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Dunham service set for tomorrow

By Gene Park

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Nov 13, 2008

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Hawaii residents are invited to a tribute service tomorrow for Madelyn Payne Dunham, President-elect Barack Obama's grandmother.

Dunham, 86, died two nights before her grandson became the first African-American and the first Hawaii-born person elected president.

The service, being arranged by Borthwick Mortuary with the consent of the family, will be held at 5 p.m. tomorrow at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl, where her husband, Obama's grandfather Stanley Dunham, is buried.

"We're helping the family," said funeral home manager Jerry Andrade. "It's a time for the people of Hawaii to pay tribute to Mrs. Dunham and to share memories."

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Dunham's name to any worthy organization in search of a cure for cancer. Dunham died after battling cancer for years.

Andrade said the family will not attend tomorrow's memorial, but they gave the mortuary approval to hold a public service.

Attendees can expect to see Dunham's friends and former co-workers from the Bank of Hawaii. Dunham was among the first female vice presidents for the bank.

"We don't know yet what the exact program will be. It's still in the planning stages," Andrade said. "I think it's going to be a very dignified tribute service."

Obama is expected to return to Hawaii next month for a private service. He has made annual visits to the islands to see Dunham, including almost daily stops to her apartment during a summer visit.

Hawaii residents are invited to a tribute service tomorrow for Madelyn Payne Dunham, President-elect Barack Obama's grandmother.

CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARBULLETIN.COM
This burial niche of Stanley A. Dunham is at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, located in Punchbowl. Dunham was President-elect Barack Obama’s grandfather, a World War II U.S. Army veteran. Dunham’s wife, Madelyn Payne Dunham, died Nov. 2, and a memorial service will be held at 5 p.m. tomorrow at the Punchbowl cemetery.

Dunham, 86, died two nights before her grandson became the first African-American and the first Hawaii-born person elected president.

The service, being arranged by Borthwick Mortuary with the consent of the family, will be held at 5 p.m. tomorrow at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl, where her husband, Obama's grandfather Stanley Dunham, is buried.

"We're helping the family," said funeral home manager Jerry Andrade. "It's a time for the people of Hawaii to pay tribute to Mrs. Dunham and to share memories."

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Dunham's name to any worthy organization in search of a cure for cancer. Dunham died after battling cancer for years.

Andrade said the family will not attend tomorrow's memorial, but they gave the mortuary approval to hold a public service.

Attendees can expect to see Dunham's friends and former co-workers from the Bank of Hawaii. Dunham was among the first female vice presidents for the bank.

"We don't know yet what the exact program will be. It's still in the planning stages," Andrade said. "I think it's going to be a very dignified tribute service."

Obama is expected to return to Hawaii next month for a private service. He has made annual visits to the islands to see Dunham, including almost daily stops to her apartment during a summer visit.

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