Suzuko Stallings

Suzuko recently moved into an apartment at Cedar Creek Living Center. Although her residence there was short, she befriended her neighbors and staff quickly. Suzie enjoyed everyone there and seemed to have left an impression within their hearts, as they did hers and her family. Suzie’s children are very grateful for the happiness and comradery that her Cedar Creek family gave to her within that time.

Suzie was energetic and full of life. She loved to dance. She and her husband, Willie, often won dance competitions when he was enlisted in the Army.

Suzie was very artistic. She enjoyed origami, flower arranging, and decorating. This was also apparent in the way in which she presented meals, whether basic or a specialty. Over the years, Suzie and her friends took delight in karaoke parties at one another’s homes. Each would bring a Japanese dish. The smorgasbord, singing, and laughing made for wonderful memories that she always cherished.

Suzuko was preceded in death by her parents, Umejiro Okumura and Kaya (Tika) Okumura, husband of 59 years, Willie B. Stallings, whom she married on February 1, 1957, in Kobe, Japan, and who died September 15, 2016; her daughter, Frances Bolam; granddaughter, Rachael Boaz; and sister, Reiko Okumura and two brothers, Akira and Masaru Okumura.

Surviving to cherish her memory are her sisters, Taeko Kanai and Kazuko Umegaki ; daughters, Patricia Stallings (James Smith) and Nancy Boaz; sons, George (Teresa) Stallings and Jeremy (Cherie) Stallings; grandchildren, Jonathan (Lindsey) Stallings, Joey (fiancé, Caitlin Klenke) Miner, Kayah (Corey) Billups, Chelsey (Scotty) Strake, Owen and Carter Stallings; great grandchildren, Stephen Knupp, Stryker Strake, Khali, Carsynn, and Chayse Billups, and Sterling Eskra; numerous nieces, nephews, and many dear friends.

Visitation: Friends may gather from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 21, 2023, at Valhalla Gaerdner Holten Funeral Home, Belleville, Illinois.

Funeral: A funeral service to follow visitation.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Suzuko's memory may be made to Alzheimers Association.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.ValhallaGardensandFuneralHome.com for the Stallings family.