On January 29th 2026 our ʻohana began grieving the shocking and sudden passing of our beloved mother, Lenora Mae Rose (Barr). She was 62 at the time of her passing and lived in Napa, California. She was known to many simply as Nora. Our mother is survived by her 5 adult children and 8 grandchildren. To further complicate our heartbreak and sudden thrust into grief, she did not have a partner, a Last Will and Testament, nor any financial resources in place for her final arrangements.

What we do know is that one of her deepest wishes was to be laid to rest on our ancestral land in Hawaiʻi—to return home to the ʻāina that shaped her and to rest among her kūpuna. In Native Hawaiian tradition, returning to ancestral land is sacred. It means being reunited with family across generations and finding peace in the place where one’s story began. Our mother instilled in us an expression of her pride to carry on our Native Hawaiian bloodline. No matter where life took her, her spirit and sense of peace were always tied to the land of her ancestors. Her heart and identity were always rooted in Hawaiʻi.

We collectively agree that fulfilling her final wish is the most meaningful way to honor her and the legacy that lives on through us. Unfortunately the cost of bringing her home is more than we can manage. As her death was unexpected, we are still processing this profound loss while working, caring for our children and facing the complex and overwhelming tasks of coordinating her final affairs. In short, we are simply not in the financial position to fund the costs required to transport her remains to Hawaiʻi and lay her to rest with the dignity she deserves.

We are raising funds to help cover:

We are sharing some of our favorite photos that display her beauty and the pure joy of her spirit. We’ve included some childhood photos as well as some together as adults, standing on our family land where we laid our Tutu to rest in 2016. We want our mother to be remembered for who she was on a deep, foundational level: a spiritual and fun-loving nurturer, deeply connected to her family and her roots.

Any donation, no matter the size, helps us take a step closer to bringing her home. If you’re unable to give, sharing this fundraiser is a powerful way to support us in fulfilling her last wish. For our family, this is not just about logistics—it is about honoring heritage, culture, and legacy. From our hearts to yours, mahalo nui loa for your compassion and support during this incredibly difficult time.

Sincerely,

Lenora’s children: Jayme, Leilani, Vilma, Debi and Frank