Tokiko Kishi

Tokiko passed away peacefully at the age of 99 in Hogarth-Riverview Manor on Thursday, September 14, 2017. Beloved wife of the late Minoru. Loving mother of Joyce Mauro (late Rudy), Ron (Mary), Gerry (Joanne) and Leslie (Rose). Dear sister of Ichie (late Noboru), Miyo (late Mark). Cherished grandmother of Rob Mauro (Marilyn), Kim Mauro (Chris), Randy Mauro (Mary Sue), Melissa Mauro (Donald Kerr), Diane Sepa-Kishi (Peit), Matthew, Nikki and Ben Kishi. Proud great-grandmother of Torr, Sarah (Pedro), Cole, Blake, Sophia, Natalie, Fergus and Elizabeth and great-great-grandmother of Audrey. She will be fondly remembered by numerous extended family members. Predeceased by her parents Yaichiro and Tokuno Endo, her siblings Lily (Chusaburo), Masaji (Kazue), Masatomo (Aiko) and Mitsuo.

Tokiko was born on September 9, 1918 in Vancouver, British Columbia. After attending school there she was employed as a skilled seamstress and later in a fish cannery. While working in Vancouver she met and married Minoru in December of 1939. During the war-time internment in the mountains of B.C. she rose to the challenge of raising a family under very trying conditions. After the war years, the family moved east, eventually settling in Fort William. During these busy years, Mom's strong faith, her work ethic and her joy in life never faltered. She was an active member of Wayside United Church and later Knox United Church. She was also a member of the Japanese Nisei Club.

In later years she had fun with her bowling league, the LJCA (Lakehead Japanese Canadian Association) and the seniors' Odori group. In her retirement, she demonstrated her artistic talents sewing Barbie doll clothes now used today by one of her great-granddaughters, creating elegant decorated cakes and cookies and beautiful oil paintings cherished by all of her family.

In 2005, Tokiko moved into Grandview Lodge, and in 2016 made the transition with Minoru to Hogarth-Riverview Manor.

She will be remembered as a kind, loving and thoughtful person, always giving to others. Although dementia affected her everyday life in the latter years, her pleasant and gentle personality never wavered. She brought joy and a loving feeling to all who knew her.

Our gratitude to the staffs of C Wing Grandview Lodge, Lilac 4 South in Hogarth-Riverview Manor and Superior Elder Care for caring for Mom as though she was a member of their own families.

Funeral Services for the late Mrs. Tokiko Kishi will be held on Tuesday, September 19, 2017 at 11:00 am in the WESTFORT CHAPEL, 420 West Gore Street at James. Visitation for family and friends will be held one hour prior to service time. A second service will be held in the near future in Pine Hills Cemetery in Toronto, where she will be interred beside Minoru and her Endo family.

If friends so desire, donations made in memory of Tokiko to the St. Joseph's Care Group-Manor House A.D.P. (Alzheimer Day Program), Northern Cardiac Fund or a charity of choice would be greatly appreciated.