Margaret K. Cruz

Our sweet and beloved Mother, Margaret (Maggie) Kaaewaihau Ho'okano Cruz, 88, of Silverdale, WA, passed away on January 19, 2024. She was born in Kahalu'u, Hawaii, Oahu, on May 28, 1935, to William Cooke and Mary Lei Combs Ho'okano.

Mom attended Kahuku High School, where she met our father, Anthony (Tony) Cruz. They were married in 1952, and soon after, dad joined the U.S. Navy. Dad's orders moved us to the mainland and we ended up as far away as Brunswick, Maine, before bringing us back home to Honolulu. Mom and dad then decided to retire in Silverdale, where they built their dream home and continued to raise all of their six children.

Mom had so many positive attributes... she was perfect in almost every way. She was brave, smart, loving, curious, highly creative--and tough! There were times when life was very difficult, but she persevered and in the end, she was blessed with a beautiful home, a large and wonderful family, and many good friends.

Mom enjoyed cooking and her presentations were as artistic as her food was delicious. She especially excelled in cooking all of the many types of seafood that we harvested and caught. (She enjoyed many good times on the water, too!) Mom was a highly skilled seamstress and even learned carpentry and home construction at Olympic College. She always had a keen eye for aesthetics, and everything she crafted was of the highest quality. There wasn't anything that she could not do.

Mom is survived by her children: Anthony (PattyJean) Cruz of Seattle, WA; RoxanneMarie (Bob) Lavery of Bremerton, WA; Mikilani (Matt) Garcia of Palacios, TX; Arron (Becky) Cruz of Tracyton, WA; and Kuuipo (Kurt) of Wassilla, AK, and Dave Ghylin (hanai) of Bremerton, WA. She is also survived by 10 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. She is predeceased by her husband, Anthony, and daughter, Margaretmary Woodd.