DR. EMMA YOSHIKO HATAYAMA

Emma was born on June 16, 1919, and passed away on Thursday, January 6, 2011, in Selma. She was born on the family farm in Del Rey, the youngest child to Toku and Tanekichi Hatayama. Her schooling included Rosedale Elementary School in Del Rey, Sanger High School, Fresno State College, and Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania (now called Drexel University College of Medicine). Just prior to the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941 she was accepted to Medical School where she got her medical degree in 1945, and interned to get fully licensed in 1948. She returned to the Fresno Area to do a two year residency at Fresno General Hospital. She opened her first office in 1950 while working part time at Veteran's Hospital. She practiced as an internist until her retirement in 1993. Emma was one of the first Nisei (second generation Japanese- American) women to get her medical degree and practice in the Central Valley. She became an inspiration to her nieces and nephews, encouraging them to get a good education. She was also a farmer/business woman who owned and ran her own farm in Del Rey. One of her hobbies included playing a Japanese instrument call the Koto. Traveling the world was an adventure she loved. She especially loved visiting Alaska, Europe, and found the Middle East intriguing. All would say she was very intelligent and an avid reader, with a penchant for mysteries. Her compassion for animals showed up in all the stray cats and dogs she would adopt. Thank you to all of Emma's family, friends, colleagues, and staff at the Golden Living Center in Fowler, who lovingly knew and took care of Emma. As the last surviving sibling, she was preceded in death by by her parents; sisters, Herma Okinaka and Ayako Honda; brothers, Howard Hatayama and Narumi Hatayama; and nephew, Brian Okinaka. She had many nieces, nephews and their families. Nieces include, Dr. Carole Ulich of New York, Joyce Hatayama of Santa Barbara, Sharon Kamimoto of San Jose and Lilace Hatayama of Venice. Nephews, include Ron Okinaka of Orange, Leigh Hatayama of West Los Angeles, Wayne Hatayama of San Ramon, Dr. Rodney Hatayama of Fresno, David Hatayama of Del Rey, and Earl Honda of Fowler. A Memorial Service will be held at Wallin's Parlier Funeral Home, 7942 Mendocino Avenue, in Parlier, on Saturday, January 15, 2011, at 10:00 a.m. WALLIN'S FOWLER FUNERAL HOME 302 E. Merced Street Fowler, California (559)834-2531