Sharon Akemi Nishimura

Sharon Akemi Nishimura, age 70, of Anaheim, passed away on May 25 after a hard-fought battle with bone cancer. Sharon was a loving daughter, wife, mother, and friend, known for her unwavering kindness, sense of humor, and feisty spirit.

Born in Tokyo, Japan, on January 18, 1955, Sharon grew up around U.S. Air Force bases in Japan, where she began her American schooling. When she was twelve, her father's work with the Army and Air Force Exchange Service took the family back to the United States. Though he was a civilian contractor, Sharon's childhood was marked by the nomadic lifestyle of a military family, moving frequently throughout the Midwest.

After graduating from Haworth High School in Kokomo, Indiana, Sharon attended Ohio State University where she became a forever Buckeye. Soon after, she fell seriously ill and had to step away from her collegiate life to focus on her health. Under the care of her parents and surrounded by the scenic beauty of Marquette, Michigan, she was able to heal.

Although she was born in Japan, it was her personal joy in reading Japanese literature that helped cultivate her fluency in Japanese. As Sharon settled in Southern California in the 1980s, her bilingual talents led her to a fulfilling career at Sumitomo Bank and later at Nissei America. It was during her time at Sumitomo that mutual friends connected her with her husband, Takuya Nishimura, with whom she shared a deep and enduring love. Their union was blessed with two children, daughter Tracy and son Alex, who filled their lives with joy and happiness.

In the years that followed, Sharon faced numerous health crises, including two occurrences of breast cancer, thyroid cancer, and an acoustic neuroma. Despite these challenges, she persevered with dignity and a steel-forged spirit. Her fight with bone cancer was her final battle, one she lost only because her body failed her.

Sharon was a genuinely kind person, the epitome of affability. She always put others before herself, willing to shoulder any burden to lighten someone else's load. She was the kind of person people remembered, even in passing. She smiled with her whole heart, laughed from her belly, and lived life with unbridled spirit.

Sharon was preceded in death by her mother, Reiko Takeda, her father, Fred Yasuo Takeda, and a baby sister who passed away shortly after birth. She is survived by her loving husband, Takuya Nishimura, their children Tracy and Alex, as well as a robust extended family and many cherished friends.

In accordance with Sharon's wishes, there will be no traditional funeral or memorial service. The family plans to mourn her passing privately. Her only request was that she be remembered as she was at her most vital-smiling, laughing, and full of life. Please hold her in your hearts as the joyful person she was, and know that every hug she gave came from the very depth of her heart.

The family welcomes your messages, memories, and photos in honor of Sharon. These may be shared on her Facebook page.

For those who wish to honor Sharon's memory, donations may be made in her name to a cancer-related charity of your choice, or to organizations that provide financial support for cancer patients, such as the Cancer Financial Assistance Coalition (www.cancerfac.org) or the Patient Advocate Foundation (www.patientadvocate.org). Although these are tangible ways to honor Sharon's memory, she would have simply wanted you to cherish those you love most in life.