Masako Sasaki Burkett

1925 - 2016

Masako (Katy) Sasaki Burkett

Masako (Katy) Sasaki Burkett, 90, passed away on July 25, 2016 in Escondido, CA. She is survived by her daughters, Gretchen Robertson (Brian) of Flat Rock, IN, Dr. Ann Sasaki-Madigan (John) of Escondido, CA and son Tom (Char) of Forest, VA; grandchildren Mary, Daniel and Calli; sisters Kiku Kikuta and Noriko Nomura.  Her brother, Akio Sasaki, and sister, Tomoko Ema, preceded her in death.

Masako was born November 10, 1925 in Sendai, Japan and came to the US in 1952. In 1955, she moved to Indianapolis, which was her home for 59 years. She worked for Wm. H. Block and Indiana Lumberman's Insurance, from where she retired in 1990.

She was a strong, proud woman; once she made up her mind to do something, you did not want to get in her way - case in point, she learned to drive when she was in her late 50s! And her ladder had to be taken away when she was in her 80s so she would stop cleaning her own gutters. She was very artistic, trying her skills in hand coloring photographs, painting, paper cutout art, stained glass, and sewing. She was also an avid gardener, always working in her yard (as well as weeding wherever she visited) and her flowers were the envy of the neighborhood. Her strong work ethic was always evident, whether it was in providing for her family, keeping her house and yard immaculate, or making sure her children tried their best at whatever they did. She was proud of her children and their accomplishments, which they owe in large part to her.

A private Buddhist service to honor her memory and celebrate her life will be conducted in California with the family. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in her memory to one of the following: Humane Society of Indianapolis, 7929 N. Michigan Road, Indianapolis, IN 46268  www.indyhumane.org;  Vista Buddhist Temple, 150 Cedar Road, Bldg. B, Vista, CA 92083  www.vbtemple.org;   Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue, 7495 Natomas Road, Elverta, CA 95626  www.homewardboundgoldens.org