Tsuruko "Tudy" Okimoto

1923 - 2023

Tsuruko "Tudy" Okimoto
OCTOBER 23, 1923 – NOVEMBER 28, 2022

TSURUKO OKIMOTO WAS BORN ON OCTOBER 23, 1923, IN IRVINE RANCH, CA TO SABUROEMON AND NAKA HIRAMI, WHO EMIGRATED FROM WAKAYAMA, JAPAN. TSURUKO WAS THE SEVENTH OF NINE CHILDREN AND THE YOUNGEST DAUGHTER. SHE WAS AFFECTIONATELY CALLED TSURUBE BY HER PAPA AND WAS ALSO KNOWN TO MANY AS TSURU AND TUDY. SHE GREW UP IN WESTMINSTER, CALIFORNIA ON THE FAMILY STRAWBERRY FARM.

At the age of 14, after her mama's passing, Tudy became the primary homemaker for her family. She took great pride in this responsibility, incorporating her secret ingredient of "love" into every meal. It was through her cooking that she shared her love and appreciation with others.

Tudy went to Excelsior High School in Norwalk, CA, now known as Huntington Beach Union High School. On April 5, 1942, Tudy and her family were forced to leave their home and report to Santa Anita Racetrack assembly center, before relocating to a Japanese American War Relocation Center in Rohwer, AR. While in "camp", she contributed to the camp's newspaper Hi-Lites as a reporter, and completed her high school education, earning her diploma from Denson High School in 1944. Tudy and her family would remain in Rohwer, AR until their release on June 19, 1945.

After camp, Tudy moved to Denver, CO. She found work at a local potato chip factory and a chicken commercial hatchery. She met Yutaka "Yuta" Okimoto and the two were married on February 14, 1949. Tudy and Yuta moved to Gardena, CA and were blessed with two daughters, Lisa and Maria. When the girls were older, she started working at Western Lithograph, as a book binder, where she was a member of the Graphic Arts Union. She retired from Western Lithograph in 1988 at the age of 65.

Tudy was a devout Catholic and dedicated parishioner of St. Anthony of Padua, attending mass every Sunday. Tudy saw the good in the world, the people around her, and never hesitated to provide prayers, support, and comfort to others in their time of need. Her unwavering faith was evident until the very end of her life.

Tudy loved caring for her family. She spent much of her time sewing clothes for her daughters, gardening, and cooking. Her home was a revolving door of family and friends whom she would share flowers and vegetables with from her garden.Tudy hosted many of the family get-togethers and always made everyone feel welcomed with her home cooked meals, baked goodies made from scratch, and her infamous strawberry pie.

In 2012, Tudy moved to Honolulu, HI to live with her daughters. She enjoyed spending her time reading, doing word find puzzles, learning ikebana, watching the birds in the garden, singing, watching her shows and making new friends. She passed away peacefully at the age of 99 on November 28, 2022 with her daughters by her side. Her contagious smile and laugh will be remembered by all who knew her.

She is survived by her two daughters, Lisa Okimoto Tsutsui (Roy) and Maria Okimoto Miranda (Kimo), four grandchildren, Nicole (Sean), Lana (Sean), Kainani, and Kalae-Daniel, and her seven great-grandchildren, Makoa, Eamonn, Sanoe, Valentina, Ka'eokulani, Sonny, and Kaho'iwai.

Aloha
Maria Okimoto Miranda

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