DanaLee Mahealani Feary Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

DanaLee Mahealani Feary January 14, 1960 - January 2, 2021 Our beloved DanaLee - a dutiful daughter, caring sister, affectionate mother and doting tutu, took her final breath on January 2nd at home in Pearl City fiercely embraced by her daughters and the family who loved her most. Just 12 days shy of her 61st birthday, she was only 60. For those who knew DanaLee she was simply ‘Dana’. Born at 12:02am on January 14th at St. Francis Hospital, Dana was the first-born child of Lorna and Herman Akana and oldest sister to Layne and Kimberly. Her young childhood was spent growing up in Pauoa living right next door to her paternal grandparents on Ladd Lane. In 1968, the family rooted themselves from Pauoa to Pearl City creating much of their memories in the family home with her parents and 2 siblings. Dana had a typical local childhood upbringing. During her senior year of high school, life would quickly change as she got married to her boyfriend, Bill and had a daughter, Chante. Proudly, Dana juggled studies and motherhood walking to receive her diploma from Pearl City High School, class of 1978 - about a month after having her first born. In the following year, she embraced her second daughter, Cheyenne. The relationship didn’t last long and eventually the two separated. Several years would pass and in 1984, Dana welcomed her third and final daughter, Tiana with long time partner, Stephen. Although their relationship eventually ended, they remained friendly and committed to co-parenting as best as they knew how. Dana had many defining moments in life and such was her marriage to deceased singer and songwriter, Bryant “Mackey” Feary Jr. of Kalapana. Mackey’s fame and talent brought their relationship a whirlwind of extreme highs and tragic lows fraught with drug abuse, mental illness, physical abuse and recidivism. An extremely private but unguarded person, Dana and the life built with Mackey played out in court, welcoming community scrutiny, criticism, and attack as the face and reason for Mackey’s drug abuse, physical abuse and life decisions which ultimately left her a grief-stricken widow to his public suicide. Even in his death, articles and news segments helped in overlooking her role as his legal wife constantly stating her maiden name instead of her married one. Dana trudged through adversity still carrying her dignity. It was not easy being married to someone famous and accepting to do life in the public eye, for no marriage is perfect, including theirs. Her faith and heart guided her reasons for bearing through the good, bad and ugly choosing to see past the man she loved but not his deeds - for love, support, and faith could hold it all together until it couldn’t. Mackey tried to hold the highest regard for their vows and union, even as he struggled with his demons. She faced family, friends and fans who openly mischaracterized and judged her who knew little to nothing of her, Mackey or their marriage misfortunates nor anyone who attempted to help Mackey or his illness in life. Dana stayed a devoted and loving wife, to her detriment, who gave all she could to a man who was not well. But as for the beauty of recorded music combined with Mackey’s everlasting art, he ensured nothing would ever be misconstrued as he recorded songs: Dana’s Tune, Dear Ma, and especially their marriage song, Forever and One Day, for her. This was her truth. In Dana’s professional background, she held varying positions from waitress at the original Highway Inn to secretary to floral designer. However, she found much of her independence and reward through her 20-year tenure as a civilian worker at the Army and Airforce Exchange Stores (AAFES), beginning at Hickam Air Force base and transferring to Fort Shafter Army base as a warehouse receiving clerk. The last 13 years of Dana’s life was filled with a mix of magic and struggle as she showed tremendous courage and utmost strength. In February of 2008 she was diagnosed with aggressive pancreatic cancer and initially given only months to live. With haste and attitude, she wasn’t going to let time run out on her life and quickly got in with surgeon, Dr. Grief. Within days of seeing him she was scheduled for surgery to take out a softball sized tumor and biopsy. The next day, her eyes quickly cleared from a bright mustard yellow which caused her jaundice as she walked down stairs, off hospital property with her medicine pole and a strong determination to have a cigarette. In 6 days' time, she’d be under the knife again cutting the same staple filled scar to attack her ultimate enemy, cancer. Luckily, Dana was able to live many years after that surgery defying the odds stacked against her. The years allowed her to witness her daughters get married and welcome 2 sons-in-law into her family. However, it was the magic of becoming a grandparent that truly brought meaning to her life. She carried the proud title of “Tutu” to 3 mo’opuna - Maya, Phoenix and Logan-James. Her grandchildren re-ignited her creative spirit and adventurous nature. She was fortunate enough to play an active role in her grandbabies lives rearing them from infancy to toddlerhood. Being a Tutu was her most rewarding gift. She coveted this special honor and showed everyone what her greatest self could look like. Although cancer took her physically, it didn’t take her soul. She was a fierce fighter who experienced a lot but she did it with beauty, power and strength all the way to the very end. Everything she did was with love and pure intentions. She will be remembered for her kind eyes, beautiful smile, piercing dimples and sexy smoker voice that you only find in soulful nightclubs. Always lending a friendly ear and up for chatty conversation, her sincerity she gave to everyone was genuine. Her lack of presence leaves a gaping hole in the hearts of her family but her legacy continues on in the strength of her daughters and the hearts of her grandchildren. May she never just be a memory but an everlasting impression we continue to talk about for generations to come. A private virtual service will be held honoring Dana’s life on January 30th, 2021 at 3:00pm.