Justinio (Justin) Landeta Pahed's Obituary
Justinio (Justin) Landeta Pahed died peacefully at home in Kahului, Maui, on June 10, 2024. Justin was 90 years old.
Born on April 14, 1934, in San Ildefonso, within the Ilocos Sur province of the Philippines, Justin immigrated to Maui (U.S. Territory of Hawaii) in 1955. He reunited with his father, Patricio Palpallatoc Pahed (a Sakada), at Keahua Village on the HC&S sugar plantation land then. His brothers and mother would soon follow father and son to Maui in 1963 &1966. Before immigrating to the U.S., Justin graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (Accounting) from the University of the East in Manila, Philippines. Upon arrival to Maui, Justin furthered his accounting studies at the Maui Vocational School (now University of Hawaii Maui College). This prepared him for his first U.S. government job as a civil service employee on the Kwajalein Atoll of the Marshall Islands. He was an Account Clerk for the U.S. Pacific Missile Range Facility. During this first career timeframe, he met Lolita dela Cruz, his future endearing wife on a visit back to Manila. Lolita was a befitting match for Justin, as she too was a Manila college graduate, having obtained her degree in Chemical Engineering from Feati University, and was also at the beginning of her professional career in Manila.
Justin and Lolita were married in 1962 in Manila, but they made Maui their lifelong home from 1966 onwards. In starting their lives together on Maui, Justin left his civil service position in Kwajalein and began his second government career with the U.S. Postal Service in 1967. He enjoyed working with the Kahului Post Office for 37 ½ years until his retirement in 2004. During his time as a mail carrier, Justin maintained the same Kahului delivery routes for many years and was able to befriend many old-time Kahului families along his route, an aspect of the job he thoroughly enjoyed.
On his off hours, Justin served in community organizations as an active Kahului Filipino Community Association member. In 1967, he was President of the community association for the 6th and 8th Increments of the new “Dream City” Kahului.
Justin spent his idle retirement days continuing to relish watching competitive sports (football, basketball, baseball) and competitive game shows. His favorites were the Price is Right, Wheel of Fortune, and Family Feud. Justin had an insatiable interest in the news and world current events and would anxiously wait for his Maui News morning delivery. Once the newspaper was read, and between sports and game shows, a cable news channel would always be on the T.V. Justin was also fond of simply hanging out on the house front porch bird watching and watching the neighborhood activities go by. Justin enjoyed 20 years of retirement until his passing.
Justin is survived by his loving wife Lolita and son Dean Patrick of Kahului, Maui, daughter Juliet Pahed (Rob) Straley of San Francisco, California, daughter Grace Nani Pahed of San Diego, California, and grandson Enzo Justin Straley. He also leaves his beloved brothers Jovito and Cresencio Pahed of Pukalani, Maui, and nieces Cecile Pahed, Claudette Pahed (Darren) Medeiros, and Karen Pahed.
Justin is reunited in heaven with his father Patricio, mother Crispina Landeta Pahed, and sister Hildegarda Pahed Somera.
Service to celebrate Justin’s life will be held in the chapel of Nakamura Mortuary in Wailuku, Maui, on Thursday, June 20. Family visitation will be from 9:30 am – to 10:15 with public visitation from 10:15 am – 11:00. Service will begin at 11:00 am, with lunch to follow. Interment will be at Maui Memorial Park Mausoleum at 2:00 pm.
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