HONOLULU (KHON2) — Eloise Luzader — affectionately known as “Aunty Eloise” to many students at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa — passed away at the age of 96 in February 2025. In lieu of a traditional funeral service, Eloise is being honored by her son with a tribute website.
“Everyone grieves the loss of a loved one differently. For me, this website just feels like the right thing to do,” Eloise’s son, Gary Luzader, writes. “It’s certainly less stressful, but it also allows those who knew her a chance to enjoy some memories Eloise left behind and just enjoy her life one more time.”
The website, found at eloiseluzadermemorial.org, features photo galleries that show important moments from Eloise’s life — including her early life, marriage and “final days” — as well as a form for people to submit their own messages and memories of Eloise.
According to her memorial website, Eloise started working at UH in 1994, when she was 66 years old. She continued working as a cashier when most of the university was shut down at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Eloise was a cashier at UH Mānoa’s Gateway House for nearly 30 years before she retired at the age of 95 in 2023.
“I’m going to miss the students… they keep me young and keep me happy,” Eloise told KHON2 when she retired. “I look forward to coming to work everyday. Not everybody look forward to go to work right?”
After retiring, Eloise spent time in a religious ministry before she broke her hip in October 2024. When she was in the emergency room after breaking her hip, scans of her body found incurable cancer “all over her liver and bones,” according to the memorial website. She declined treatment after learning it would impact her quality of life, and spent her final days receiving care at Gary’s house.
“I miss her a lot, but it’s a great comfort knowing that before she passed, Mom knew she was loved by so many people,” Gary wrote.
To learn more about Eloise’s life, you can visit her memorial website.