YASUKO MAE MIYAUCHI

Yasuko Sasakawa was born on March 9, 1922 in Kyoto, Japan. She was educated at Kyoto University and taught English to Japanese students. Yasuko’s brother, Gisaburo (now deceased), was a university professor, fluent in seven languages. Her sister, Tomiko, taught Japanese to English speaking businessmen.

Yasuko came to Canada in May, 1959 to become a wife to Bob Miyauchi and a mother to Martha and Ken. It took great courage to leave behind her family, friends, and country, and to begin a new life in strange country, with new people, and a new language. Since she had no English name, Bob named her after the month in which she arrived; however, he changed the spelling to “Mae”. Mae gave up her teaching career to help Bob with his dry-cleaning business and to assume her family responsibilities.

Mae had a great fondness for the classics. She thoroughly enjoyed classical music, especially Beethoven, Mozart, and Strauss. On a regular basis, she also attended performances of the ballet, operas, and symphony orchestras. She also loved to read and was a great Blue Jays fan.

Singing was a great passion, and Mae knew songs in Japanese, Chinese, and English. Even when her memory failed, she could still sing songs. She was especially fond of Christmas carols. Although self taught, she also loved to play her electric piano.

Every Sunday, Mae attended the service at the Toronto Japanese United Church, and she sang in the choir. In later years, she was unable to go to the church, but attended the services at Scarborough Retirement Centre, and later at Yee Hong Nursing Home.

Mae passed away peacefully on April 14, 2018, after a brief illness, at the age of
ninety-six. The crane is an important Japanese symbol, and at this time, the red crane is especially important. The red “Honourable Lord Crane” is the bird that uses its wings to carry souls up to Paradise. It has surely carried Mae to Paradise.

Mae leaves behind a loving family: husband Bob Shozo (deceased), brother, Gizaburo Sasakawa (deceased), sister Tomiko Stahl, son Ken and daughter-in law Heather, daughter Martha Haffey and son-in-law Ron, grandchildren Carrie, Brad, and Alison Haffey and Jennifer and Karen Miyauchi, great grandchildren Kaley, Nathan, Airlie, Brady, Tessa, and Cassadee. There are numerous fond memories that she created for the family. Every New Year’s Day, she would put on a traditional Japanese feast that included sushi, sashimi, other traditional dishes, and the favourite of the children, yellow pickles. There were summer vacations, family birthday parties, and Sunday outings at the beach. In fact, she made every day special, just by her presence.

 
Mae’s legacy is the kindness she bestowed on and created in others. Her selfless nature caused her to put everyone before herself, doing so with a smile and without complaint. She was always kind and patient with everyone, and if you needed help she was always available. Mae never expressed a bad word because she lived by the adage that "if you don't have anything nice to say, then don't say anything".

Mae lived a long, rich, and rewarding life; however, the measure of a person’s life is not gauged by the number of years spent on this earth, and the value does not diminish with death. A person’s worth is measured by the impact she had on the lives of others, and her legacy is contained in the memory of family and friends. Do not mourn her death, rather celebrate her life. Do not leave in sadness, rather leave with the thought of a happy memory you have shared with her. Mae’s legacy as a caring and loving person will live on in us, and we will live on in her.

In place of flowers or “koden”, you may make a donation to the charity of your choice, in honour of Yasuko Mae Miyauchi.