December 9, 1929 - March 16, 2024
In Loving Memory ~
It is with profound sadness that we announce our dear, sweet Chiyo has left us. She died at home with her family.
Chiyo was born into the Japanese farming community at Bella Vista in Vernon, B.C., where she learned the tireless work ethic which she was so well known for.
Chiyo met the love of her life Jonny in Vernon. They settled in Vancouver where Sachi was born.
Later, Jonny and Chiyo bought a small grocery store on Salt Spring Island which they turned into a local landmark, the Vesuvius Store. They then moved to Lake Cowichan and launched a successful candle-making business and sold mushrooms and salal gathered from the forest.
Sadly, Jonny died in1992 and Chiyo returned to her beloved Vernon where she began volunteering (Upper Room Mission, Alexander Wing at VJH, OK Landing Elementary), and enjoyed time spent with family and friends, travelling, knitting/crocheting, gardening (especially pulling weeds!) and creating and selling her bouquets. Chiyo was an easy-going, fun-loving, playful, gentle and unselfish soul who was modest to a fault. She truly enjoyed her life and was grateful for every bit of it. She would often say, right up to the end, she had no regrets.
Chiyo is predeceased by father James, mother Aiko, sister Lily, brother Jim and husband Jonny.
She is survived by sister Betty (Henry), daughter Sachi (Christopher) and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.
She is and will be deeply missed.
A memorial service will be held at Pleasant Valley Funeral Home,
4303 Pleasant Valley Road, Vernon, B.C., Friday, April 5, 1:00 PM.
Service Details
1:00 PM