Photo courtesy of Habing Family Funeral Home
Jun 1, 1929 - Jun 18, 2025
June was such a wonderful individual. Always ready and willing to help when asked and always with a smile. My deepest condolences to you and your family.
Charlene Boyd
June 30, 2025 | Gilroy, CA | Coworker
In loving memory of a wonderful person. We will love you and miss you always. Sorry to hear about your mother
Peggy Soda
June 24, 2025 | Manteca, CA | Friend
Julia Ted Tom ..so sorry for your Mom was a lovely lady always with a smile.Saw her at sporting events basketball especially..You have lots of memories. ❤❤
Karen Hagen
June 24, 2025 | Gilroy, CA | Friend
Rest in heavenly peace June!!
What a legacy she left upon her family♡ We had so much fun bowling with her and going on Reno bus trips. She was always so kind with a beautiful smile always!! Sending Love from Steve and Lori Jeske ❤
LORI JESKE
June 24, 2025 | Windsor, CO | Acquaintance
June was such a cheerful and active person.
She was 4th and youngest child born in San Jose, CA to Masuo and Motoko Akizuki on June 1, 1929. She passed away at the age of 96 at her home after a brief hospitalization. She went to Grant Elementary school growing up in San Jose Japantown on 6th street near the Buddhist Church. Like 120,000 other Japanese Americans during World War II the Akizuki family was forced to evacuate from the West Coast first to the Santa Anita Race Tracks and then Heart Mountain, WY where she started High School. After being released and going back to San Jose, she graduated in 1947 from San Jose High School.
After high school she began working for the Rosicrucian Order on February 9, 1948 as Typist Clerk. Then she started with South County as a Typist Clerk on January 19, 1951. She became the South County Office Receptionist in September 1971 until her retirement on 10/2/1992.
She became engaged to Bill Kuwada of Gilroy in October of 1955 and they wed on August 18, 1956. They welcomed Julia in 1957, Ted in 1960 and Tom in 1963. Per the newspaper announcement the Baishakunin were Mr. and Mrs. Kaneko of Menlo Park and Mr. and Mrs. Ray Kurasaki of San Jose.
She was active following all of her children’s activities, particularly sports. She was active in the Gilroy Buddhist Church and Community Hall, Gilroy JACL, the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin YBA, as a Sunday School Teacher and later as a member of the Fujinkai/BWA. She was an athlete in her youth and continued bowling 3 nights a week and taking exercise classes Monday through Friday up until the pandemic. She enjoyed bowling her bowling leagues, travelling, gambling in Reno and Las Vegas, going to the gym and babysitting.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Bill, brother Chitoshi (Kim), sister Amy Miyakawa (Dick), brother-in-law Frank Yoshioka, sister-in-law Helen Yamakoshi (Frank), brother-in-law Frank Kuwada (Alyce), sister-in-law Emily Igarashi (Isaac), sister-in-law Doris Kunimura (Mas aka Moose), brothers-in-law Ben Noto, Frank Hori, Tyrone Kuwada, Akio Toyama (Yasuko), nephews Mason Kunimura, Alan Yoshioka and Brian Miyakawa and nieces Shirley Baskin (Clay) and Lynn Noto.
She is survived by her sister Agnes Yoshioka, sisters-in-law Kathleen Hori, Laraine Noto, Joyce Kuwada and Celeste (Howard) Kitagawa, cousins Takashi (Sayoko) Akizuki, Gary (Candy Akizuki) and many nieces and nephews.
The family is grateful to her caregiver Debbie Sullivan who was her companion MWF.
In lieu of flowers or koden, please consider making a donation to the San Jose Church Betsuin’s funding raising campaign for the new Dharma Center or the Morgan Hill South County J/A Senior Group on her behalf.
Buddhist funeral services will be held 12:30pm, Sunday, June 29th at Habing Family Funeral Home, Gilroy, CA.
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