Elva Wender Havili

On July 24, 2025, surrounded by her beloved family in Sandy, Utah, Elva Wender Havili peacefully returned to her Heavenly Father. Known affectionately as “Ueni,” she graced this world with unwavering love, strength, and a faith that could move mountains.

Born in Nukuʻalofa, Tonga on November 30, 1958, to Kime and Mele Faleaka Tauteoli Kinikini. Elva came into the world with a fragile heart—a physical condition doctors said would limit her life and her ability to bear children. Blessed by her grandfather, Tevita Muli Kinikini, he asked that she live a long life with children of her own. At 8-years-old, she immigrated to Salt Lake City, Utah, planting deep family roots alongside her eight siblings.

On February 10, 1978, Elva was sealed for time and all eternity to the love of her life, Tevita Kaufusi Havili, in the Ogden Temple. Together, they raised eight children and watched their family tree bloom into 41 beautiful grandchildren. Three of her children served LDS missions in New York City, Knoxville and Jamaica. Her legacy lives on through seven grandchildren missionaries she joyfully supported, offering weekly phone calls and prayers as they served in Philadelphia, New York City, Atlanta, Paraguay, Honolulu, New Zealand and Fiji. They will miss their weekly phone calls with Grandma Ueni.

In 1997, shortly after the birth of her youngest son, Elva faced life-threatening heart complications. She underwent open-heart surgery and gifted her family 28 more years of memories. Her home became a sanctuary for many nieces and nephews who knew her as their second mom. A skilled caretaker, Elva poured her love into the elderly she served, forging bonds so profound that their loss became hers to mourn deeply. She eventually stepped away from this work because her tender heart could not carry more grief.

In 2020, she had a stroke while caring for her ailing mother. The stroke triggered Parkinson’s Disease but was later diagnosed as MSA (Multiple Systems Atrophy) which is far more progressive. In 2021, she beat thyroid cancer.

In 2023, she and her husband moved to ‘Oahu, Hauula, Hawaii with her daughter’s family for 22 months to live the best quality of life she had left. She lived her dream of being a Hawaii resident. She returned back to Sandy, Utah in May 2025 to spend time with the rest of her family.

MSA would become Elva’s falling sword taking her away from us way too soon. She gave a good fight for 5 years braving through every storm that came her way. Her family couldn’t be prouder of her. She is our hero!

In her final moments, Ueni made sure to tell her husband she loved him—just as she had every day. Their love was constant, tender, and unmistakable—a true love story that surrounded everyone who knew them. She stood by his side through every season of life and continues to love him beyond the veil. He was a devoted provider, a tireless worker, and a man who honored the sacred covenants they made together in the temple. For that—and for so much more—she will always love him.

Though the weight of her absence feels heavy, Elva’s legacy breathes through the laughter, testimony, and resilience of every soul she touched. She gave everything—and in doing so, she gave us all a glimpse of heaven.

We would like to thank all her many doctors and nurses in Utah and Hawaii, Active Home Health, Hospice and Personal Care, friends, family and especially her daughters-in-law for the top tier care they provided.

Elva is survived by her husband and her children: Sione (Lini; Destiny, Elder Staten Havili, Sione, Leina, Soloi), Etuate (Patricia; Elder Sime Havili, Elder Tifaga Havili, soon to be Elder Vainga Havili, Sa’oaiga, Jamaika, Elva, Zenock, Etuate, Angeles), Soloi Vakalahi (Solo; Dallas, Sister Lusimoni Vakalahi, Kitione, Natisolo, Ayako), Angeles Mahe (Redmond; Riana, Reign, Raiha, Russell, Redmond), (Saineha; Ueni, Mailei, Rayna, Una), Stanley (Jocelyn; Holiday, Hinckley, Haven, Harmony, Hugh), Lesieli Lolofie (Keith; Miles, Nomani, Masina, Oriana, Talialealofa) Tevita Jr. (Hazel; Lesieli, Tia, Pelenaise) Nomani (Dani; Sulieti, Samuel, Kalika, Kime, Payton, Stanley) and her siblings; Lose Kinikini, ‘Ailine (Isileli) Lao, Le’o (Sione) ‘Otuafi, Susana (Siosifa) Fonua, Tevita (Latu) Kinikini and Maile (Trina) Kinikini.

She is preceded in death by her parents, her brothers; Vainga and Sione, her son; Unaloto, her parents-in-law, Nomani and Milika, her brothers-in-law, Maka Havili and Tame Tongi, her niece, Renee Watanabe and her grandson, Makelani Wolfgramm.

Please access the live stream to Elva Havili's Funeral Services here: https://tinyurl.com/OfaAtuUeniHavili