Lautolo Tolo Afuvai

Lautolo Tolo Afuvai, affectionately known as “Nana” to everyone she knew, passed away peacefully in her Blue Springs, Missouri home on Monday, December 11th, 2023.  She was surrounded by her sweetheart husband of 58 years and loving family.

Lautolo was born December 18th, 1934, in the village of Mulifanua in Western Samoa.  She grew up in a family of 13 children being raised by their dear parents, Tufa and Lola Fau.  Her parents’ beautiful examples of faith, service, and love of God would be the foundation of Lautolo’s life, inspiring all that she did.

Lautolo loved serving the Lord and she served in many church callings for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  Her experiences would include being a full-time missionary for two years in 1960... spreading the gospel in the Western Samoa Mission, being called as the first Relief Society President in the San Francisco Samoan Ward from 1980 to 1987, and her most favorite and beloved calling of all...serving as a Temple Ordinance Work in the Oakland, St. Louis, and Kansas City Temples. 

In 1997, Lautolo would retire from Blue Shield of California after 27 years of loyalty and dedication. 

Her passions included Polynesian dancing, music, and singing.  When it came to Polynesian dancing, Lautolo would light up any stage or any occasion with her beautiful natural gracefulness and pure joy of entertaining.    

Lautolo was a devoted wife, an amazing supportive mother, and the absolute best Nana any grandchild could ever ask for.  She will be tremendously and sorely missed.    

Lautolo is survived by her husband, Muliau “Papi” Afuvai; her two children Ammaron Afuvai, Sr. (wife Lemasino) and Amara Afuvai-Jimenez (husband Eric); her four sisters...Lola Soifua, Rosa Fau, Sini Misimoa, and Suva Fau; 15 grandchildren (Tulei, LaNika, AJ, Lia, Cede, Marti, Mosese, Megan, Iofi, Amona, Devon, Jazzy, Enshar, Hannah, and Roman); and 14 great grandchildren (Eugene, Emunah, Eliana, Lani, Lala, Amara, Amina, Sunia, Sandra, Noa, Oso, Clementine, Elisfasa, and Noni).