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BORN
1924
DIED
2020
FUNERAL HOME
Mineko Sakai Obituary
January 27, 2020. Born and raised in Gilroy, California, only leaving during WWII when
relocated with her family to Grand Junction, Colorado, where she met her future husband
Lawson Iichiro Sakai.
She and Lawson married in 1946, moved to Los Angeles, but returned to Gilroy after 2 years.
They eventually opened their own travel business which they ran until retiring in 1990. She
served on the Board of Directors of Wheeler Hospital and South County Hospital and
volunteered for both as well as St. Louise Hospital for nearly 50 years. Mineko traveled
extensively and enjoyed many hobbies including golfing, knitting, sewing, and quilting.
She is survived by husband Lawson Sakai, children Kenneth (Lynda) Sakai, Joanne Sakai
(Dallas Foster), Janet (Noriaki) Ito, and Dennis Sakai (Linda Durrin), grandchildren, Kelly
(Francesca) Sakai, Nicholas Sakai, Mika Ito (Byron Yamada), Gaku Ito (Aya Ino), Kisa Ito (Erik
Fujinami), Stephen Sakai, Kimberlee Sakai (Morad Alvarez), great-granddaughter Mie Yamada,
and sister Aiko Elsie (Lawrence - predeceased) Nakamura, sisters-in-law Sumi Hirasaki, Jean
Hirasaki, Joanne Hirasaki and brother-in-law Kazuto Oki, as well as many nieces and nephews.
She is predeceased by her parents Haruye Hirasaki and Kiyoshi Hirasaki and siblings Manabi
Hirasaki, Fumiko (Kenji) Maruko, Michiko (William) Sakamoto, Hisashi Hirasaki, Shinobu
Hirasaki and Midori Oki.
Private funeral services were held on February 8, 2020 at Gavilan Hills Memorial Park in Gilroy,
California. A public 49th day memorial service will be held on March 21, 2020 at the Morgan Hill
Buddhist Community Center from 2:00 PM. Please, no flowers.
Online condolences at www.habingfamilyfuneralhome.com.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Mineko Sakai
Sponsored by Habing Family Funeral Home.
4 Entries
Katherine Tsujimoto
March 28, 2020
Mineko is one of those people you meet in life, you never forget. I was so deeply saddened upon hearing of her passing. I extend my condolences to Lawson and Mineko's entire family. What a loss to this community, I had the pleasure of working with her and her husband Lawson at the museum, and on special projects. The knowledge she gifted to us, and her volunteer spirit will be Remembered and treasured for generations to come. Mineko had I can help and What do you need written all over her. She gave with patience and kindness. Thanks Mineko
February 16, 2020
Our heartfelt sympathy to Lawson and the entire Sakai
family for your loss of Mineko Sakai.May you find comfort
in family and friends and in the precious memories you
share. May she Rest In Peace.
Chet and Kathy Campanella. San Jose
Irene Yamane
February 10, 2020
Mineko was the most beautiful expression of life. All my love to the family.
Phill & Kathy Laursen
February 10, 2020
Mineko is a wonderful model for citizenship, deeply involved as a health care volunteer and business woman, devoted to children and family. We are lucky to have known her.
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