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Violet Wong Sakata
1915 - 2012
Violet Wong Sakata
1915 - 2012
Obituary
Guest Book
BORN
1915
DIED
2012
Violet Sakata Obituary
Violet Wong Sakata was born on July 18, 1915 in Honolulu. She died on March 13, 2012 at Hale Nani Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Honolulu at the age of 96.
Her parents, Kim Look and Farm Shee Lau emigrated from China.
She was pre-deceased by her brothers:
Charles S. F. Lau
Lawrence H. Lau
Edward L. Lau
George C. Lau
Violet grew up on Oahu and attended Washington Intermediate and McKinley High Schools. She married her high school sweetheart, Samuel C. Wong, and moved to Kalihi Kai. She and Sam raised their five children, Barbara, Cynthia, Melvin, Janice, and Kevin in Kalihi Kai. Daughter Cynthia died at the young age of 2 1/2 in 1944 and will be reinterred with Violet at Hawaiian Memorial Park on March 30, 2012.
During her marriage to Sam, Violet worked at the family grocery store, WONG YAU STORE, located at the corner of Mokauea St. and Dillingham Blvd. in Kalihi-Kai. Besides being a cashier, she was a stock clerk and butcher. She and Sam processed and cut up sides of beef for steaks, hamburger, roasts, stews; and sliced luncheon meat and bologna to supply a variety of fresh meat products to their customers.
Violet was a talented seamstress who drafted her own patterns and enjoyed sewing clothes for her children. She was an excellent cook and talented baker, who delighted family and friends with such favorite desserts as blueberry cream cheese pie, banana cream pie, prune cake, fruit cake, energy bars, chocolate chip and butter cookies.
When Sam passed away in 1969, Violet continued working to support her family. In the early to mid-1970s, she was employed at Fantasy, a business that specialized in making wedding centerpieces, floral decorations, and other party memorabilia.
As a widow, she took up ballroom dancing. It was through her dance outings that she met her second husband, Robert (Bob) Sakata. In 1977, Violet married Bob and moved to Kaneohe. Bob was a daily swimmer at Ala Moana Beach Park and helped Violet to conquer her fear of the water. She became an avid swimmer and on one occasion, swam a thousand meters (half the length of Ala Moana). Bob was a lifetime golfer and taught Violet to golf. They became regulars at Pali Golf Course, often playing an 18-hole round of golf up to three times a week.
As a United Airline employee, Bob's flight privileges allowed them to travel frequently to destinations such as Hong Kong, Tokyo, Vancouver, Las Vegas, Reno, Los Angeles (to visit her son Kevin and grandson Alan), and Hilo (to visit her daughter Jan and family).
Bob and Violet were frequent, oftentimes daily weekday visitors to the Windward Mall, where they spent hours socializing and enjoying life with other Mall "groupies." These visits were not only enjoyable to them but also resulted in lifelong, loyal friendships.
Bob passed away in 1998.
Violet enjoyed gardening, often spending hours at a time meticulously tending to her yard, eliminating all traces of dried, brown leaves.
Violet was a devoted wife, loving and caring mother, and loyal friend. We will miss her presence, but she will live on in our hearts forever.
She is survived by daughters Barbara Jean W. Ho (Wallace K. Y. Ho), Janice Yoshiyama of Hilo (Gary N. Yoshiyama), Sons Melvin K. K. Wong (Elaine C. Wong), and Kevin K. O. Wong.
Ten grandchildren: Alan Ho (Sheryl), Cheryl Anne Gee (Dennis F. Gee), Kathy Lynn Ho, Mason Yoshiyama, Liane Yoshiyama, Traci Yoshiyama (Chaning Jang), Marc Wong (Natalie), Nathan Wong, Kendall Wong, Melia Cruz.
Six great-grandchildren: Mitchell Ho, Matthew Ho, Katherine Gee, Jason Gee, Madison Wong and Siena Wong.
Visitation and services will be held on March 30, 2012 at Borthwick Mortuary, Mauka Chapel, 1330 Maunakea Street at the following times:
Visitation: 11:00 a.m.
Service: Noon
Lunch: 1:00 p.m.
Depart for Hawaiian Memorial Park Cemetery: 2:30 p.m.
