Nancy Chang Talino (Photo by Henry Law)
Kalaupapa resident the last living patient-member of Siloama Church
By Valerie Monson
Special to the Herald
The death of Nancy Chang Talino earlier this year at the age of 93 not only draped a veil of sadness over her family and many friends, it marked a solemn juncture for the Protestant churches of Kalaupapa.
“Nancy was the last living patient-member of Kana‘ana Hou-Siloama Church,” noted the Rev. Charles Buck, who was Conference Minister for the Hawaii United Church of Christ from 2005-2018. “Edwin Lelepali, who died in 2016, was the last patient-member who was still living in the settlement. Like the settlement itself, the once-bustling congregation dwindled over the years until only Nancy was left.
“So her passing marks not just a very sad occasion, but also a major turning point in the history of that first church established by patients. There are now no patient-members of Kana‘ana Hou-Siloama Church alive.”
Although services are still held at the Protestant churches for Kalaupapa workers and visitors, for the first time since 1866 when 35 women and men founded Siloama Church, there are no members who were among the nearly 8,000 individuals taken from their families and sent to Kalaupapa because they were diagnosed with leprosy (now also called Hansen’s disease). Many of these people, who arrived at Kalaupapa alone and afraid, often found the church of their faith to be a much-needed solace of hope that gave them new life.
Over the years, many of those Kalaupapa residents became a solace of hope for others. Nancy Chang, who continued to be a member of the Kalaupapa Protestant community even after she left the settlement, would be one of those beacons.
Nancy was born Nov. 22, 1925, in Honolulu’s Palama district, the ninth of 11 children in the family. Her birth name was Choy Ngo. A cousin, Douglas Chong, described her as being “the prettiest of all the daughters.”
Her happy childhood was interrupted at the age of 8 when her older sister, Margaret — known as Ung — was taken to Kalihi Hospital because she had leprosy. Nancy was given a similar diagnosis four years later and followed her sister to Kalihi and, then, Kalaupapa, arriving Sept. 22, 1941, shortly before her 16th birthday. A brother, who went by his baptismal name of Francis, was sent to Kalaupapa after Nancy. He went on to become an outstanding photographer.
Pain of separation
Speaking at services held for Nancy at both Kalaupapa and Honolulu following her death on April 23, Douglas Chong said that while Nancy, Ung and Francis suffered their own pain of separation and loneliness, “the heaviest sorrow was what their mother and father went through, losing three children.”
Douglas said it was hard for the family to talk about Nancy and her siblings, simply because “the grief was too much.”
As a consequence, some relatives — including Nancy’s cousin Wei Hien Chong — did not know about her until later in life. Less than 10 years ago, Wei Hien learned about Nancy from Douglas. Wei Hien immediately wanted to meet her and so, during a trip to Hawaii from his California home, he drove to Leahi Hospital in Honolulu where Nancy was now living.
He still remembers that day.
“I was so nervous,” he said. “I went up to the desk (at Leahi) and said ‘Where is Nancy Chang Talino?’ And there she was. I said ‘My father is Tai Fong, he’s your brother.’ And she said ‘Oh, Wei Hien!’ I was floored that she already knew me. And slowly I got to know her.”
After that, Wei Hien phoned Nancy weekly as they grew closer together.
“I learned so much about my family from her,” he said. “She had a phenomenal memory.”
Kalaupapa resident Pauline Ahulau Chow, a longtime friend of Nancy’s, agreed.
“She’s a smart lady,” said Pauline. “We used to go to Barnes & Noble and look for books. Nancy liked crossword puzzles. She was feisty, too — and kolohe.”
Barbara Marks, who spent a lot of time at Leahi with Nancy, singled out her friend’s talent at crochet, making scarves and doilies.
“She was a good, fun lady,” said Barbara.
When Hale Mohalu in Pearl City opened in 1949, Nancy made the move from Kalaupapa so she could take classes and continue to learn. She worked at the registration gate where people signed in. Eventually, she met Francisco Talino, a security watchman. They would later marry.
Rev. Buck pointed out that Nancy helped preserve the history of Kalaupapa in important ways. It was Nancy who told him about the time capsule that had been buried at the front of Siloama Church. She also shared recordings of the Siloama-Kana‘ana and St. Francis choirs from 1952 that were digitized and safeguarded for the future.
“Nancy showed us how to be kind, gentle and caring,” he observed. “Despite many hardships, she inspired us with wonderful stories. And through her faith, she always radiated joy, peace and contentment.”
At her services, Wei Hien thanked the people of Kalaupapa and Leahi for their love of Nancy throughout the years.
“What a life she had,” he marveled. “Some of her friendships with you lasted nearly 80 years. You became her family.”
