Telesia Teresa Ponali

Telesia Ah Ching Ponali, age 61, of Grants Pass, died March 21, 2019 at Asante Three Rivers Medical Center.

Telesia was born September 23, 1957 in Utulei, American Samoa. She attended elementary school in Pago Pago, American Samoa, 9th grade at Samoan High School in American Samoa and after moving to Oxnard, California she attended Hueneme High School in Oxnard, California until her graduation. On March 4, 1976 in Ventura, California she married Typhoid Ponali. In 2010 she moved with her family from Oxnard to Grants Pass.

Telesia loved to help her family members. She was a good advisor to her children, nieces and nephews. She was a good nurse and took care of her in-laws and her parents.

Telesia loves playing bingo and poker, cooking and baking for her family and anyone that visited her home. She also enjoyed sports especially volleyball and loved to visit “Fabulous Las Vegas.”

Survivors include three children Francis Lucky Ponali, Michael Typhoid Ponali and Tyrone Pomele Ponali all of Grants Pass; sisters Margaret (Ah Ching) Langkilde of Oxnard, California, Elizabeth Ah Ching of Oxnard, California, Elena Ah Ching Fata of Las Vegas, Nevada and Frances Saua Ah Ching Paopao of Federal Way, Washington; brothers Paul L. Ah Ching of Honolulu, Hawaii, Senio L. Ah Ching of Bellflower, California, Johnny L. Ah Ching of Woodburn, Oregon, Michael L. Ah Ching of Barstow, California, Mareko L. Ah Ching of Vancouver, Washington and Pelenato L. Ah Ching of Salt Lake City, Utah; two grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

Telesia was preceded in death by her husband Typhoid Ponali; son Leationio Samuel Ponali; father Lucky Ah Ching; mother Maliana Maleko Ah-Ching; oldest brother Leiataua Peter Lucky Ah Ching and younger brother Johnny Ah Ching.

A viewing will be at 12 Noon, April 2, 2019 at Hull & Hull Funeral Directors.

A funeral service will begin at 2:00 p.m., April 2, 2019 at Hull & Hull Funeral Directors. Interment will be at 11:30 a.m., April 3, 2019 at Hawthorne Memorial Gardens.