45-425 Kamehameha Highway, Kane'ohe
Burial: 3:00 p.m. (Garden of Love)
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
6 Entries
Maria Cruz
March 31, 2012
Mel and Family,
We are saddened by the loss of a wonderful woman, your mom. She was one of the kindest and sweetest women we've ever known, one who gave her love to everyone. Though she has left, her spirit lives on in everyone she has blessed by knowing her. Our condolences to you and the family.
Melia Cruz
March 31, 2012
To everyone in the family, we send our deepest condolences. Grandma Violet was a wonderful woman, always warm, caring, and smiling. She was a sweet woman, one who welcomed you with open arms, smiles, and energy bars. We are grateful that we had the time to know and grow to love her, and thankful that we had the opportunity to have such a wonderful woman touch our lives.
March 30, 2012
Violet Wong Sakata
Sharing Our Thoughts
My Grandmother's Smile
Her smile. It says it all. It had the ability to change the face of a day, to make strangers feel welcome, to bring life to a picture, and to linger long after everything else is gone. My grandmother's smile epitomizes her life, that although tough at times, it should still be joyous and done with grace. Along with grace also came spunk. One such example was her dancing. I knew of her love for it, not due to stories of her formal training or the awards on her wall, but for the many unexpected times when she would get up, start moving her arms and shuffling her feet. This is one of the many things where her fervor outlasted her age. And that was who she was, a person who refused to turn age into an excuse. A person whose stubbornness was something to admire, not admonish. A person I can say that I am proud to have had as a grandmother.
Traci Yoshiyama
Grand-daughter
My Mom…….
My Mom was a loving, caring and thoughtful person. Her family was the most important part of her life. She always thought about her children first and herself last. She was so proud of her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.
In her younger days, she was an accomplished seamstress. I remember Mom sewing me a new dress for Christmas and Easter masses because she knew it was an important day for me.
Her delicious white fruitcake and blueberry cream cheese desserts were mouthwatering ---taste unmatched!
Mom enjoyed working in her yard tending to her plants, and cutting off all the dried flowers and leaves.
She learned ballroom dancing, swimming, and golfing at a later age, and enjoyed these activities as well.
Mom was an amazing woman; strong, determined, admired by many and a survivor.
Barbara Ho
Daughter
Message To My Mom
Mom, the character Jing-mei (June) Woo, depicted in the book Joy Luck Club reminds me of you. June's mother told her she was ‘best quality', but that she did not know her own value. Like June, you were and are so special, but you did not realize or believe it. You always said you were stupid because you had only a high school education and could not help us with our studies. However your common sense, and the example you set by how you lived and treated people provided me lessons far beyond what books or lofty educational degrees could.
From you I always felt unconditional love, and I learned what love and sacrifice for your family really means. You always put us first, before yourself. You encouraged me, celebrated my accomplishments and happiness, and empathized with my stumbles and heartbreak. Our happiness was your happiness. Even after I married and lived apart, we talked regularly by phone. Gary would often say, “What do you two have so much to talk about?” It was just natural, mother/daughter, woman to woman talk.
I also saw your strength and determination when faced with the loss of Daddy and Bob, and with your own health issues. You never gave up.
When you had a task before you, you could find a way to do the job by reason and common sense (often more successful than book smarts). You were an accomplished seamstress and could draft your own patterns, a skill not many can claim. I often awoke the morning of a special occasion to find a beautiful dress or muumuu expertly sewn by you hanging in my room ready for me. You stayed up all night sewing! Your baked desserts were scrumptious. Your banana cream pie was the best!
As a senior citizen you learned to swim, dance, and golf. Boy, you had a nice golf swing! I'm so glad we were able to golf together. You were graceful and could also swing those hips! Memories of the two of us dancing bring a smile to my lips. That was fun, wasn't it?
People loved you! You had a way of engaging people in conversation and soon a relationship was established. How often people would say to me, “You are so lucky to have a wonderful mother”. They were right! You were kind, warm, funny, generous, thoughtful, and feisty.
Mom, you are of best quality. Thank you for giving me life and love. I love you and miss you.
