Kilisitina Rasilena Tautoto was called home on Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2019.
The third of 13 children, she was born on Aug. 27, 1952, to Leutetifaimoana Fa’ataugasolo Tovia and Tovia Fereti Faiaga in Vailoa Faleata, Samoa.
She attended school at St Mary’s Catholic School in her early years. She played multiple sports including track & field, volleyball, netball and softball. She met the love of her life and soulmate Sanele Tautoto and the two were married Sept. 17, 1979.
Together in union, they created a beautiful life with six children: Chris (Severina) Tedra, Christeen (Ray) Peyton, Clarissa (Luke) Coyt, Chanell, Catholic Tautoto, Carlos (Gena’i) Ma’a; and 11 grandchildren: Tiana, Taysia Tovia, Indy Tafaoata Toaetolu-Tautoto, Cayde Lyriq Stajcar, Keilani, Koda Tautoto and Masina Tautoto.
Leaving Samoa in 1978 for San Francisco, California, before settling in Honolulu, Hawai’i in 1980, she worked various jobs as a maid, fast food worker, in an Italian soda and ice cream shop and her recent longest stint at Walmart, where she retired after 22 years of service. In 1995, the family moved to Elma, Washington. Her love for her husband, children, grandchildren and family was endless. Her heart was larger than life. Anyone who met her left feeling like they’ve known her for years. She always had an ear to listen with advice to give. She never left anything unsaid, you always knew where you stood with her. Her love for cooking was well known to everyone as the best! When you walked into her home you were guaranteed to leave with a full belly of laughs and food, even if you weren’t hungry.
In her later years when her grandchildren came along, her purpose for living became about them as well as taking care of her elderly mother in Samoa.
She was preceded in death by her father Tovia Fereti Faiaga, brothers Tueipi, Fereti, Loma and sister Meifea.
She leaves behind her mother Leutetifaimoana Fa’ataugasolo Tovia, sisters AsoTasi Mahugh, sister Malia Tovia, Isalei Grant and brothers Joe (Suluia) Tovia, Petelo, Falaniko, Ekepati Tovia.
A special thank you to our loving sister Catholic for taking care of our mother and always being there for her, especially in her last moments.
There will be a memorial mass held on Friday, March 1, 2019 at the St. Joseph Catholic church in Elma at 11 a.m.
Arrangements are entrusted to Twibell’s Fern Hill Funeral Home.
