Lois Hiroko Taniguchi passed away on July 14, 2018 at the age of 96 in the city of
Fremont, California where she was residing at the time of her death.
Lois was born in Seattle, Washington on September 29, 1921 to Sukenobu Okamoto
and Katsuko Masutani Okamoto. Her mother subsequently divorced and married
Kakujiro Tanabe and he was the only father she ever knew. When she entered
kindergarten, she was registered as Lois Hiroko Tanabe and that became her legal
name.
Although she initially attended Broadway High School, she actually graduated from Cut
Bank High School in 1939 in Cut Bank, Montana where her family had moved after her
father had bought a restaurant in that town.
During WWII, she was interned with her family in Camp Minidoka, Idaho, Block 5. Lois
married Toshio Taniguchi on October 10, 1942 in camp before his enlistment into the
army to fight in the war despite the US government’s incarceration of them solely due to
their Japanese ancestry. In order to get out of the camp for a honeymoon, they
volunteered to pick apples!
After the war, Lois’ father obtained a job in Oak Park, Illinois as a cook at the Oak Park
Hospital and Lois was able to get a job as a secretary at the hospital where the rest of
the family joined them.
Several years later, they moved back to Seattle where she was employed by the City of
Seattle Engineering Department and worked there for 23 years. After retirement, Lois
enjoyed babysitting her grandchildren, bowling in two leagues, and shopping and
lunching at Nordstrom with the girls. Lois loved line dancing and attended classes with
her friends and performed until she was 88 years old! She also volunteered at Keiro
and was later recognized for her 30 years of volunteer service.
And travelling! Tosh and Lois found a mutual love in travel and they were able to enjoy
many trips with friends and family within the USA and to more exotic locales around the
world like Japan, Turkey, Greece, Cancun, Mexico, China, Thailand, England, and
South America to name a few. One of their last splurges was to take the family on a
cruise to Alaska. Lois later recalled that this cruise was one of the most memorable
events in her life.
Sadly, Tosh died in December 2012 after 71 years of marriage. Lois is survived by her
four children, Brenda Matsudaira, Susan Jahromi, Stephen Taniguchi (Nanette) and
Debra Taniguchi; her five grandchildren Garrett Matsudaira (Kate), Shelly Matsudaira,
Dariush Jahromi, Devin Sumaoang (Shawnna) and Cherise Sumaoang; and her six
great grandchildren Rizel Sumaoang Suarez, Serena Sumaoang, Jordan Jahromi, Jax
Matsudaira, Devin Sumaoang, Jr. and Barron Matsudaira.
A memorial service will be held at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church (1610 King Street,
Seattle) on September 7, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. with reception following at the church. A
burial service at Sunset Hills Memorial Park (1215 145th Place SE, Bellevue) will be held the
same day at 2:30 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, you may send donations to Densho located at 1416 South Jackson
Street, Seattle, WA 98144.
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