Hideko "Helen" Okuma

Okuma, Hideko "Helen"
Hideko was born on March 23, 1925 and passed away on February 14, 2010 at age 84. Hideko was born and raised in Oakland, CA., the fifth and youngest child of Shunjiro Matsuo and Kazuye Hanada Matsuo. The family lived in Oakland and owned a grocery store in Berkeley before being interned to the Gila River Camp in Arizona in 1942 during World War II. She earned her high school diploma at camp and enjoyed her work at the camp hospital as a nurse's aid. After 3 years at the camp, she married Ikuo "Sam" Okuma in 1945, enabling her to leave the camp. Hideko was a devoted Mother and homemaker residing in Glendale, AZ. for 65 years. She was a member of the Arizona Buddhist Church which was an important part of her life. Her kind and gentle spirit will be missed by family and friends. She is survived by her husband Sam, daughter Jane Okuma (husband Chris Gordon and daughter Mika Gordon), son Phil Okuma (wife Betty and son Brad), and son Don Okuma. A memorial service will be held at 3:00 pm on Saturday, February 20, 2010 at the Chapel of the Chimes Mortuary, 7924 North 59th Avenue, Glendale, AZ. If you would like to make a donation in lieu of flowers, please donate to Hospice of the Valley who was so kind to Hideko: Hospice of the Valley West Office, 9435 W. Peoria Avenue, Peoria, AZ 85345.