New York; and son Keene of California.
Private services are pending. Contributions may be made to the Matsunaga Charitable Foundation at P.O. Box 656, Honolulu HI 96809.
