Saying goodbye: ‘Always remember them laughing’

Scores of children, many of whom walked from school still wearing their backpacks, streamed into a Diamond Head chapel yesterday to join a Waikiki family mourning the loss of an 11-year-old girl and her 51-year-old father who drowned last week at Makapuu.

"I’ll always remember her being such a happy child, always smiling," said Stephanie Casados’ social studies teacher, Norman Chang. "As you can see, she’s so loved by everybody. Always the perfect attitude."

Stephanie, a bright, popular Kaimuki Middle School sixth-grader, and her father, Charles, a real estate entrepreneur, disappeared Jan. 26 during an outing. Their bodies were found the following day washed ashore near the Makapuu tide pools. Police ruled their deaths accidental.

About 350 family, friends, classmates and educators attended services yesterday afternoon at Diamond Head Mortuary, some bringing flowers and balloons to remember the father and daughter, who spent their Wednesdays together. Charles Casados had been separated from his wife, Yoko.

Yoko Casados was joined yesterday by the couple’s two remaining children, Charlie Jr., 21, and Lisa, 19.

"When I heard the news about my father and baby sister, it created a pain that will never go away," said Charlie Casados Jr., who was in Los Angeles at the time.

"I can always remember them laughing," he said.

Lisa Casados said her sister was a people person who knew everyone in the community, even all the security guards in their building.

"We would play dress-up and do our hair," she said, adding that her sister could also be a tomboy who loved outdoor activities.

Charles Casados’ older brother, Sammy Casados Jr., said, "As Charlie and Lisa went on to do other things, Stephanie became the focus of his life."

On Stephanie’s visit to Texas, where Charles and Sammy grew up, Sammy Casados said his little niece "tried to teach us Japanese."

"She’d say we were so silly" when they could not pronounce the words.

Neighbor Sue Ryan, who spoke on behalf of Yoko Casados during the service, said Stephanie’s life was "too short, 11 years, but it was wonderful." Mother and daughter were well known throughout Waikiki as they walked Ryan’s dog.

Several youngsters, still coping with their friend’s death, lined up to eulogize her, some sobbing as they shared their memories.

Taylor Kolsut, 11, recalled when she was new at school and did not know anyone. "The minute I came, she said, ‘Hi, my name is Stephanie. What’s yours?’" and the two became best friends.

"Stephanie will always be in our memories," Kolsut said. "She’ll always be with us."

Kassie Blanton, 12, said, "She was always making me laugh, always telling me about her dad and how awesome he is.

"Every time I would be sad, she would always tell me, ‘Live this moment like it’s your last.’"

Before the service, math teacher Dawn Okimoto described Stephanie as "very happy, very bright and always smiling, a good student."

"She loved math, always so willing to learn, always did her homework. It’s so sad," Okimoto said.

Tatsumi Aoyama, 11, said he was in the last class of the day with Stephanie before she went to Makapuu. When he heard the announcement at school and saw her photo ID, he said, "I was shocked. It was sad. Everyone was crying."

Retired Jefferson Elementary School Principal Vivian Hee said she knew all three Casados children and remembered Stephanie as "a wonderful girl."

"The whole family was an ideal family," Hee said. When Hee got together recently with teachers from Jefferson, they talked about the Casados family, among others, because the parents were so supportive, and it was "no wonder" the children all turned out so well.

"It would really be like the dad to jump in and save his daughter," Hee said.