Mary Mitoko Shimizu

1919 - 2016

Mary Mitoko Shimizu

Mary Mitoko Shimizu passed away peacefully on Wednesday, July 13, 2016. She is survived by her three children and their spouses, Bruce and Kiyo, Joyce and Michael, and Michael; and her four grandchildren, Max, Sam, Emma, and Tessa. Mary was born in the Spring of 1919 in the city of Compton, CA. Shortly thereafter she moved to the family home in Kagoshima, Japan where she spent her childhood with her older sister, Teru, and younger brother, Kano. She always spoke fondly of both later in life. In 1948 she returned to Los Angeles where she attended the Metropolitan School of Business. There she met Ben Shimizu, her future husband of 60 years. After a two-year courtship, they married in the Chicago Buddhist Church on April 10, 1950. In the Spring of 1961 the family moved from Belmont, CA to Palos Verdes Peninsula, which they called home for the next 44 years.
Family was always very important to Mary. She wanted her children to do well and was always willing to help out, whether it be on a field trip with a bunch of elementary school kids, as a den mother for the cub scouts, or just hosting the neighborhood kids for the afternoon. Mary was known for her hospitality; hosting friends and extended family for short chats accompanied by tea and homemade cakes or for big holiday dinners with all the fixings. She enjoyed taking on different artistic projects – charcoal sketches, oil painting, floral arrangements, and just simple arts and crafts with the kids. Mary also worked at Buffums department store for several years where she made many friends. She had a knack for making friends wherever she went, including at the Sunrise facility in Huntington Beach where she and Ben spent their final years together. So many of the staff were drawn to Mary by what she will always be remembered for: her kindness and generosity; beauty and grace. All with a touch of a fiery spirit. The family expresses their deepest appreciation to all her wonderful and caring friends at Sunrise and to Apex Hospice for their support.
A service will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 31, 2016 at Orange County Buddhist Church, 909 S Dale Ave. Please sign the guestbook at www.dailybreeze.com/obits.