Cora Masayo Suayan

Cora Masayo Suayan on January 19, 2022, embarked on the journey to her heavenly home.

Born on January 4, 1946, in Honokaa, Hawaii, Cora was raised in a household with eight siblings. Helping care for these siblings fostered a sense of kindness, compassion, patience, and selflessness in Cora, who was inspired by her childhood upbringing to pursue a career in healthcare.

Shortly after realizing her professional dream, Cora met her husband Marcelo of 50 years and started a family that blessed them with a daughter, Lisa, and a son, Brian.

In 1980, Cora and her family settled in Galveston, where she worked as a certified nursing assistant at St. Mary’s Hospital until its closure in 1996. She then continued the rest of her career across the street at the University of Texas Medical Branch.

It was the lessons she learned growing up on a farm with a large family that drove her to be the best, hard-working certified nursing assistant she could be. And she would also practice that same kindness, compassion, patience, and selflessness with family, friends, and strangers alike.

Cora loved to travel, especially to Hawaii to visit her family and Las Vegas to engage in her favorite pastime, playing the slot machines. Her trips were always memorable because she was with her loved ones.

Left to cherish her memory are husband Marcelo, daughter Lisa (Kui), son Brian, brothers Francis (Dorothy), Clarence (Velma), Richard (Kehaulani), sister Bertha (Itsuo), and three grandchildren. She will forever be in our hearts and minds. You will dearly be missed; we love you.