Dorothy Seto Ching

1926 - 2026

Dorothy Ching was born on March 17, 1926, in Honolulu, Hawaii and raised in the town of Hanapepe, Kauai.

She later returned to Honolulu and graduated from Roosevelt High School.  During her teen years, Dorothy met her husband, Walter, at a YMCA dance.  They were married on July 18, 1943, and shared an extraordinary 81-year marriage.

They first lived in Punaluu, just behind the Ching family’s home, surrounded by close family ties.  Later, they moved to Kalihi, where Walter built their home with his own hands—a true testament to their shared dreams.

Dorothy dedicated herself to raising her family.  When her four children reached school age, she joined the workforce as a clerk typist with the State of Hawaii Department of Health, later she moved to the Honolulu Fire Department’s mechanic facility as a clerk until her retirement.

She balanced career and motherhood with grace.  In her free time Dorothy embraced life’s simple pleasures.  In her younger adult years, Dorothy enjoyed sewing, embroidery, crocheting, and knitting. She loved reading, playing mahjong and Hanafuda.  She cared deeply for her many dogs, treating each one as part of the family.  Dorothy excelled at cooking—She was the head chef, and Walter served as the sous chef.  In the kitchen, she was unmistakably the boss.

After retirement, Dorothy and Walter embraced a new season of adventure.  They traveled the world together, exploring new places. They also shared a love of ballroom dancing, gliding across dance floors just as they had met so many years before at a YMCA dance.

A life so beautifully lived deserves to be beautifully remembered. Dorothy was the heart of the family, a thoughtful and gentle soul whose hospitality and warmth brought everyone together. Her love, devotion, and wisdom shaped her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.  She leaves behind a legacy of kindness, care, and cherished memories.

Dorothy passed peacefully at the age of 99 on January 28, 2028, in Honolulu.  We find comfort knowing she is in heaven and look forward to the day we are reunited with her again.

Dorothy’s favorite scripture verse:

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God…  Ephesians 2:8

Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband, Walter Ching; her grandson, Taylor Choy; her brother, Sam Seto Jr.; and her sister, Marjorie Kaulili.

Dorothy is survived by her children, Jeffrey, Steven (Arlene), Kuʻulei (Bob Benton), and Lori (Chris Choy); five grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.