“Sione” Tevita Maveni Latu

"Sione" Tevita Maveni Latu passed away peacefully on February 4, 2016 with his family by his side.  He was born February 3, 1935 in Kolovai, Tonga to Solomone and Ana Sinauele Latu. He was the third of their six children. He attended Liahona High School in Tongatapu, Tonga. 

Family was very important to Sione and at an early age he devoted his life to caring for and supporting them, treating his nieces and nephews as his own.  He worked hard and farmed taro, bananas, sweet potatoes and several other foods to help feed his family. 

In 1972, he moved to Laie, Hawaii and did all kinds of work, including laying concrete, installing sprinklers and framing. He lived frugally, saving the majority of his paychecks to help bring his sisters, brothers, nieces and nephews to the United States.  In 1978 he moved to West Valley City, Utah to be near his family. He worked as a machine operator for Parker Hannifin for over 20 years and eventually retired from that company. 

Sione was very musical. He had a good voice and loved to sing and play guitar, ukulele and bass. He also loved to cook for his family. Some of the dishes he was known for were: keke, topai, umu and bread.  He will be dearly missed. 

He was preceeded in death by his mother; father; and siblings Manu and Saulala.

Private services will be held on Tuesday, February 9^th, 2016 in Salt Lake City, Utah. His interment will be at Memorial Estates.