Bessie Basilisa Snively

Bessie Cabinatan Christian Snively 1929 - 2022

We are honored to have shared in the 92 years of a life well lived by Bessie Cabinatan Christian Snively --our sweet and loving mother, grandmother, and great grandmother.

Bessie is survived by her 6 children, daughters Phyllis Puanani, Iwalani Christian, Charmagne Kēhaulani, and Holiday Leimoni, and sons Sidney Alan and Peter Claus III, 16 grandchildren, 20 great grandchildren and her husband Bob Snively. She was devoted to her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and generously shared her whole heart and wisdom with all three generations.

Bessie was born in international waters on May 20th, 1929 aboard a ship en route from the Philippines to Hawaii, where she grew up and went to school on the Island of Kauaʻi. As a young woman, she worked as a stenographer for the Military Base at Pearl Harbor during WWII, before returning to Kauaʻi to marry Peter C. Christian Jr. on May 10th, 1946, and raise a family. Bessie’s family were prominent members of Saint Catherine’s Church on Kauaʻi, and volunteered in the building of the new parish, including the pouring of the foundation.

In November, 1962, the family relocated to Seattle, where Bessie had a handful of roles as a housewife, worked at a dry cleaner and Dairy Queen before taking a role with United Airlines where she worked for many years, eventually meeting and marrying her second husband, Robert Snively.

Bessie was a leader in the Wakinikona Hawaiian Club of Seattle, a civic club committed to providing connection and community for Hawaiian’s to continue embracing the traditions of Hawaiʻi and Hawaiʻi 50th Club in Tacoma, Washington. She was also a competitive paddler of the Kupuna group for the Wakinikona Outrigger Club.

Bessie was a devoted member of the St. Thomas Catholic Parish in Seatac, often leading and coordinating special events and holiday celebrations for the church, where her grandchildren took delight in visits from Santa Claus, and incredible feasts that included both contemporary American food as well as traditional island food. Her passion and love for events, celebrations, and feeding gathered friends and family led to legendary displays of lumpia, lomi lomi salmon, lau lau, chicken long rice, chicken hekka, haupia, and, of course, poi.

Bessie was deeply involved dancing Hula, and participating in the Pacific Northwest Folk Life festivals, Hula competitions and other Hula Hālau events. She opened her home to artists and cultural practitioners, often hosting visiting Islanders and traveling musicians, which frequently resulted in small gatherings of friends and family. She was lovingly known to many as ʻGramsʻ.

In her retirement, Bessie’s love of quilting resulted in a newfound circle of friends, and a plethora of quilts she gifted to friends and family. Her fun-loving, warm and welcoming ways have nurtured decades of memories and experiences that will never be forgotten.

We celebrate your life and are so blessed to have had you in our lives. Rest in Aloha Tūtū.

A funeral mass will be held on Thursday March 24, 2022 at 10am at St. Paul Catholic Church. Graveside will be family only.