Hiroko Hayashi

1921 - 2022

Hiroko Hayashi
February 16, 1921 - March 14, 2022
Sacramento, California - On March 14, 2022, Hiroko Asano Hayashi, 101, passed away peacefully at her home in Sacramento, CA. Hiroko's gentle kindness and loving spirit will be deeply missed but her legacy will live on through her cherished family. Hiroko is survived by her daughter Judy (Reginald Ikebe), and daughter Carol (Tom Kudow). Hiroko also had three granddaughters Wendy Ikebe-Wong (Sueon), Tammy Matsumoto (Kevin), and Sherry Ikebe and three great grandchildren, Kailey Wong, Tyler Matsumoto, and Ryan Matsumoto. She is also survived by her sister, Jane Fukui (Ray) and numerous nieces and nephews.
Hiroko was born in Stockton, California on February 16, 1921 to Harusaburo and Haru Asano. She was the oldest of four children. She went to Lincoln Jr High School and graduated from Sacramento High School. Hiroko also attended sewing school and Japanese language school during her high school years.
Hiroko married Minoru Hayashi in February 1942. After the start of WWII, they were moved to Stockton Assembly Center and from there they were transferred to Rohwer, Arkansas and then to Tule Lake, California Relocation Camps. After being released from camp in 1945 Hiroko and Minoru worked on a farm in Stockton until 1948. Later they moved to Sacramento to start a hotel business. Hiroko worked at the front desk and did the cleaning and upkeep for the business while Minoru did the book keeping while also working as a landscape gardener. Throughout the years they were able to steadily upgrade the hotels and apartments they purchased. In the late 60's they built the Glenbrook Mobile Estate in Granite Bay. Hiroko did the payroll and helped with the business aspect of the mobile park until Minoru's passing in 2004. She and Minoru were married for 62 wonderful years.
Minoru and Hiroko enjoyed traveling and visited numerous places. Hiroko also had several hobbies, her favorite was Japanese flower arrangement and she took lessons for over 50 years. She also loved arts and crafts such as: sewing, crocheting, origami, and making ribbon fish to support the annual church bazaar fundraiser. Hiroko also enjoyed going to the casino but most of all she loved to be with her family whether on a family trip, birthday and holiday parties or a day at home feeding them her delicious inari-sushi.
We are forever grateful to Hiroko's caregiver, Leba Tanoa and her family, for their exemplary loving, compassionate, care for six years.
A private service was held. In lieu of flowers or koden a donation can be made to the Sacramento Buddhist Church or to your favorite charity in her memory.