Nancy Yuki Kaihatsu

1961 - 2025

Nancy Y. Kaihatsu, 63 years, died on May 13, 2025. She was the daughter of Rose M. Kaihatsu and the late Omar Kaihatsu. Sister of the late Donald Kaihatsu, Jane Kaihatsu, Ed (Jean) Kaihatsu,  and Anne Kaihatsu. Aunt to Kenji, Anjolie and Malia Kaihatsu. Nancy was born in Chicago, IL on July 12, 1961and grew up in Jefferson Park and Park Ridge, IL. She graduated from Theodore Roosevelt School and Lincoln Jr. High School in Park Ridge, IL. She graduated Maine South High School in 1979. Nancy attended Loyola University-Chicago in the nursing program for two years before transferring to San Diego State University. She received a B. S. in Nutrition in 1982.

After college, Nancy worked for the San Diego school district teaching elementary school students about how to eat nutritiously. She became active in the San Diego Asian-American Pacific Islander community and worked for community organizations related to substance abuse support and treatment. Her last position in California was at the U. of California San Diego as a Grants Administrator in the cardiovascular medical research department.

Nancy had a variety of interests and enjoyed sports. In middle school and high school, Nancy joined the Christ Church of Chicago (Tri-C) Girls’ softball and basketball teams. With the Twinkies, the Tri-C’s softball team, Nancy was known as a formidable catcher and outfielder. In San Diego, she learned to surf and joined a swim club whose workouts were in the Pacific Ocean instead of a pool.

Nancy loved all kinds of art and had painted oils and watercolors at Maine South. She also enjoyed ceramics and crafting. She was a good cook and had kitchen and cooking tools of all kinds in her well-stocked kitchen. In particular, Nancy enjoyed expressing herself with Japanese arts and crafts. In elementary, middle and part of high school, Nancy was a member of the Shizuko Inbe Dance Troupe, which performed formal classical Japanese dance. She also participated in the annual Obon folk dance festivals at the Midwest Buddhist Temple. Also while younger, Nancy briefly attended Saturday morning Japanese School at the Buddhist Temple of Chicago.

In 2000, Nancy suffered an anoxic brain injury which left her permanently disabled. She was brought back to Chicago where her family cared for her. While she could not keep a cat at the various nursing facilities where she resided, she never lost her love for cats. In lieu of flowers or donations, please donate to animal rescue shelters, particularly those caring for cats.

A Memorial Service will be held for Rose’s daughter and our sister, Nancy Y. Kaihatsu, on Saturday, July 19, 2025, beginning at 1:00 p.m. at Nelson Funeral Home, 820 Talcott Rd., Park Ridge.

In lieu of flowers please donate to an animal rescue shelter, particularly those for cats, in Nancy’s name. 

For information, 847-823-5122.