Ayako Jedlicka

Ayako Jedlicka, aged 93, passed away peacefully on February 16, 2024 in Farmington, Connecticut.

She is survived by her loving children Jay (Nonie) Jedlicka, Joy (Matthew) Manock, and Jill (Bob) Beasley; and her adoring grandchildren Jana Jedlicka (David Lord), Jace Jedlicka, Jayni Jedlicka, Samantha Manock, Madison Manock, and Grant Manock; and siblings Matsuko and Hideko. She was predeceased by her father Tojiro, mother Tsuru, three siblings, and former husband.

Ayako was born in Osaka, Japan, the eldest of 6 children. She lived in Japan throughout World War II, working at her family's tofu and noodle business and caring for her younger siblings during the nations' chaos and reconstruction of the times.

As a young adult, she moved to Fukuoka, Japan and worked at the American military Post Exchange. It was here that she would meet and eventually marry her future husband, an American Air Force pilot stationed in Japan during the post-Korean War era.

In 1957, landing in California with a single trunk of belongings and her husband, Ayako became a proud American citizen. Moving to the East Coast, they ultimately settled in Connecticut to raise their three children. Here, she was active in the community while also remaining focused on her children's upbringing.

In the 70s and 80s, Ayako developed her talents in cooking and event-planning to establish her own successful catering business, elevating sushi to the standard of gourmet party fare and locally contributing to the early popularization of Asian cuisine.

Ayako loved food and music of all kinds. She had a passion for learning, possessed an exceptional green thumb, loved to read, and could mend any garment or sew creations from scratch, even through her latest years. Her personal style was economical yet elegant. Absolutely no-nonsense, Ayako considered no task too great or too small in the service of another. She defined herself through purposeful movement and endless energy, living independently until her passing.

Above all else Ayako loved family, friends, and people in general, ready to share a smile. Always curious, she was quick to strike up conversations with anyone during routine daily activities, often leaving them with a pleasant memory of a chance encounter with a special person. Equally principled and generous, Ayako managed to form unique and authentic bonds with each person she met, and she leaves behind a lasting legacy of kindness, humor, and courage.

She will be remembered as an inspiration, and her friends and family will continue to share many stories of her very full life.

A Celebration of Life will be held March 18, 2024 at the Holy Family Retreat Center in West Hartford, CT from 1:30pm-4:00pm.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in her name to the Farmington Senior Centerin Farmington, CT.