Obits 0309
Lester Hiroshi Kihara
Funeral services for the late Lester Hiroshi Kihara, 56-year old Hilo,
Hawaii-born resident of Ontario, who passed away peacefully on March 3rd,
will be held on Saturday, March 13, 1 p.m. at the Izunome Association USA,
9602 Venice Blvd., Culver City, 90232.
He is preceded in death by his brother, Wayne Kihara. Survived by his
father, Tooru Kihara; mother, Harumi Kihara; sister, Jane (Loyd Villanueva)
Kihara; nieces, Lauren and Kristin Villanueva; also survived by many aunts,
uncles and cousins in Hawaii.
The family kindly requests casual attire.
www.fukuimortuary.com (213) 626-0441
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Yuriko Nakata
Mrs. Yuriko Nakata, 71-year-old, West L.A.-born resident of Gardena,
passed away on February 18. A funeral service was held on March 4 at Green
Hills Mortuary in Rancho Palos Verdes.
She is survived by her son, Bryan Nakata, sisters, Mitsuko Arakawa and
Kuniko Tokorozaki, brother-in-law, Terry Ideno, sister-in-law, Mariko
Miura, and nieces and nephews.
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Emiko (Amy) Okada
Funeral service for Emiko (Amy) Okada 83-year-old Worland, Wyo.-born
resident of Stanton who passed away on Feb. 21, 2010 at her residence,
will be held on Sunday, March 14 from 3 p.m. at Orange County Buddhist
Church, 909 S. Dale Ave., Anaheim.
She is survived by her husband, Shigeru Shag Okada; daughters, Jayne (Les)
Ito, Dorothy (Kiyoshi) Nakatsui, Corky Okada, Aileen (Jamie) Miller,
Allison (Jeff) Brown; son, Gary Okada; grandchildren, Taryn (Leon) Parker,
Ryan Ito, Shannon Brown, Maraya Miller, Kiyoko Nakatsui, Shane Brown,
Jason Miller and Adam Miller; sisters, Martha (John) Kawano of Illinois,
Marietta (Mits) Hidaka of Illinois, Rita (Kenny) Imamoto; brothers,
Richard Fujio and Larry (Nanci) Fujio; also many nieces, nephews and other
relatives.
www.fukumortuary.com (213)626-0441
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John Hedemi Oyenoki
Funeral service for the late John Hedemi Oyenoki, 60-year-old Chicago,
Ill.-born resident of Orange County CA, who passed away on March 4 at
Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, will be held on Sunday, March 14, 2010,
7:30 p.m. at Orange County Buddhist Church, 909 S. Dale Ave., Anaheim, CA
He is survived by his wife, Sharla S. Oyenoki; sons, Jason Oyenoki and
Brandon (Alka) Oyenoki; grandson, Kaden Oyenoki; sisters, Lily Oyenoki and
Joyce Oyenoki and by many other relatives here and in Hawaii.
In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to support liver
transplantation in memory of John Oyenoki, payable to “UC Regents” 10945
Le Conte Ave. Suite 3132
Los Angeles, CA. 90095-1784
Midori Takahashi
Funeral services for the late Midori Takahashi, 90-year-old Los Angeles
resident,
who passed away on March 2, 2010 were held on Monday March 8, 2010 at
Fukui Mortuary “Chapel in the Garden,” with Rimban Hiroshi Abiko of Hompa
Hongwanji Buddhist Temple officiating.
Midori is survived by sons, Kei and Noriyuki (Eileen) Takahashi; daughter
Reiko
Nagano; grandchildren, Cynthia Takahashi, Kenneth and Audrey Nagano; great
grandchildren, Christopher, and Mikey Nagano and other great grand
children. Midori
is predeceased by husband, Teruki Takahashi.
www.fukuimortuary.com (213) 626-0441
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Obits 0310
Itsuko Furuta
Funeral services for the late Itsuko Furuta, 92-year-old Los Angeles-born
resident who passed away peacefully on March 7th, will be held on
Saturday, March
13, 10 a.m. at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, 961 S. Mariposa Ave., Los
Angeles,
90006.
She is survived by her beloved sons, Peter (Michiko), Stephen (Mary Ann)
of Lake
Barrington IL, and John (Vanessa) Furuta; grandchildren, Jennifer, Garrett,
Laurie, Jonathan and Owen Furuta; brother-in-law, Ken Fujikuni; also
survived by
many other relatives.
In lieu of flowers the family kindly requests that donations be made to
St.
Mary’s Episcopal Church Altar Guild.
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Sadayo Kawabata
A private funeral service for the late Mrs. Sadayo Kawabata, a 96 year old,
California-Born Kibei-Nisei former Manzanar internee and longtime resident of
Gardena who passed away on March 2nd at South Bay Keiro Nursing Home was
held on
March 7th at Fukui Mortuary “Chapel in the Garden” officiated by Rev.
