Sione Halapua
May 12, 1940 – February 29, 2016
The Rev. Sione Halapua, former rector of Church of the Ascension, Tujunga, died Feb. 29 in Chico, California.
A memorial service was held on March 18 at St. Simon’s Church, San Fernando.
Halapua is survived by his daughter, Ofa, and son-in-law, Fenerick Walrus. His wife, Anne Halapua, also a priest of the Diocese of Los Angeles, died in 2006.
Born May 12, 1940 in Nukualofa, Kingdom of Tonga, Halapua earned graduate degrees at the Claremont School of Theology, and also studied at St. John’s Baptist College in Figi and St. John’s College in New Zealand. Ordained to the diaconate in 1972 and to the priesthood in 1973 by Bishop Francis Eric Bloy of the Diocese of Los Angeles, he served at various times at St. Simon’s, San Fernando (1989 – 1990); St. Mark’s Church, Altadena (1975 – 2000); Ascension, Tujunga (1975 – 1987); and Church of the Ascension, Sierra Madre (1974 – 1975).