Petra Abara Sison

Petra Abara Sison lived a fruitful life surrounded by family and friends. Petra was born in the Philippines and immigrated to Hawai’i in the late 1960s. She was part of the hardworking generation of Filipinos who came to Hawaii to build a new life. As the eldest of her siblings, Mercedes and Matilda, she often carried a sense of responsibility and a very steady, quiet strength.

Her story in Hawai’i began when she moved to Hawaii to join her parents, Pantaleon and Leona Abara. They all settled in Honolulu together, establishing their family in a new place. But even after she had settled in with her parents and sisters, she made a very personal decision to go back to the Philippines temporarily.

Baguio City was one of her favorite places in the world. It was where her favorite aunt lived, where she held her first job, and where she first met her future husband, Macario. While her immediate family stayed in Hawai’i, she traveled back to Baguio for the sole purpose of marrying Macario. They had a small, quiet wedding at the church in Baguio. She often tells the story of how the Catholic nuns at the church took such good care of them. They decorated the church and the altar with flowers, making sure it was a beautiful and sacred day for them.

Afterward, they both returned to Hawai’i to start their life together. In 1972 they had their only son, Armando, who brought them lot of joy. They eventually settled in Kona and lived there for many years. Kona was a special time for her because she was surrounded by family; she had her sister Mercedes there, along with many cousins. Even with family all around, Petra was happiest when things were simple. More than anything else, she always wanted to spend time with Macario. Being by his side was truly enough for her.

In 2005, they moved back to Oahu to be closer to family, and they remained together until Macario passed away in 2015. After being a widow for a while, Petra moved in with Amando, Jennifer, and Christine just before the pandemic. Having her in their home during those years was a gift. It gave her the chance to bond with Christine, her only granddaughter.

Throughout her life, prayer was the quiet anchor of her day. As she grew older and faced the challenges of dementia, many things began to fade, but her faith never did. Her memory for the world around her changed, but her memory for her prayers stayed perfectly clear. That devotion was part of her core.

That steady, unassuming way she lived her life is what we will remember most. While we will miss her presence every day, we find peace knowing her journey has brought her back to her parents, Pantaleon and Leona, back to her sister Mercedes, and finally, back to the love of her life, Macario—just where she always wanted to be.