Sally Anne O'Neill-Goodness' Obituary
Sally Anne O’Neill-Goodness
April 16, 1951 – December 22, 2024
Sally Anne O’Neill-Goodness of Wailuku, Maui, passed away peacefully, surrounded by loved ones, at Maui Memorial Hospital on Sunday, December 22, 2024, after a 10-year battle with colon cancer. Her unwavering strength and spirit remain a testament to a life well lived, rich with love, tenacity and courage.
Sally is survived by her devoted husband, Brian Nakano; sons, Nicholas (Kyle Menard), Brian (Jamie McClave-Goodness), and Sean; brother, Brian O’Neill, MD (Gayle O’Neill); niece, Devin O’Neill; and her faithful dog, Bobbi.
Born on April 16, 1951, in Troy, New York, to John O’Neill and Anne Felock, Sally grew up in a home where wisdom, confidence, and perseverance were instilled early. Sally graduated from Central Catholic High School and began her college journey at Russell Sage College. After returning from the homestay program in Germany, Sally was inspired to make a westward journey-- first to San Francisco and then onto Honolulu. After a visit to Honolulu in the mid-1970s, Sally returned to New York, packed up her belongings, and transferred to the University of Hawaiʻi, Mānoa. She worked on her business degree while working as a cashier at Star Market.
Sally moved to Maui around 1980, where she would remain rooted for the remainder of her life. Sally and her first husband, Manu Goodness, had three sons and co-founded a business, Airport Flower & Fruit, through which she cultivated relationships with local farmers and flower suppliers. Sally would later work as a sales representative, which brought her to all corners of Maui and in contact with many business owners. Sally was a “go getter” and her entrepreneurial perspective was a reflection of that.
While always business-minded, Sally found greatest fulfillment in her relationships with family and friends. To her, being a mother to three sons was a source of happiness and pride, and she would always beam glowingly when speaking of them. Sally joined the vibrant Maui ballroom dance community in the mid-2000’s, a community where she would meet her husband and dance partner in life, Brian Nakano. They loved dancing together - both as teachers and in performance - with Sally having a special soft spot for the New York Hustle.
Sally’s adventurous spirit extended far beyond Maui. She always had a travel bug; backpacking through China and Ireland with her sons or exploring Europe, Southeast Asia, Australia, and New Zealand on numerous occasions with her husband Brian and close friends. Her passport was well-worn and well-loved, a testament to her curiosity and zest for life. Wherever she went, Sally carried her trademark grace, elegance, and impeccable fashion sense, leaving a lasting impression on everyone she encountered.
Sally’s grit and resilience was evident in every aspect of her life but shone brightest in her fight against cancer. Diagnosed with Stage IV cancer in January 2015, Sally faced that battle with determination, strength, and hope: never shying away from confronting cancer head-on. For 10 years, she defied the odds, living each day with purpose and clarity. Her team of physicians in Maui, Honolulu, and at the Mayo Clinic referred to her as a "N of 1". Her journey was a reflection of her very nature: Sally was a fighter, through and through.
Sally’s laughter, wit, and fighting spirit will forever be an inspiration to her family, friends, and loved ones. She will be remembered as a loving wife, mother, sister, and friend who lived life with grace, beauty, courage, and an adventurous soul.
The family asks donations to be made in Sally’s memory to Hope Lodge Hawaiʻi, where Sally would regularly stay in Honolulu during treatment.
Services will be held at 9:30am on Saturday, January 4th, 2025, at Nakamura Mortuary, at 1218 Lower Main St, Wailuku.
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