Tupou Neiafu Taufa

Tupou Neiafu Taufa, age 79, passed away peacefully on Saturday, March 21, 2026 in West Valley City, Utah. He was born on May 24, 1946, in the Friendly Islands Kingdom of Tonga, to Taufa Savelio and ‘Atelaite Vaoahi. When Tupou was a baby he was adopted to Koliniasi Funaki and Heiavatongo Tatafu and brought from Niuatoputapu Island to the main island Tongatapu where he became the oldest of Koli & Hei’s children. Tupou spent his growing years in Longolongo, Nuku’alofa with his adoptive family, where he was raised with strong cultural and family values that he carried throughout his life. On November 11, 1971, Tupou married his beloved wife, Sela Fakalala Lo’amanu, in Nuku’alofa, Tongatapu. Together, they built a life rooted in love, faith, music, and community. Tupou attended Tupou College in Toloa, Tongatapu. In Tonga, he worked at the Dateline Hotel and with Nauru Shipping. In his later years, he moved to the United States, living many years in Glendale, Utah. Here he dedicated many years of hard work to Linford Brothers Glass Company in Salt Lake City. He also worked a part-time custodial job, where his family would join him each week to help clean a local bakery. Tupou found joy in simple pleasures. He loved visiting the Senior Citizen Hall, where he enjoyed playing pool and sharing meals with friends. Music was a central part of his life—he loved to sing and spent many years as a devoted member of the Tongan United Methodist Church Choir and the Tongan Community Choir (organized by Sione Taliauli Ika) alongside his beloved wife, Fakalala. He also treasured the daily companionship of dear friends Sione & Fane Nau. In the later years of his life, Tupou and his dear wife, Fakalala , lived in Arizona with their only daughter, Lona, and her family. Some time after Lona died, in 2019, Tupou was brought back to Utah and lived with his dear nephew, Senituli Lo’amanu (and his wife Fikaniva and children). Tupou is survived by his sons, Paula Taufa and Alefaio Taufa (also known as Sunia), grandchildren, great-grandchildren, daughter-in-law, son-in-law, and other extended family. His grandchildren, the children of his daughter, Lona (and her husband, Hateni ‘Anau) are: Davonte, Samisoni, Hateni, Hezekiah, Mark, and Alamani. His grandchildren, the children of his son, Paula (and his wife, Kelela Vaihu) are: Fakalala, Tupou, Petiasi, Beatrice, and Loane. He is also survived by his brothers, Finau Savelio Pole and Talaiasi Taufa, Losipeli Funaki and Semisi Kelepi Funaki. Tupou was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Fakalala; his daughter, Lona Neiafu; his son, Mark Kepeli Neiafu; his parents, Taufa and ‘Atelaite; Koliniasi and Heiavatongo; his siblings, Mele Tatafu Tuivailala, Talanoa moe loto Savelio, Hesekaia Tali Savelio, Meleane Taufa, Timote Savelio, and Uhatahi Mila; and his other siblings. Services will be held on Saturday, March 28, 2026 at the Riverside 2nd Ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, located at 660 North Redwood Road in Salt Lake City, Utah. A viewing will take place from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., followed by a Bishop’s service. Interment will follow at 1:00 p.m. at the West Jordan Cemetery, located at 7925 South 1300 West in West Jordan City, Utah. The family would like to express their sincere gratitude to the staff at Rocky Mountain Hunter Hollow Care Center in West Valley City, where Tupou resided for the past six years. They also extend their thanks to the staff on the second floor of CommonSpirit Hospital in West Valley City, as well as the team at True North Hospice, who provided compassionate care in the final weeks of Tupou’s life. A special heartfelt thank you is extended to Lisia Mohulanu Palu for her deep love and kindness to her dear “Uncle Tupou”… “Dear Sia (fiefia), you showed such compassion and tenderness as you sat by Tupou’s bedside during his final days. We are sorry for your heartache. Mālō lahi ‘aupito, Sia.”

Tupou Neiafu Taufa

May 24, 1946 - March 21, 2026