Mona Mae Maertens was born in Honolulu, Hawaii on September 6th, 1938 to parents Kamehameha Maertens and Veronica “Vera” Mae Aflague. Mona was blessed to grow up with four siblings, as well as a large family of grandparents, aunties, uncles and cousins. Mona was passionate about her rich multi-cultural ancestry and she cherished her mostly Portuguese, German, English and Hawaiian heritage. She loved fashion and dancing Hula. She attended Roosevelt High School before working full-time at a popular Hawaiian sportswear boutique in Waikiki. She was transferred to Newport Beach, California, where she met her husband Gerald Odegaard. Mona’s favorite role was being a devoted wife and mother of her three children. She and Gerry owned an auto repair business in the heart of Newport Beach, California where she was in charge of the bookkeeping. She enjoyed the many trips to Hawaii and Oregon to see family, as well as camping trips to the desert, lakes and rivers with family and friends. Mona stayed connected to her Hawaiian heritage by travelling to Hawaii to see family, being a member of Hawaiian social and civic clubs, hosting luaus and dancing Hula. She excelled at homemaking and took pride in making clothing for special occasions, knitting and crocheting, as traditions passed down to her by her mother. She was a kind, generous, and amazing hostess who was absolutely beautiful inside and out.
Later in life Mona invested in commercial real estate and owned the Vine Street Apartments in Oceanside where she also lived. Her tenants remember her as friendly, sweet and kind. She became a devout follower of the Greek Orthodox faith and founded the bookstore at Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church in Cardiff. The staff and caregivers at Brookdale Memory Care in Oceanside adored her. She entertained everyone with her dancing, adorable and sometimes feisty spirit.
Mona is predeceased by her parents, aunties, uncles, and several cousins. She is survived by her four siblings: Patricia Von Arnswaldt, John Jay Howard Allen, Ivey Mitsuyuki and Jack Maertens; her adult children Michael Edmund Odegaard, Sheri Angela Trejo-Odegaard, Kristin Maertens Odegaard and her grandchildren Tristan Kamehameha Huarte and Lyric Carmen Ann Seidensticker.
The day Mona was born her mother Vera wrote in her baby book: “May God keep her in perfect health and guide her well. Everyone loves her so much. May she always be the dear sweet Little Mona. Mona, always remember that your Daddy and Mommie love you very much and want you to always be a good, kind, gentle girl.” Everyone who had the pleasure of knowing Mona Mae can agree that she fulfilled and exceeded her parents’ wishes.
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