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BORN
1934
DIED
2017
Sara Haruyama Obituary
July 27, 1934 - June 29, 2017
Sara Hamilton Haruyama died peacefully at her home surrounded by her family on June 29, 2017 at the age of 82. Born Sarah Frances to Iron Lee and Fuschia Saunders Hamilton in Troy, North Carolina, she was the youngest of six. She earned her BA degree from High Point College in 1955. While getting her Masters degree at Teacher's College at Columbia, she met Justin Giichi Haruyama and they married in 1958. In 1961, Sara and Justin, as missionaries for the United Methodist Church made their way to Kagoshima, Japan.After 10 years in Japan, Sara and Justin decided to take on the new challenge of ministering to the Japanese Americans in New York city. Sara taught English and American social studies at the Japanese School in New York.
In 1997, Sara again made a new home in Oakland, becoming an active member at the Berkeley Methodist United Church. She is remembered by family and friends for her ceaseless kindness, great gift for friendship, love of family, spirit of social activism, fun-loving nature, and insatiable appetite to learn new things.
Sara is survived by her 3 children: Andrew (Cynthia), Stephen (Robin), and Amy (Akemi); 10 grandchildren: Justin, Dorothy, Stuart (Farzanah), Jared (Lauren), Aaron, Mark, Cherish, Skye, Maya, and Anna; and one great granddaughter: Aiko.
A celebration of Sara's life will be held at the Berkeley Methodist United Church (1710 Carleton St, Berkeley, CA) at 11:00am on Saturday, July 29th.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Justin Haruyama Ministerial Scholarship Fund, c/o Japanese American United Church, 255 7th Ave, New York, NY 10001
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Sara Haruyama
3 Entries
mika naramoto
September 9, 2018
Dear Ms Haruyama
I am so sad that I cannot see you and talk with you .
You supported my life in New York.I learned a lot from you.I am happy with my second husband in tokyo now.I am working as a pharmacist.
Please watch over from Heaven. Thank you so much for your love.
Love ,Mika
Yoshihito Koya
January 19, 2018
I had two English speaking teachers when I studied at NYJS. Mrs. Epstein was my first English teacher, and Mrs. Haruyama was my first American history teacher. She was very kind and spoke to me in Japanese when I couldn't speak English at all back then. My deepest heartfelt and most sincere condolences to her family members. May God rest her gentle soul at rest in peace.
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