Sione Vea

Sione Vea, 59, was called back to his Heavenly Father while in the loving arms of his wife, surrounded by family, on August 2, 2025, in Murray, Utah. Sione was born on October 17, 1965, in Nuku’alofa, Tonga to Sisilia Teisa Paluvava’u Mataele and Paula Vea. He married the love of his life, Alopa Tuiasoa Vea on December 7, 1989 where they were sealed for time and all eternity in the Laie, Hawaii temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Sione spent his early life living in the village of Matangiake, Liahona, Tonga as well as Honolulu, Hawaii— moving between islands throughout the years. He attended Pauoa elementary, Kawananakoa middle school, finally graduating from Liahona College in Tonga. Sione practiced his faith as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in the Auwaiolimu ward of Honolulu. His adventurous and rambunctious youth was shaped in the lower punch bowl hills on Puowaina Drive. Notorious for his handsome smirk, quiet yet quick wit, loyalty, generosity, and entrepreneurial spirit. Sione valiantly served his Savior through serving an honorable full time 2 year mission to Nuku’alofa, Tonga. His journey led him to California where he stayed with his Aunty Oloka Fine Sekona-Fifita and family after serving an LDS mission. During that time he attended Young Adult functions within his church community. It was here where the arrows of love at first sight struck Sione— the moment he met his forever love, Alopa Tuiasoa. The seventh daughter of Atonio Tuiasoa Tuaileva and Mele Langi ‘Ika lived in Ingelwood, California at the time. Once Sione held Alopa’s hand for the first time he felt the same kind of peace he had only felt once before when he served a mission— this confirmed his love for her. Together they wrote the book of romance through their endearing courtship. Their union was blessed through the joy and pride of their parents. Truly believing their love was destined, Sione sealed himself to Alopa for time and all eternity in the Laie, Hawaii temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Sione and Alopa settled there while Sione attended BYU-Hawaii. It wasn’t long at all until they welcomed their firstborn daughter, Toti. Sione and Alopa’s family relocated for work to places like Inglewood, California where the older son, Tana was born. They lived shortly in Parachute, Colorado. The family finally settled in Sandy, Utah where their second son, Elder Sione Ika and second daughter, Tupou were born. Sione and Alopa proudly raised their children to seek higher education, earning many degrees between them, serve their God on church missions, and to work hard, love and support each other in kindness. Sione valiantly served in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Sandy 4th ward as their Bishop for 5 years. His testimony and faith of the living Christ and restored gospel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints was the guiding light and compass in his life and was apparent to all he encountered. Sione was a dedicated husband, provider, and father as he supported his family through his talents as a heavy equipment/service mechanic for Reynolds Brothers and Staker & Parson company for over 20 years. In his after work hours he was often found using his mechanical knowledge and talents towards helping many people in need of car repairs. Early in his life he could be found under the hood of a car or tinkering with car parts. Sione learned about car mechanics from his brothers in law, Teki Mahe and Kaliopasi Vaitai. When Sione took interest in VW buggies, his wife, Alopa, took him to a car show where he fell in love with lowrider cars. He easily found his home in the niche community of lowriders where he naturally fell in positions of leadership within lowrider car clubs of Hawaii. Sione continued his love of cars toward the lowrider community in Utah. In 2020 he found his final home establishing the USO Car Club Chapter of Utah. There he found his chosen family and community of like hearted, car loving people. He proudly served as USO Car Club President of the Utah Chapter, with his lowrider wife, Alopa, from 2020 to 2025. During his time as a lowrider, Sione laboriously restored many vintage works of art to their original glory, taking great pains to study every detail with love and attention. With the support of his wife and car club, many of his cars attained awards and recognition because of the level of respect and dedication to authenticity that Sione had for the restoration of classic cars. Sione leaves to prepare his Heavenly Kingdom for those he is survived by: his eternal companion, Alopa Tuiasoa Vea. Their children; ‘Anaise Toti Dottie Paluvava’u Falekihetono ‘Uilani Vea (Lindsey Lu’isa Tausinga) Onogoha’anga Misitana Opura Taurai’i Jordan Vea Elder