Janet Chiyeko Tsukamoto
March 23, 1928 – July 7, 2020
On Tuesday, July 7, 2020, Janet Chiyeko Tsukamoto of Montebello, CA, loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, passed away peacefully in her sleep at the age of 92 while a resident of the Hollenbeck Palms SNF in Boyle Heights, Los Angeles, CA.
Janet was born on March 23, 1928 in Honolulu, Hawaii to Walter Shigeta and Isayo (Muramoto) Abe. The family moved to Los Angeles, California and operated a wholesale produce business until the start of World War II. The family was first relocated to the Santa Anita racetrack then sent to the Rohwer Internment Camp in Arkansas. After returning to Los Angeles, Janet married Percy Hifumi Tsukamoto on August 6, 1950. They raised five children; two daughters, Marie and Ann, and three sons, John, Peter and Mark.
Janet worked as a clerk typist for Los Angeles County, Purchasing & Stores and then left work to care for their children until she returned to work for the Los Angeles Unified School District as the office manager for Sheridan Street School. Janet remained with the Los Angeles Unified School District until her retirement. She was a very active member at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Center (aka Maryknoll) and the MJCC Ladies Guild.
Janet was a skilled craftswoman and enjoyed creating beautiful works of art with her knitting, beading and sewing skills. She loved growing and collecting orchids. Janet enjoyed taking Japanese doll making classes in the local community. The dolls were beautiful works of art which her children, grandchildren and great-grandchild are fortunate to enjoy as treasured family keepsakes.
Janet was preceded in death by her father, Walter Shigeta, her mother, Isayo, her brother Jack, her daughter Marie and her husband Percy. She is survived by her four children and their spouses: Marie’s husband; Michael Symmes; Ann & Irving Weissman, John & Karleen, Peter & Jane Fay and Mark & Jane Marie, nine grandchildren: Stephanie, Diana, Tiffany, Michelle, Krystina, Nicolette, Rachel, James and Kimberly; and one great-grandchild, Ava.
A private funeral service was held on July 25th at St. Francis Xavier Chapel (Maryknoll) in Los Angeles.
In lieu of flowers or koden, donations can be made to one of the following organizations:
Hollenbeck Palms: https://www.hollenbeckpalms.com/capital-campaign/ways-to-give/tribute-memorial-donation/
Japanese American National Museum: http://www.janm.org/
St. Francis Xavier Chapel – Japanese Catholic Center (Maryknoll): https://sfxcjcc.org/ donations