Janice Yoshiyama
Daughter
Grateful to and Remembering Grandma Violet
I count myself as one of the fortunate to have been blessed with the opportunity to grow up with a Grandmother. Some people never have this opportunity.
I will always remember Grandma Violet as a strong woman with a radiant smile who was full of life. She was not a “shrinking violet”…for sure. From my earliest memories, I recall watching Jack LaLanne on TV and Grandma exercising with him in the living room. I remember when she first learned to dance and she would do the “cha cha”. She would recite, “one, two, cha-cha-cha” and show me the steps. She loved to talk about how far she swam at Magic Island. She was vibrant and active throughout her life.
Blueberry cream cheese pie with macadamia nut shortbread crust, energy bars, and her famous prune cake make my mouth water to this day. I remember the most beautiful leis she made with stephanotis, crown flowers and pakalana flowers from her garden.
Grandma Violet will live on in eternity because of all of the memories that she helped to create for me and all those whose lives she touched.
Cheryl Gee
Grand-daughter
A Special Person
Dedication: Dear Grandma, I wrote this book about you because you are a special person. I hope you like the book I wrote for you. Love, Mason.
MY GRANDMA
My grandma is a special person. Her name is Violet Wong Sakata. She was born in Honolulu, Hawai‘i on July 18, 1915. She went to Washington Intermediate, then continued to McKinley High School.
She enjoys golfing, baking, and working in her garden. Sometimes when she visits us in Hilo, she brings some of her delicious cookies that she bakes. I absolutely enjoy eating her chocolate chip cookies. They are the best in the world!
When my grandma was young, they didn't have many toys. Instead they made their own toys. Many of the toys they made were of sticks and stones. My grandma and her friends played games like steal the egg. The “egg” was really nothing but a stone. Other games she played were pee-wee, hop scotch, jump rope, and marbles. One place she liked to play in was the forest. They also went to the taro patch to catch fish.
My grandma's parents owned a store in Pawaa. My grandma didn't only play, she had to help in the store. Grandma Violet played under the vegetable bins. Her responsibilities were to stack the shelves, package rice, and shell lima beans.
She generally ate Chinese food. Chickens, duck, and potatoes were another part of her diet.
When she was growing up they didn't have money for movies. She knew how to get around this. The walls of the theater were made of corrugated iron. Grandma Violet and her friends would peek through the walls to get a glimpse of the show.
My grandpa did at the age of 54. Since my grandma never handled the finances, she had to learn to pay the bills, and balance the checks and the business account.
Grandma is happiest when she is with her family. A special moment was when her first grandson was born.
My grandma still lives in Honolulu, and calls every Saturday. I am glad to have a grandma like her. She will always be treasured.
By Mason Yoshiyama
Grade 5 (Age 10)
Grandma shared with everyone…
I will always remember the love and affection that Grandma shared with family, friends, and anyone she came across during her lifetime. Whether she knew you for her entire life or just met you a few minutes ago, she viewed all as a friendly face and was always willing to lend a helping hand.
“Grandma, I love you and you will be missed by all that you touched throughout your wonderful life.”
Mason Yoshiyama
Grandson, Age 32
She Loved and Is Loved
Bringing Back Feeling Through Glimpses Of The Past:
Mental Frame #1 – Warm; Inviting; Family: Mrs. Wong in her little crowded kitchen with dining table and four chairs, cooking homemade saimin for Kevin, Jan and I at 2 am in the morning – after a hard nightshift at ABC Discount Store or coming back to Jan's home after a hard night of playing. The feelings this family has for each other could be felt in the warmth of the room.
The Kaimuki home is where I met mother-in-law-to be Violet Wong. A kind, open, and caring person. I have always wondered, “Wow this person can talk with anyone anywhere and somehow leave such a good impression.” I guess everyone got the sense that she cared.
Kevin, Jan and Mom sitting in the kitchen talking story, actually having a conversation and joking and laughing. “Some nice this family.”
Mental Frame #2 – Sharing and Enjoying: Jan and Mom dancing the Cha Cha in our living room. An impromptu affair, as it always seems – boy they enjoyed themselves. Always inviting me to join them; me always refusing with a smile on my face. They looked happy; they enjoyed each other. Jan still gets into the mood once in a while nowadays. Unfortunately her partner isn't able to join in the fun.