Sione Ika Vakehekehe ‘Ikaika Vea (currently serving in the Newport Beach, CA Mission) Tupou Veitongo ‘Uilani Ihilani Paea I Puowaina Vea. His only grandchild, Sisilia Teisa Maline Vea. His father Paula Vea (Monalisa Hakaumotu, Taylorsville, UT) Siblings; Misitana Vea (Crystal, Canada) Lolomania Vea (Mele, Tonga) Pono Vea Tupou Harris (Norman Harris, Layton, UT) Sia Lemons (Anthony Lemons, Ohio) Ame Selu (Rod Selu, West Haven, UT) Paul Vea (Jackie, Saratoga Springs, UT) Eku Vea (Thyme, Riverton, UT) Tema Gee (Tyler Gee, Taylorsville UT) Sione is also survived by several nieces, nephews, cousins, uncles, and aunts whom he loved dearly. Sione is preceded in death by loved ones who welcome him with a heavenly embrace: his beloved mother, Queen of Hearts, Sisilia Teisa Paluvava'u Mataele Vea. We invite all family and friends of Sione to join us for one day of remembrance, respect, mourning, and celebration. Memorial Services Friday, August 15, 2025 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Chapel 275 E 10600 S Sandy, UT 84070 ● 9am-11:30am Family & Friends Service ● 12pm-1pm Bishop Program ● Lowrider funeral procession immediately following to interment services at Memorial Lake Hills Cemetery 10055 S, State St Sandy, UT 84070 ● A reception luncheon will be held at the same chapel by the Sandy 4th ward and family following the completion of the interment rites. The Vea family will receive visitors to their home based on appointment. Please, contact Dottie Vea 631-836-9291 to arrange an appropriate time. We respectfully ask that at the time of the funeral services that individuals refrain from taking direct photographs or videos of the deceased or his only granddaughter. The unexpected illness and loss of our beloved husband, father, son, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend has left family and community with broken hearts. However, we are very fortunate for the connections and bonds that Sione has built to connect us all in his memory and love. With those bonds our family has been blessed with the ultimate love, service, and comfort of many that we will begin to express our gratitude here. For those we remiss to mention, please know that there is not enough room on the internet to hold our gratitude and respects for those who have extended their respects and love. Our Sione loved many very deeply and in return we have been blessed and loved. We first thank our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ that with Their love and ultimate sacrifice and gift of salvation and eternal life; we have been blessed with this life on Earth with Sione as well as a chance at eternal life beyond death. Our earthly sorrows may be a blink of an eye compared to the joyous reunion we anticipate in the afterlife. Many thanks to our Bishop Taukafa and his wife, Justine and their leaders for serving our family during his illness and after. We are thankful for the other leaders and members of our Sandy 4th ward for their service and love. We recognize Sione’s Fahu, Lusia Fatima Thompson and extend our gratitude for her representation of his Father’s family. We send our gratitude to the many medical professionals who worked tirelessly to heal and comfort Sione. We are forever grateful to USO Car Club Utah Chapter David Salazar, Lisiate Nau, Rick Carbajal, Ralph Munoz, Luis Garcia and family for the gift of brotherhood and friendship; Thank you for the memories, for your support, for your prayers and love. Thank you Melvin of the Utah Riders of Firm Image and Hess Corleto, for your brotherhood, your support and love; for always loving and supporting Sione and his family. Thank you Jimmy, board of director and to the USO Car Club family both local and global for the brotherhood and camaraderie, the events and memories, the love, the respect, and service. Thank you to the many other motorcycle clubs, lowriders, and car clubs who have extended their love and support. Our gratitude goes out to our families who are so great in number; Vea, Tuiasoa, Mataele, and the many extended families. We are grateful for those at Serenity Funeral Home and thank them for their reverence and respectful services which have made this difficult process seamless and peaceful while helping us to preserve our religious and cultural rites. We are especially grateful for Elsie Star Langi at Serenity Funeral Home and her dedication to her calling, her knowledge of culture, and the bridge she has created between the funeral home and our traditions. Thank you to those at Memorial Lake Hills Cemetery for accommodating us in our necessary services. Please share photos and videos of Sione to: https://my.guestpix.com/Guest/Access/115428/hySiIEUf Please share memories and condolences at www.serenityfhs.com.

Sione Vea

October 17, 1965 - August 2, 2025