Emily Sekona Fonua, age 74, passed away September 12, 2020 in Salt Lake City, Utah. She was born July 28, 1946 to Laione and Mele Pome’e Sekona in Kameli, Vava’u, Tonga Islands. She married Silva T. Fonua in Reno, Nevada.
Emily was a devoted member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She loved her ward, Liberty 3rd Tongan Ward, and was an exemplar of love and service especially to her family, her 20 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild. She helped raise each and every one of them and played a huge part in all their lives. She was the best grandmother ever and now their guardian angel. Emily was also an avid gardener. Her garden is the envy of their street and every year it yields plenty of pears, peaches, apples, roses, peonies, tulips and lilies, to name a few. Emily also loved to sew, crochet, and make other crafts such as “kato teu” baskets used for special occasions, and making her grandchildren’s costumes for any type of Polynesian dance including the Tongan tau’olunga. She was an excellent cook and baker, some of her unforgettable dishes being her Thanksgiving turkey and stuffing, Christmas roast, teriyaki chicken, lu pulu, fruit salad, and pineapple pies. She loved to host parties, dance and listen to music. She was very neat and loved to adorn herself with flowers and oils. She had an unforgettable laugh and could make anyone laugh along with her. She loved to travel and spend time with her sisters and her friends. She will be missed dearly, but never forgotten. She will live forever in the hearts of all that had the pleasure of knowing her.
Emily is survived by her beloved husband, Silva T. Fonua; their 5 children, Fusina T. Fie’eiki (daughter), Lavinia T. Carter (daughter), Silva T. Fonua, Jr. (son), Nancy Nina T. Bloomfield (daughter), and Reno Laione Fonua (son); 20 grandchildren, Stephen Si’i, Gabby, Filimone, Christa, Siliva, Stanley, Vilaketi, Danny, Asia, Emily si’i, Nina, Siliva III, Gabe, Mohokoi, Googoo, Isaac, Fushina, Ati, Reno Jr., and Zeke; 1 great grandchild, Stephen III; and her siblings, Alani Laione (brother), Aulo Sekona (sister), Etuate Sekona (brother), Sunia Sekona (brother), Tupou Manatau (sister), Tu’uhetoka Sekona (brother), Lochlein Sekona (brother) and Sosefina Manatau (sister). She was preceded in death by her father, Laione Sekona; mother, Mele Sekona; brother, Finau Sekona; and sisters Mineva Sekona Finau and Louena Sekona.
Funeral services will be held Friday, September 18, 2020 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Larkin Mortuary-Riverton Chapel, 3688 West 12600 South, Riverton, Utah 84065. Interment will follow at Redwood Memorial Cemetery, 6500 South Redwood Road, Taylorsville, Utah 84123.
RIP EMILY 😢🙏👋 GONE FROM US TO REST IN GOD’S HEAVENLY CARE TILL WE MEET AGAIN 💝 LOVE YOU ALWAYS REMEMBERING YOUR FAMILY IN MY PRAYERS AT THIS TIME OF MOURNING 😘
I know what you are feeling and going through. Only GOD can fill that emptiness. Trust me. I lost my mother 12/25/12. So please let go and let GOD take you through and fill your emptiness. GODs got you.