Sami Leialoha Botelho
December 7, 1946 - September 14, 2016
Obituary
“BOTELHO, Sami Leialoha
Sami L. Botelho, 69, passed away around 3am PST on September 14, 2016 at Harborview Medical Center, in Seattle, WA.
She suffered a significant brain-bleed a week prior that ultimately resulted in her passing in her sleep from respiratory failure. Sami was an unforgettable woman who holds the titles of Sister, Mother, Mother-in-Law, Aunt, Great-Aunt, Grandmother, and Great-Grandmother, as well as mentor, confidante, counselor, nurse, patriot, and butt-kicker; ‘Queen’ falls in there, too.
She was an amazing, talented woman who enjoyed crossword puzzles, margaritas at midnight, scuba diving, snorkeling, and taking family & friends sightseeing when she lived in Hawaii or visited the islands. Sami loved Hawaii, and wished for her ashes to be spread there so she could forever swim in the ocean amongst the dolphins.
Sami was an open, loving, caring, encouraging, fearless woman who touched the lives of so many people, too numerous to name in this obituary. Suffice it to say, her surviving sister, daughters, their families, and her many close friends, mentors, and protégés will bear witness to the kind soul Sami was.
Sami loved Israel Kamakawiwo’ole, or “Iz”, and his rendition of ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’ (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BeKhlUzPUc), and her beloved daughter Julie played this song for her as she lay in her hospital bed. Her sister Marla lovingly tucked an artificial Plumeria flower into Sami’s gently-graying blonde hair, to remain there in the last days of her life.
Born December 7, 1946, she was the oldest child and eldest daughter of her mother June, She enlisted in the United States Air Force in September 1974 and served honorably and with distinction for 24 years, until she retired in 1998 after attaining and holding one of the three highest enlisted ranks, Master Sergeant. She served her country on three continents: North America, Europe, and Africa, and a chain of islands in the Pacific Ocean. You guessed it. Hawaii. Another favorite song of Sami’s is ‘God Bless the U.S.A’ by Lee Greenwood, and her wonderful sister played it for Sami just hours before she passed. Marla tells me she believes my mom enjoyed hearing the patriotic song played and that it is the one the songs that allowed this beautiful, wonderful, tenacious, witty, endearing woman to pass peacefully in the wee hours of the morning as she slept.
Sami is dearly loved and will be sorely missed by her sister, Marla Moore; daughters: Julie Darrah-Cappelli, Christine Martinez, and Jessica Burtis son-in-law/son from another mother, Jeffrey Cappelli; and their families of grandchildren, nieces & nephews. She is preceded in death by her mother, June; grandmother, Grace; and younger sister, Kelly. Sami will be forever in our hearts.”
Thanks for the honorable and meritorious service to our country, for your mentoship, support and loyalty to a friend who will never forget you.
Audios Sami. It was a pleasure knowing you and working along side you in Hawaii
Rest in peace, Sami,Thanks for loving my son as your own & I will do the same with you daughter’s. Much love!
Good-bye Sami.
My thoughts, my heart to Sami’s family, inner circle, tribe. I am so sorry for your loss. As I remember her, I am reminded of a sunrise or a sunset – gentle and strong, quiet and bold, reverent and outrageous. A breathtaking and sweet spirit. It has been many years since I’ve had any contact with Sami but she is vivid and memorable. I know you will celebrate her and keep her close. Much love to all who will miss her.