Sam Tonomura.
Mrs. Kawabata is survived by her children, Hiroko (Donald) Hasuike, Mitsuko
Kawabata, Eiko (Luther) Petty, Julia (Robert) Elenbaas of Missouri,
Anthony (Masaye)
Kawabata of Illinois, and Geoffrey (Carol) Kawabata; 14 grandchildren, 17
great-grand children; sister-in-law, Dorothy Ogawa Also survived by other
relatives here and in Japan.
www.fukuimortuary.com (213) 626-0441
Shinichi “Ben” Kitahata
Shinichi “Ben” Kitahata passed away on March 5, 2010 in Culver City at the
age of 82. He was born on Aug. 27, 1927 in Dinuba, Calif. Ben was preceded
in death by his loving
Wife of 45 years, Lily Kitahata. He is survived by his children, Bonnie
Kitahata, Steve Kitahata and Debbie Taeubel; by his beloved companion,
Joyce Tawa; his grandsons, Matthew and Ben Taeubel; and his sisters, Tomi
Tanaka, Sumi Hadley Ujimori, and Aiko Matsuno. Visitation will be held on
Thursday, March 11 from 3 until 8 p.m. at Green Hills Mortuary (310)
831-0311. Funeral services will be Friday, March 12 at 11 a.m. in the
mortuary chapel, with interment to follow in Green Hills Memorial Park.
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John Masao Onishi
A funeral service for John Masao Onishi, 85 year-old, Los Angeles,
Calif.-born Kibei
Nisei, who passed away on March 7, 2010 in Los Angeles will be held on
Sunday, March 14, 2010 at 4:00PM at Gedatsu Church, 7850 Hill Dr, S. San
Gabriel, CA. (213) 749-1449 www.kubotanikkeimortuary.com
He is survived by his wife, Eiko Onishi; son, Terry (Kathy) Onishi; daughter,
Cynthia Kawahara; grandchildren, Randy and Jonathan Kawahara, Dawn and
Jennifer Onishi; great grandchild, Chloe Kawahara; also survived by many
nieces, nephews and other relatives.
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Obits 0313
Michi Ito Endo
Michi Ito Endo, 82 of Huntington Beach, died on March 7. She is survived
by her
husband, Ichiro Endo, children Linda Endo, Richard (Sheryl) Endo and
granddaughters Elizabeth and Emily Endo. A memorial service will be held
on Saturday, March 20 at 1 p.m. at Orange Coast Free Methodist Church,
3198 B Airport Loop, Costa Mesa, CA 92626.
In lieu of flowers you may make a donation to one of the following:
Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, 2141 Rosecrans Ave – Suite 7000 El
Segundo, CA 90245, http://pancan.org or Orange Coast Free Methodist
Church.
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Lynne Yoshie Fujikawa
Funeral services for the late Mrs. Lynne Yoshie Fujikawa, a 63-year-old,
Hawaii-born Sansei resident of Westminster who passed away on March 7 will
be held on March 19, 11 a.m., at Union Church of Los Angeles, 401 E. Third
St., Los Angeles, officiated by Pastor Steve Baroldy of Christ
Presbyterian Church of Hollywood.
In lieu of flowers or koden, the family respectfully requests that a
donation be made to the charity of your choice in the name of Lynne
Fujikawa.
Mrs. Fujikawa is survived by her husband, Byron Fujikawa; sister,
Katherine (Jeffrey) Oura; nephews, Leslie Oura and Kevin (Jane) Oura of
Arizona; aunt to Haley and Kaitlyn Oura, both of Arizona. Also survived by
many other relatives.
www.fukuimortuary.com, (213) 626-0441
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Fred Susumu Fukumoto
Fred Susumu Fukumoto, 88 years old, passed away on Feb. 28, in Las Vegas,
Nev. Born Feb. 19, 1922 in Gardena, Calif., Fred was a 29 year resident of
Las Vegas, Nev. where he lived with his lovely wife of 66 years, Hanako
Fukumoto.
Fred was instrumental in forming the Las Vegas Buddhist Sangha in December
of 1981 and was actively involved in the Las Vegas Japanese American
community. Along with his wife, Fred is survived by his children, Fred
(Gwen) Fukumoto, Barbara Kinkade, and Bob (Sue) Fukumoto; grandchildren,
Lynn (Marty) Dong, Carrie (Mike) Ishimitsu, Joey Fukumoto, Lauren (Gerald)
Wong, and Kristi (Matt) Watkins; 6 great-grandchildren and his
sister-in-law, Alice M. Fukumoto.
