Patsy Patricia Takahashi

Our mother was born Patsy Patricia Bongo on June 12, 1938 in Hawaii to her parents Sophie and Simion Bongo. Mom was one of many siblings: Buddy, Sammy, Danny, Nora, Rose, Celia, Shirley, Bae, and Carol.

She grew up in Waianae, met her future husband, Richard F. Takahashi, and finished school. Shortly after, she and Richard were married on January 5, 1957 at Church of the Living God in Honolulu, Hawaii. The reception followed at Pearl City Tavern on Kamehameha Highway.

Soon Rick was born on February 27, 1958, Pam followed on February 18, 1960, and 7 years later Paris (Cissy) was born on April 3, 1967.

Dad was in the Marine Corps and did 2 tours in the Vietnam War. She was left to take care of 2 small children and an infant. She had the support of her family and the strength of God to help her through while praying that her husband would make it back home from the war. She used to say that it takes a strong lady to be married to a military man, and that she was.

After dad returned home from Vietnam, she took her kids and followed her husband wherever the military sent him, eventually settling down in Lemon Grove, CA in San Diego County in 1976. In 2004 she sold her home of 28 years to move to San Jacinto, CA to be closer to her grandchildren.

Mom was a wife, mother of 3, grandmother to 8 grandchildren, and great grandmother to 5. She loved and adored all her grandchildren. Spoiling them with hugs, kisses, and presents whenever she could.

She liked to shop and to go to the casinos. She enjoyed a good party, kareoke and talking story with everyone, even bank tellers and clerks at the store, and wow, she could talk! Mom loved to spend time with her grandchildren whenever possible.

We will miss her never ending energy, humor, loving gestures, her smile, and laughter. She continued that energy and talking to the end of her stay here on earth. She was a loving mom who taught us right from wrong, the meaning of respect, the ways of the Islands that she loved, and most importantly, unconditional love.

Mom, although you are not here with us anymore in this physical world that we call earth, we take comfort in knowing that you are with our Lord. That you are no longer in pain, you are happy, and will live on for eternity. We have to let you go now, but it won’t be forever, because we will meet again. Until then, we will take you in our hearts and memories until our time on this earth has also come to an end. We love you and miss you so very much.

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

~2 Timothy 4:7-8

New International Version