Matsuko "Mitzi" Sandoval

Matsuko Sandoval, "Mitzi," age 86, died March 21, 2021 surrounded by her loving family at her son Chris' home in West Bloomfield, Michigan.  Matsuko Kumagai was born in Fujisawa, Japan on February 26, 1935, daughter of the late Tamaki Chiba and Shinkichi Kumagai. 

Mitzi was 8 years old and the second eldest of 7 children when her father died tragically.   At 10 years old, she had to leave school and move to a farm where she worked and earned money to send back home to her family.  After 2 years of living away from her family, she returned home to help raise her younger siblings. Matsuko did this until she reached the age of 17.  She then moved out to work on a silk farm.  She continued to help support her family by sending most of her earnings back home. 

At the age of 23, she married Joseph John Sandoval, an airman in the United States Air Force, who was stationed in Japan.  The couple's oldest child was born in Japan.  In 1958, Mitzi and her husband made the decision to move to the United States and make a new home in Detroit, Michigan. While in Michigan, the family proceeded to grow to include four more children.

To help raise this family, Mitzi went to work.  While speaking very little to no English, she worked in the plastic injection molding industry. When things got tough within the industry, she chose to take on a second full-time job.  For just over 10 years, Mitzi worked two full-time positions, working a minimum of 80 hours per week.  Often, she would work extra on Saturdays, many times working 96 hours in a week.  She never complained and did her best to feed 5 growing kids.  Her employers loved Mitzi because she never called in sick or complained, and was dependable and always the hardest working person on the job. 

While working, she still managed to help with the boys' Cub Scouts and baseball.  However, one thing she always had time for was attending church.  Mitzi enjoyed going to church as a faith-filled Catholic, and rarely missed a Sunday Mass.  One of Mitzi’s proudest accomplishments was becoming a US Citizen in 1984.  Becoming a US citizen was no easy task, involving many hours studying and learning about the United States, all of which Mitzi relished.

She retired at age 67 and moved to Rochester Hills to help care for her youngest grandchildren, Michael and Amelia.  She had a lot of experience, as she was “Gramma” and often cared for her other grandchildren, Larry, Christine, Kyle, and Tommy.  She also took great pride in gardening and growing the most beautiful flowers on the street.

Mitzi truly held three passions near and dear to her heart; Her family, her faith in God, and her love of the United States.  Although born in Japan, she quickly came to love this country that gave her so much opportunity.  Mitzi also loved visiting with her friends and going to lunch.  She  volunteered at the Older Persons Commission (OPC), in Rochester, to help the “older people.”  Mitzi enjoyed staying active with her grandchildren’s events such as baseball, soccer and dance.

Mitzi was always up for a great story and laugh at almost any gathering. She often held everyone's attention with her stories of her kids and grandchildren.  Additionally, Mitzi was fashion-conscious and loved to dress up and go shopping with her kids to Macy’s so as to “look around,” only to walk out with a big smile and a new sweater or shoes! 

In recent years Mitzi’s health declined, and late in 2020 her body began to fail.  It was February 2021 when her son Chris brought her to his home so she could be with her family in hospice care.  Her family visited every day.  Grandma felt the love and was able to tell us in her words  “I love you,” before she passed.   Her family surrounded her with love at her bedside when she peacefully went to Heaven.

Mitzi will be missed by all her family and friends.  She truly was the best Mom ever.  We are all so grateful that she is now at peace in Heaven in the presence of our Lord.

Mrs. Sandoval was the loving mother of David, Vanessa, Mike (Valerie), Chris (Evandro), Nicholas (Dawn) Sandoval, and the cherished Gramma to Larry Sandoval, Christine Tompor Oliver, Julian Sandoval, Kyle Tompor, Tommy Tompor, Michael Sandoval, Amelia Sandoval, and great-grandmother of Addison, and Maya.  Further survivors include her siblings,  Hiroshi Kumagai, Kanae Kumagai, Hisashi Kumagai, Sister Angela Marie Kumagai (Fransiscan), Miwako Kumagai, and the late Tsutomu Kumagai.  Mrs. Sandoval was pre-deceased by her parents and her former husband the late Joseph John Sandoval.

Visitation for Mitzi will be held Friday, March 26, 2021 from 10:00 am until time of the Catholic Scripture Service at 12 Noon at the D.S. Temrowski & Sons Funeral Home, 30009 Hoover Road at Common (12 1/2 Mile) in Warren, Michigan.  Celebrating the services will be Reverend Fr. Brian Chabala.  Interment will follow at White Chapel Cemetery in Troy, Michigan.

Memorial donations in Mitzi's name are appreciated to Holy Family Regional Schools, https://www.holyfam.org/  Please share your memories of Mitzi at her guest book below.