Services will be held on Saturday, March 27 at 1 p.m. at Palm Mortuary,
7400 W. Cheyenne, Las Vegas, NV 89129.
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Itsuko Furuta
Funeral services for the late Itsuko Furuta, 92-year-old Los Angeles-born
resident who passed away peacefully on March 7th, will be held on
Saturday, March
13, 10 a.m. at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, 961 S. Mariposa Ave., Los
Angeles,
90006.
She is survived by her beloved sons, Peter (Michiko), Stephen (Mary Ann)
of Lake
Barrington IL, and John (Vanessa) Furuta; grandchildren, Jennifer, Garrett,
Laurie, Jonathan and Owen Furuta; brother-in-law, Ken Fujikuni; also
survived by
many other relatives.
In lieu of flowers the family kindly requests that donations be made to St.
Mary’s Episcopal Church Altar Guild.
www.fukuimortuary.com, (213) 626-0441
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Kiyoshi “Kiyo” Matsumoto
Memorial service with burial of ashes at sea for the late Kiyoshi “Kiyo”
Matsumoto, 72-year-old, Long Beach Calif.-born resident, passed away on
March 5, will be held on Saturday, March 20, 9 a.m. at Rainbow Harbor Dock
#2, 100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach. Parking is available in the Aquarium
parking structure.
He is survived by his sisters, Sachiko Shigemasa and Ikuko (Dr. George)
Kawahara; brother, Takemi (Lina) Matsumoto; he is also survived by nieces,
nephews and other relatives.
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John Hedemi Oyenoki
Funeral service for the late John Hedemi Oyenoki, 60-year-old Chicago,
Ill.-born resident of Orange County Calif., who passed away on March 4 at
Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, will be held on Sunday, March 14, 7:30
p.m. at Orange County Buddhist Church, 909 S. Dale Ave., Anaheim, CA
He is survived by his wife, Sharla S. Oyenoki; sons, Jason Oyenoki and
Brandon (Alka) Oyenoki; grandson, Kaden Oyenoki; sisters, Lily Oyenoki and
Joyce Oyenoki and by many other relatives here and in Hawaii.
In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to support liver
transplantation in memory of John Oyenoki, payable to “UC Regents” 10945
Le Conte Ave. Suite 3132 Los Angeles, CA. 90095-1784
www.fukuimortuary.com, (213) 626-0441
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Alice Atsuko Tashima
Alice Tashima passed away unexpectedly on March 6 at the age of 81. She
was born and raised in Los Angeles, Calif. with her two brothers and two
sisters. She was a natural athlete and enjoyed basketball, volleyball and
softball. During WWII, Alice was interned at Manzanar, where she met her
future husband, Harry Tashima. Following the war, her family moved to
Yellow Springs, Ohio, where she finished high school. She then moved to
Los Angeles to be near Harry. Harry and Alice were married in 1950 and
raised four children in West Los Angeles, where Harry became a partner in
“T&T Service” a gas station and auto repair shop. Alice was very active in
community services, including serving multiple years as PTA president,
secretary of the WLA Buddhist Church, and being a Den Mother for the Cub
Scouts. She was lucky at the slot machines and loved children and pets.
Throughout her life, she always loved spending time with Harry.
She is survived by her brother, Frank Kakoi; her sister, Lily Cassels; her
husband, Harry Tashima; her daughter, Cindie (Tashima) Gillaspie and
husband, Don; her sons, Ernie, Gregory and his wife, Brenda, and Spencer
and his wife, Michele; and grandchildren, Yoshi and Denali Gillaspie,
Tyler Tashima, and Lauren and Alexis Tashima.
Funeral services for the late Alice Atsuko Tashima will be held on
Saturday, March 20, at 3 p.m. at Orange County Buddhist Church, 909 South
Dale Ave., Anaheim, CA 92804. Burial services will be held on Monday,
March 22 at 11 a.m., at Inglewood Cemetery, 720 E. Florence Ave.,
Inglewood, CA 90301
Harry now lives in Orange, Calif. at Park Plaza Retirement Residence:
(714) 997-5355
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Kazumi “Kaz” Watanabe
Funeral services for the late Kazumi “Kaz” Watanabe, 91-year-old, Anaheim,
Calif.-born resident of Lomita passed away on March 7, will be held on
Friday, March 19, 1 p.m. at Green Hills Memorial Park Chapel, 27501 S.
Western Ave., Rancho Palos Verdes.
He is survived by his beloved wife, Harriet Watanabe; daughters, Janice
Watanabe and April (Steve) Nakama; grandchildren, Garret and Kristine
Nakama; sister, Toshi (Kiyo) Matoba; he is also survived by many nieces,
nephews and other relatives.
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