Therissa "Sia" Ann Tua'one Tuinei's Obituary
Therissa (Sia) Ann Tua’one Tuinei, 39, of Bountiful, Utah peacefully passed from this life November 28, 2021, at home in her husband Joe’s arms surrounded by her son, Benji, and her daughter, Lei, after a long valiant struggle with breast cancer. Sia was born in Salt Lake City, to her father, ‘Aiveni Ho Tua’one (deceased) and mother, Debra Kay Williams, April 29, 1982. She was the fourth born of six: Victor W. Tua’one, Kathleen Pahulu (Leo), Sheri Ha’unga (Unga), V. Benjamin Tua’one (Hannah), and U. Lilly Tua’one (Oscar). She comes from a close family of over 50 first cousins, many of whom were considered her brothers and sisters. They grew up together with frequent family centered activities as well as being active in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Directly after graduating from West High, Sia attended Snow College in Ephraim, Utah to major in English. At Snow, she met and married the love of her life Joseph Meyers Tuinei, June 1, 2002. They soon became doting parents over a beautiful baby boy, Benjamin (Benji) Clark, December 21, 2002. As perfect timing would have it, Benji was born the day after both Sia and Joe took their last final before graduating. Being a December baby, Benji went home from the hospital inside a Christmas stocking wearing the very same green sleeper Joe wore as a newborn in Samoa.
Not long afterwards this young family moved to Missouri where Sia was a stay-at-home mom and Joe was a student at Northwest Missouri State University. They attended a tiny branch of the church where Sia served in the Young Women’s program. This is where their second baby and beautiful sweet daughter Leikanuiokalani (Lei) was born, October 6, 2005. Sia’s younger sister Lilly, stayed with them for several months to help. Being so far from home, that was their first Thanksgiving alone. It made for a pretty special time. For three adults, a toddler and a newborn, the table was completely covered with all the traditional Thanksgiving favorites and then some. Thanksgiving became her family’s favorite holiday.
When asked, Sia would be quick to say that two of her greatest gifts in life were her two children. From the get-go, Benji was loud and hungry; Lei was tender and loving. Sia loved being their mother and watching them grow from bright-eyed youngsters to Benji a compassionate, confident, competitive, brilliant young man now attending Southern Utah University (Cedar City) and Lei a sweet, beautiful, intuitive, competent, young woman attending Bountiful High School. Both with the brightest of futures ahead of them and the opportunity to go after their wildest dreams. Talking about her sweetheart and best friend, Sia would say, “I can’t imagine a greater father to our children or a more loving, gentle eternal companion than Joe. His world revolves around all of our safety, well-being, success and happiness. He works tirelessly professionally and for leisure. Plus he’s an amazing cook! Simply put, Joe is my hero. I cherish and love him eternally!”
Sia was known for her attention to detail and gift of empathy. She became a fanatic about painting nails, which became her signature way to brighten the day of someone she recognized as needing a little lift. Just for fun or when a family member was suffering a loss, she would make a special visit to paint an auntie or cousins’ nails. Washing your feet, manicuring them and painting fancy pictures on your nails was her thing. Her favorite was painting all the little girl’s nails. One of her friends talked about moving into Sia’s ward from another state. Not knowing anyone, Sia welcomed her and her family to the ward and later to her home. This evolved into a girl’s night of nail painting and a life-long friendship.
Believe it or not, Sia’s nail painting spilled over to the homeless. Her many volunteer visits to the Volunteers of America youth homeless shelter was generously given to bring a little sunshine by way of genuinely listening to people while painting their nails or simply just holding space for them. Her huge heart extended to the man or woman on the corner, offering them a gift card of a meal. She seemed to have an endless supply of gift cards in her purse.
We can’t forget to mention how much she loved to brighten your special day with a customized decorated cake. Not just simple stuff—the imaginative full-on themed shaped cakes. They were elaborate enough to take days to create and a pure delight to receive. Another of her loves was story telling. For a time she worked as a librarian for the Salt Lake Library system. She was that story teller during the children’s story-time who brought the story to life not only with her voices, but by often dressing the part. She even decorated a pair of her jeans with peanut butter and jelly on the back pockets, acting out losing her peanut butter sandwich and turning for the children to laughingly discover she sat on it.
It was reading children’s books to the children where Sia developed many of her voices that later helped her in her voice acting classes and career. Throughout her life she was an avid reader with a long list great recommendations to any who asked. Recently she gifted her 12 year-old niece Libby (Sheri’s daughter) a copy of “Oliver Twist.” Inside the cover was the handwritten message, “Dear Libby, This is one of my favorite stories. Even when you feel like no one loves us and nothing is right, there are things God has in store to give us a happy ending. All my love, Auntie Therissa.” Please help us celebrate Sia’s life at a memorial in her honor.
Sia’s celebration of life will be held:
Saturday, December 4, 2021
Viola Ward Building
56 E 350 N
North Salt Lake, Utah
9:30 am: Light breakfast sponsored by the Viola Ward Relief Society
10:00 am-12:00 pm: Family program in the Cultural Hall
12:00 pm-1:00 pm: Memorial Service in the Chapel
2:00 pm: Luncheon at the Viola Ward Annex
Tuinei family will be receiving others in their home on Friday, December 3.
In consideration of our many family members and friends who due to current circumstances are unable to attend the services or visit the family, we will be broadcasting live at……..
On behalf of the family we will have a fund for those wanting to donate at Venmo: @Sia Tuinei
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