Hiroko Hasegawa

Born July 3, 1927 in Seattle. Hiroko passed away peacefully at home with family on November 29, 2012 after a brief illness. Survived by husband Jim, children Steve, Kathy, Susie (Jeff Yamane) and six grandchildren. Family service was held at the Seattle Buddhist Church.

Born in Seattle as the fifth out of seven children, her four older siblings (two sisters and two brothers) were taken back to Japan to live with an aunt and uncle before Hiroko’s birth. Hiroko attended Central School and Bailey Gatzert for elementary school. When she was 10 years old, her father passed away. Hiroko later attended Washington Junior High. In early 1941, her mother decided to travel back to Japan with Hiroko and two younger sisters, a two week journey by ship. She spent her teen age years in Japan during World War II. While there she attended school and as the war broke out, was required to spend time working in an airplane factory. Fortunately, they all survived the hardships of war faced with famine and diseases such as dysentery and typhoid.

After the war, Hiroko returned to the U.S. alone on a ship. Her two younger siblings Taeko (Peggy) and Yoriko returned to the U.S. about a year later, followed a few years later by their mother, Misao. Hiroko worked as a nanny and attended Edison Technical School (equivalent of High School). There she met Jim (Chitoshi) Hasegawa. She was courted by Jim for about three years, then married and started their family of three children. In the early part of their lives Jim started his own gardening business and Hiroko raised the family while helping to manage an apartment in the Capital Hill neighborhood. They purchased their first home and moved to Beacon Hill in 1965 where the family nest still resides today. Hiroko joined the kid’s school PTA helping out as the Treasurer. After Kathy and Susie were established in grade school, Hiroko worked part-time for the Seattle School District at Columbia Elementary School as a play ground supervisor. Eventually she took on a secretarial role at Green Lake Elementary School and retired in 1992 after 15 years as the head secretary (totaling 26 years with the Seattle School District). She came out of retirement to babysit her fourth granddaughter, Lindsey twice a week when Susie went back to work part-time. Regular weekend visits with the family always included home cooked meals by Hiroko. After both Jim and Hiroko finally retired, they took numerous trips here and abroad with friends and other travel groups. Many memorable family vacations were taken to Vancouver BC, Hood Canal, Ocean Shores, Camano Island, New York City and most recently to Maui. We are fortunate to have so many fond memories to keep her close in our hearts.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Seattle Buddhist Church, Providence Hospice of Seattle, Nikkei Concerns or a charity of your choice. Arrangements have been entrusted to Sunset Hills Funeral Home of Bellevue, WA.