Called back to the other side of heaven, Sione Taeaonga Sika gracefully left mortality on November 29th, 2014. After completing his bucket list of achieving his last wishes of traveling, seeing family and requesting comfort for his eternal companion. "Sika" as he was known far and near retired back to the place he called home Salt Lake City, Utah, where he departed from the LDS Hospital at 9:09 pm surrounded by family. Sika was born April 26th, 1934 to Semisi and Mele Mafi Sika, in Vaipoa, Niuatoputapu, Tonga. Sika was the 11th out of 12 children and witnessed in his early childhood the loss of family members due to early cases of meningitis. The experience became a bonding one thus lingering in his heart to always hold family first. He understood that education was the answer to any question and did what he knew best; work. Standing on the edge of a sailing ship Sika bid farewell to his mother and was on a course to a new unexplored world. He was educated at Toloa high school, Liahona high school, CCH (BYU Hawaii) and Later at BYU Provo receiving a Masters of Education degree. Sika was married to the love of his life Ceceil Rima Avriel Ledger while attending BYU Hawaii. Rima remembers an earlier experience of Sika back in the islands, distracting her with a whistle and then wanting to offer her some cornbeef all in an attempt to have a minute to talk to her. They were sealed at the Laie, Hawaii Temple on February 5th, 1965 for all time and eternity. Graciously they were blessed with 8 beautiful children. Sika returned to Tonga fulfilling a promise he had made to earlier church leaders to return and build the Kingdom. Sika became a dominant respected leader serving as the first bishop in Havelu, Tongatapu, principal of Liahona High school, where he also taught biology as a teacher. He was later then called to be a temple sealer and a Patriarch for the the Vaini Stake. These callings allowed him to come in contact with hundreds of people who were able to experience Sika's silent love of service including his own children. Fulfilling a full circle of leaving blessings upon their heads and sealing them in this life and for the next. He intimidated many just by his stern looks but what was delivered in his conversations was pure instructed love. He was a humble man who did what he knew best, he was a kind man for he gave and never spoke of it. He was the father, the grandfather, the son, the brother that all would ask for. He was the man we depended on and he was a man who depended on God.
Sika is survived by his wife Rima Sika and eight children, Maika Sika (Danielle), Noelani Iongi (Neti), Elizabeth Matelau (Apisai), Raymond Sika (Lesley), Sione L Sika Jr. (Teisa), Joseph B Sika, Amelia Mesake (Kala), Jennifer C. T. Sika, and 28 grandchildren.
Funeral viewing will be held Saturday, Dec 6th, 2014 at the Pioneer Ward Chapel located on 660 N. Redwood Rd from 8:00 am-1:00 pm and funeral services from 2:00 pm-3:00 pm. Interment will follow at Redwood Memorial located at 6500 S. Redwood Road. For condolences please visit www.larkinmortuary.com
