She was born in Chicago, Illinois, on June 5, 1919. Hana, though born in the U.S., received her formal education in Osaka, Japan.
She was married to Benny Nishiyama on August 11, 1950.
Hana and Benny owned the New China Casino Restaurant, a popular eatery in Jacksonville Beach for many years. Then opened Hana’s Oriental Bazaar, also at Jacksonville Beach.
She was a member of First Baptist Church and had a great passion for music and entertaining. She and a violinist friend performed many charity benefit s with music and pantomime for the local schools, churches and retirement homes around Jacksonville and the beaches. She is well known as the “Rosette Lady” and produced thousands of her delicate crunchy cookies for local bazaars and charity events.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Benny Nishiyama. She is survived by sister, Maki Kato of Jacksonville Beach; Children: Penny Yamamoto (husband, Tom) and Tammy Nishiyama of Jacksonville Beach; Grandchildren: Karen Tepichin (husband Trey); Great grandchildren, Ellie and James of Houston, Tx , Robert Yamamoto and Kevin Yamamoto, of Jacksonville Beach, Jason Gondro (wife Alison) of Orlando, Fl; Nieces: Hiroko Sanford and family, Jupiter FL, Linda Greco and family, Westerfield , OH , Eiko Ohta and family, Osaka, Japan Takami Kato and family, Arlington , VA; Grandniece: Christina Nakajima, of Jacksonville Beach .
A memorial service will be held 2:00 pm, Saturday, November, 17, 2018 in the Chapel of HARDAGE-GIDDENS FUNERAL HOME, 1701 Beach Blvd., Jacksonville Beach, FL.
