Helyn Hideko Uchiyama

Our dear mother and grandmother, Helyn Hideko Mikawa Uchiyama, a resident of Saratoga and Los Gatos, passed away peacefully on June 10, 2023, at the age of 94. She left behind a large, loving family who admired her long and full life, and rejoices at her joining her husband, Dr. Raymond Shoichi Uchiyama, and her son, Brett Shoji Uchiyama, in eternal life. Helyn Mikawa was born on October 16, 1928 in Cheyenne, Wyoming to Japanese farmers who moved to Brighton and Greeley, Colorado and put their ten children to work. To escape farming life, Helyn earned a full scholarship to C.U. Boulder and obtained a B.S. in Chemistry. She worked as a medical lab technologist in San Francisco and married a dentist studying at U.C. San Francisco. Their eldest daughter, Audrey, was born in Japan while Raymond Uchiyama was in the U.S. Air Force in 1957. Helyn and Raymond's six children were raised in Saratoga, California. Helyn's daily life was consumed by her children's upbringing, where education was emphasized as well as their hobbies, including various sports, piano and dance lessons, Japanese language school, 4H and girl scouts. Helyn was an excellent cook, seamstress, golfer, skier, card player (bridge and poker) and a big sports fan who loved the San Francisco Giants and 49ers. Helyn's family also enjoyed camping and traveling in their R.V., and sightseeing in Europe, Asia and Australia. Helyn Uchiyama is survived by her children, Audrey Gleason, Karen Uchiyama, Kurt Uchiyama, Lynda (Dominique) Biner, Lisa (Giovanni) Coglitore, Brett Uchiyama's widow Sue Wood Uchiyama; her grandchildren Amy Gleason (D.J.) Hardigree, Megan Gleason (Daniel) Walsh, Jordan Gleason, Kyle Biner, Matthew Biner, Ryan Bailey, Mia Bailey, Kiana Uchiyama; her great-grandchildren Lincoln Walsh, Oscar Walsh, and Brielle Hardigree. A funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, July 9 at Oak Hill Memorial Park, 300 Curtner Avenue in San Jose; burial at 12:30 p.m. with lunch to follow at Jade Cathay Restaurant. Please RSVP to attend the luncheon to karen@uchlegal.com.