Christopher Tavai

“God is Life; and Life is God.”-Christopher Vaito’elau Tavai

Christopher Vaito’elau Tavai, 27, passed away on Wednesday, October 28, 2020 in Auburn. A visitation prayer service will be held at the Week’s Dryer Mortuary Chapel in Tacoma on Monday, November 16, 2020 from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. A funeral mass will be held at St. Vincent De Paul Catholic Church in Federal Way on Tuesday, November 17, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. followed by a graveside service at Trinity Lutheran Cemetery in Tacoma. Only a maximum of 30 people will be allowed at these services and everyone attending must wear a mask and practice social distancing due to the statewide COVID-19 regulations.

Christopher was born on July 15, 1993 in Faga’alu, American Samoa, the son of Joseph G. Tavai and Verona Filiga. In 2000, Christopher, his mother, and his siblings moved to the mainland and settled in Modesto, California. He attended elementary schools in Modesto and later in Sacramento, California. In 2005, the family moved to Washington state and resided in Federal Way. Christopher graduated from 8th grade at Sacajawea Middle School in Federal Way. He attended high school at Stadium High in Tacoma. Growing up, Christopher was a very intelligent, happy kid, and loved his family. He enjoyed playing basketball at a young age. He attended a basketball camp in 5th grade and his team placed 2nd overall. The result made him the happiest kid in the world. In 6th grade, Christopher was one of the four straight A students from his class picked in “The House of Representative Program,” to represent his school and state at the White House. This program selects kids from all the participating schools in several states take a trip to the White House, sit at the representative’s chair, and act as the representative from the state they are from. This achievement and recognition made him the happiest kid in the world again because he knew he accomplished something great that will make his mother happy. His aim was always to succeed in something great to impress his mom and make her happy and proud of him. In his early teens, he became proficient with technology, especially computers. Later in his early teen years, he enjoyed hanging out with his friends, but unfortunately, ended up in the wrong hands of some thugs who recruited young kids into selling drugs. Sadly, that influenced his innocent heart, mind, and later, his life. This led him to not completing high school and struggled with homelessness on and off in his early adult life. Some of Christopher’s dislikes are screamed at, yelled at, and new places. Christopher was a quiet, humble, and peaceful person. He never wanted to be a burden to anybody.

Christopher is survived by his stepfather and mother, Ryan and Verona Zimmerman of Cibolo, Texas; his father, Joseph G. Tavai, of New Kent, Virginia; his brothers, Dominic F. Tavai and Joseph R. Tavai, both of Cibolo, Texas; his sister, Leafaina M. Tavai of DeSoto, Texas; his maternal grandmother, Pepe Ioana Meleisea of Cibolo, Texas; his paternal grandmother, High Chief Feagaimaali’i Lauolive Tavai of Brandywine, Maryland; his nephew, Zaiden Tavai; as well as many aunts, uncles, and cousins on both sides of the family.

Christopher is preceded in death by his maternal grandfather, High Chief Meleisea Filiga Vaito’elau and his paternal grandfather, High Chief Atiumaletavai Kaleopa Vaiki Tavai. 

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