Mental Frame #3 – Family Centered: The family gatherings, dinners, and traveling. The Ho's home in Halawa – the family continues to grow – it was nice. You can tell her kids love her – she showed them how; she taught them how.
Mental Frame #4 – Fun and Family: Las Vegas, Triple 7 slots, the gold frog ring rubbing on the glass of the slot machine, the seriousness of all, and “Mason go cash this bucket of silver dollars in and give Grandma another bucket; hurry up!” We had fun. Winners, all of us.
Mental Frame #5 – Connected With Family: Mom and Jan talking on the phone it seems every day for years. “What they got to talk about every single day?” I finally got it – they were friends.
There's a lot of loving going on here. “Thank you Violet.”
Gary Yoshiyama
2nd Favorite Son-In-Law
Remembering Grandma Violet With Love
When I think about Grandma Violet, I remember her sitting at her dining room table cutting waxed paper into individual rectangles for her energy bars. Each piece of paper was cut so neatly and identical. I remember her laughing fits and laughing along with her because she couldn't stop. Most of all I remember how she made me feel, so loved and special, as if I was her favorite grandchild.
Liane Yoshiyama
Grand-daughter
Mom: Life-Long Lessons in Love
“The mother's heart is the child's schoolroom.”
- Henry Ward Beecher (American Congressional Minister 1813-1887)
Those simple but eloquent words convey what Mom meant most to me. I feel so fortunate and grateful to have received from Mom, by example, a lifetime of lessons in love. In my mind, she wrote the Book of Love without ever writing a word. Words were not necessary—she lived a life of love.
Mom's warmth and kindness were well known to all of us who were lucky enough to have known her. Those special qualities, however, were not reserved for just family or friends. Even strangers meeting her for the first time could sense what a truly special person she was.
I recall two incidents during a trip to Las Vegas and LA that Mom, Kay, and I took several years ago that illustrate that perfectly. Being on a full flight from Honolulu to LA, we were not able to sit in adjoining seats. During the flight, Mom, as she so often did, struck up a new friendship with one of the flight attendants. Toward the end of the trip, the flight attendant came to Kay and me and said: “Your Mom is such a sweet lady. You're so lucky to have her as a Mom.” Mom had made such a favorable impression on the flight attendant that as we departed the airplane, she gave us two bottles of wine to enjoy during our trip.
On that same trip, while shopping in the LA Garment District, I was approached by a sales person in a men's clothing store. She asked me, “is that lady over there your Mom?” After replying that she was, the sales person told me: “Your Mom is such a sweet, nice lady.” Apparently, while we were busy shopping, Mom had struck up a conversation with the salesperson and her warm personality made an immediate impact. Mom touched the hearts of so many people by just being herself . . . she wrote the Book of Love, without ever writing a word.
Mom's kindness and generosity often resulted in family and friends being treated to her many delicious desserts ranging from blueberry cream cheese, pumpkin, and banana cream pies, fruit cakes, and chocolate chip and butter cookies, and last but not least, her famous energy bars. To show her appreciation, she liked to give a box of dim sum to those who had done something for which she felt should be rewarded. She was generous beyond her means. Mom taught me that sharing is caring.
Mom lived her last years bravely facing the challenges of dementia and associated complications. Through it all, as she had done her entire life, Mom displayed a strength and dignity that will forever be an inspiration to me and to all of us that shared those times with her. She complained about nothing and was always appreciative of the help she received from our family and her caregivers from Kokua Care.
Mom, you were the “Rock of Gibraltar” that held our family together and provided guidance by your actions. Although you're no longer physically present, your life-long lessons in love will serve us well in the future and will help to ease our loss. Mom, I love you, and I am eternally grateful to be your son.
Kevin Wong
Your “Baby” Boy
Elise Ching
March 29, 2012
Kevin and family, So sorry to hear of your Mom's passing. You were very fortunate to have been able to share the last years of her life by being back in Hawaii. She lived a long, full and joyful life, so I hope you have many memories to carry you through this sad time.
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Steve Batte
March 29, 2012
Kevin,
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family in your time of grief. May your memories bring you comfort.
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