Jacqueline F. Mello

Jacqueline "Snookie" F. Mello. Born March 27, 1955. Died October 19, 2022
Aloha! To our family, friends, and to all the communities throughout Hawaii that Snookie has touched. It is with great sadness that I inform you of Snookie's passing on October 19, 2022 at Hilo Hospital following a two year battle against an aggressive form of liver cancer.
She was able to visit with her sisters and brothers and with several close family friends before her passing. Our family is grateful for all the kindness extended to Snookie and to us over these past two years. Through it all, Snookie was determined to beat "this thing". She kept right on working until she could not. She did better than what was expected.
Snookie was born Jacqueline Frances Mello to Agnes and Joaquin Mello. Jackie gave her the nickname "Snookie" because there were just too many Jackie's in the family. When I met her, she told me not to call for her using her real name, Jacqueline, as it probably would not register. She was a paddler for Kaneohe Canoe Club, and I quickly found out how involved she was with community events and goings on. KEY Project was her pet, lifelong project. She was involved in KEY'S management and was working on the Ohana Festival 2022 up to the end.
Snookie had a lifelong interest in water resources. She began working at Aecos, Inc. shortly after its founding and she finished there as its President. Snookie had a passion for upholding statutes that did something productive for water quality protection. She brought her many attributes to bear through community participation and activity.
Snookie liked to travel. She and our son went to China in 2009. With her Aunt and cousins, she visited many of the national parks of the US. She enjoyed and fed her soul on the things of nature. The animals, trees, and beautiful vistas just pulled her deeper into the mysteries of nature. She enjoyed life and people. She was kind, gentle and delighted in doing good things for others. She could remember phone numbers from thirty years ago and loved to work on puzzles and number riddles.
A graveside burial service will happen at 10:00a.m. on Dec. 9, 2022 at Hawaiian Memorial Park, Kaneohe. A Celebration of Life will be held on Dec. 10, 2022 at Key Project, Waihe'e Rd. A second Celebration of life will occur in Volcano at a future date to be announced. She is survived by husband David, her son Zachary, and by brothers Joaquin (Joey)/Cathy Mello, Paul and Denis; and her sisters Lynda and Ann Mello and numerous cousins, Aumties and Uncles.