Gaborno, Elena's Obituary
Elena Gaborno, 86, of Honolulu, Hawaii, peacefully passed away on January 17, 2026. She was born in the Philippines and moved to Hawaii in her teens with her parents and younger sister. She attended the University of Hawaii as a nursing student, where she met the love of her life, Modesto Gaborno. Elena and Modesto married after earning their bachelor’s degrees in 1961 and began building a large and loving family.
While raising their five children, Elena returned to the University of Hawaii for graduate study and earned her master’s degree in social work in 1980. After graduate school, she worked at the Special Education Center of Oahu and later held an administrative leadership role with the State of Hawaii Department of Health, where she traveled and worked with schools around Oahu and developed policies to support children’s health. In 2000, the United Filipino Council of Hawaii honored her with a Progress Award for her work in healthcare.
In retirement, she enjoyed life as a wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She cherished her time with her grandchildren, traveling many times to the mainland for family visits. Elena also treasured her lifelong friendships, through which she actively supported her alma mater, traveled the world, golfed, and enjoyed hobbies such as beading.
Elena is survived by her husband of 64 years, Modesto Gaborno; her five children; her eight grandchildren; her great-granddaughter; and her sister, Lita de la Peña.
Services will be held at Diamond Head Mortuary Chapel on Friday, March 20: 8:30 a.m. viewing and 9:30 a.m. funeral service. Burial will follow at 10:30 a.m. at Diamond Head Memorial Park.
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