Rosa Conner Nihoa

Mrs. Rosa Conner Nihoa, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and sister, passed away on Saturday, June 13, 2026 at the age of 83. She was preceded in death by her husband of 50 years, Ernest Kalei Nihoa, Jr., her parents William and Juanita Conner, her daughter, Bonnie Nihoa, and her sister Shirley Hostyn.

Rosa was born February 14, 1943 in Newport, NC. As a young girl, she lived overseas with her parents and her two sisters in Morroco and Iran. While overseas, she married Ernie Nihoa, and his work carried them and their young family to Turkey, North Africa, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait, but always calling New Bern home.

Her most cherished roles were being a wife, mother, and grandmother. She loved cooking for her family and treasured the time spent in the kitchen with her children and grandchildren. Rosa loved spending time with her sisters and reminiscing about their childhood in Casablanca, enjoying music together, and filling their homes with laughter, dancing, and family gatherings.

A faithful Jehovah’s Witness, she found great joy in studying the Bible and teaching others about its message of hope for the future.

Her kindness, humility, generosity, and unwavering love for her family touched everyone who knew her.

She will be dearly missed and remembered by her family, Laura Nihoa McGraw of New Bern, Shirley Nihoa Osborne (Tim) of New Bern, Emily Nihoa Bagley (Mike) of New Bern, Michael Ernest Nihoa (Rosalind) of Kill Devil Hills, Beatrice Nihoa-Walter of Stuttgart, Germany, 16 grandchildren, and 20 great-grandchildren. As well as her loving sister, Laura Colombo, numerous nieces and nephews, and her beloved dog, Sadie.

A Memorial Service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, July 18, 2026, at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 2750 Amhurst Blvd, New Bern, NC with Ivey Riggs officiating. The service can be viewed on Zoom at 81304780264 pswd: 351530.

The family would like to thank the nurses and nurses aides at 3HC Home Health & Hospice Care and Carolinaeast Medical Center Palliative Care.

Online condolences can be made to the family by visiting  www.cottenfuneralhome.com.