Read again: Former FSM President, ‘soft-spoken leader,’ died in Palau – Chikin Meļeļe
Known as the most traditional in FSM, Yap (and the cultures of its outer-islands) dictated that the resting place for one of their heroes should be the island belonging to Urusemal’s children, also the home island of his wife, former First Lady Olania Latileilam. Satawal Island. It also happens to be where the late Hawai‘i’s Hōkūleʻa navigator—Pius “Mau” Piailug—also hailed from.
Of the nearly three-weeks funeral service, Greg Erakilur (Urusemal’s in-law) said: “It was very different, very unique from state funerals I had seen.”
Urusemal’s birthplace, on the other hand, was Woleai atoll. He grew up and went to school at home, before Xavier high school and Rockhurst College in Kansas City, MO., took him from the islands, and planted his feet where he had a knack for trail blazing for his people in “ways of the foreigners,” until the very day he passed.
“So much emotions, yet words don’t come easy!” Sam Ilesugam, leader of the Satawalese community on Guam, said on his Facebook page a few days after the funeral. “Thank you Satawal! Adios melap (sir), Joseph Urusemal.”
Urusemal originally fell ill in Yap state hospital. But, later, taken to Palau to seek more medical help. That’s where the President, finally, went to his eternal rest… in the virtual hands of his brotherhood, the alumni of Xavier High with spiritual roots, growing all the way back on Mabuchi Hill in Sapuk village on Weno, Chuuk.
“They started—the Xavierite community in Palau and members of Palau government—the whole ball rolling with fundraisings and so forth,” Erakilur said. “So grateful to them. If it weren’t for them it wouldn’t have gone smoothly, especially from the very beginning in Palau.”
The return of Urusemal’s remains was such a huge event, Erakilur also said. But there were no hiccups whatsoever. It took some time to coordinate his long voyage home. But when the Pacific Mission Aviation plane finally landed in Yap from Palau; and the last leg of the trip took to water by boat, and sailed east all the way to his final resting place on Satawal, all went, surprisingly, well.
“Thank God for the smooth sailing!” said Ilesugam—literally and figuratively speaking—from aboard their ship/transport.
The trip to Satawal and back to Guam was physically draining, said Ilesugam. Add to the fact that we went to lay someone special to rest… that’s taken its toll on the body.
The ceremonial burial site for the former 6th President of the Federated States of Micronesia, Joseph John Urusemal, is Satawal Island, the most far-flung island east, in the entire state of Yap.
He is executive director of Guma’ Mami, Inc. (Go Mom), a nonprofit organization in Guam that provides services and support to people with disabilities.
Ilesugam flew down to Yap to meet up with the remains, and took the same boat to his home island to bury his former President and former congressman.
On his FB feed, accompanying the post was a still photo of the waves left in the wake of the ship. It is so portrait-perfect of a lot of feelings so churned underneath the surface… yet no waves were seen above water.
“So much emotions, yet words don’t come easy!”
He also said on his FB page: “Slept for 12 hours today! Can’t believe it was just yesterday morning that I had arrived at the Yap Sea Port, after a 16-day round-trip out to Satawal Island. Still emotionally drained and physically exhausted, but my spirit is at ease, knowing that uncle Joseph Urusemal made it to his final resting place.”
Ilesugam sees it as a personal responsibility to himself, his family and to his community at large— to include, not just Satawalese on Guam, but every member of the island community of FSM and Yap that are scattered abroad, and that is within reach of his Facebook page and the Internet.
And what’s more, Ilesugam is also a member of a special brotherhood with Urusemal: the Xavierite!
Andrew Yatilman, member of that Xavierite community; also, provided a running commentary of their boat ride home in his FB feed. He’s vying for Urusemal’s vacant seat as Yap’s at-large representative on November 4. He is the former Lt. Governor of Yap state (1999-2003) and the current FSM Director of the Office of Environment and Emergency Management:
“Left Yap Monday afternoon. Spent Tuesday with short stops at all Islands in Ulithi. We had a short stop at Fais, and now heading to Eauripik, hoping to get there by morning and onto Woleai.”
Erakilur, like Ilesugam, came down from Guam to take the body home: “We had so much water where you’d have roads… and miles and miles of it, too. At every stop, at every island, people would come out and bid their farewells with wailings for our beloved Urusemal.”
Ilesugam also said: “Melap (sir) Joseph Urusemal, on this 9th day of October at 3pm, we have arrived at our ancestral land (Woleai)! Your aunties, cousins, nephews, and nieces have all come out to bid you their final farewell. It’s heartbreaking to think that our soil of identity is seen, yet out of touch. We have decided to give the first two hours to your elderly aunties and sisters to spend beside your (coffin), before the whole communities from the various islands in this atoll come on board to bid their farewells. Only, if you could see them surrounding you melap (sir). It’s been very emotional!”
Watch the funeral on Satawal, posted by Manu Lester Taweryan Hashigelur on October 17, 2025: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1FTBM5vmvT
Not only did Urusemal’s people travel out from their islands to bid him farewell onboard the ship, but people from all over the federation—from far away places—have also also showed up at his funeral, his burial site… from the local government of Yap to the national government of FSM in the state of Pohnpei:
- Paul Marlul, Island Chief and Chairman
- Gabe Ramoloilug, Yap senator
- Andrew Yatilman, former Lt. Gov. of Yap
- Francis Itimai, acting Gov. of Yap
- Robson Romolow, FSM congress member
- Illesugam, Guam community member
- Damian Raigalipy, US Army
- Erakilur and others
From this group, in particular, are two individuals that went down to Satawal two weeks ahead of everyone else: Kalisto Osomai and Matt Kuor, relatives and friends of Urusemal’s.
Literally, bedridden, they’d traveled far in their already deteriorating conditions to bury Urusemal. One, Osomai, a stroke patient returning from Hawai‘i to Pohnpei; and Kuor, former Lt. Gov of Yap (1995–1999). He was transported from his makeshift bed on a nearby island of Houk. In their conditions, these two choose to be by Urusemal’s side… to the very end.
Something that’s seen by one of Ilesugam’s friends on his FB page, Sarah Thomas-Nededog:
“The love you all have shown for his life is beyond amazing. We have a lot to learn from your traditional practices… Our sincere condolences.”
Finally, Erakilur also said: “On this trip, I’ve witnessed so much. We are deeply touched and thankful for everyone. ‘Thank you!'”
