Mrs. Toshi Isotani

Toshi was born in Vancouver on October 15, 1922 and was one of seven daughters born to Hisa and Yotaro Kosaka. At age 19 she and her family were forcibly uprooted from their Vancouver home. They were sent to a Japanese Internment camp located at Kaslo, BC; separated from their parents who were sent to New Denver. In 1949 she resettled in Kamloops where she met her loving husband Hachiro and had four children. In 1966 Dad's successful career in the sawmill industry would lead the family to Merritt where they eventually retired. Her life would come full circle when she returned to her birthplace of Vancouver to live the rest of her life in the comfort of her own home surrounded by family.

She is survived by her four children, Larry, David, Noreen (Les) and Jill; sister Hannah Misumi. She was predeceased by her late husband Hachiro in 1994 and sisters Chiye (Jean) Okano, Mariko Kitamura, Fumiko Nishihara, Emma Fujibayashi, & Tani Heffernan.

Toshi was a very special mother - a soft-spoken, gentle and sensitive person with a compassionate heart. She was a caring mother, wife and sister who devoted her life to her family. Her passion was cooking and baking. And what a baker! She made the best apple and lemon meringue pies that would have been the envy of any bakery. Every year her exceptional talents and grace would shine brightly on New Year's day, a Japanese tradition celebrating January 1st.

Mom was a private person who endeavoured to provide a nurturing environment for her children. Always putting everyone else's needs ahead of her own and was available to support them in times of crisis.

During the later years of her life, her daughter Jill and sons Larry and David provided much loving care and comfort in her home. The family extends their warmest gratitude to them and to the many healthcare workers who provided additional care after a hip injury.

She will be dearly missed and will always be in our hearts.

Mom's personal wish was to have a private family ceremony which took place on Thursday, November 25, 2021. Funeral services were conducted in her memory at Forest Lawn Funeral Home and Memorial Park, Burnaby, B.C. Officiated by Reverend Terry Shea.

Interment will be held at a later date.

In lieu of koden we respectfully ask that donations in her memory be sent to:

Nikkei Place Foundation: https://www.nikkeiplacefoundation.org

Messages of condolence are welcomed at Forest Lawn Funeral Home; website: www.Dignitymemorial.com

“Love as powerful as your mother's for you leaves it's own mark. To have been loved so deeply, even though the person who loved us is gone, will give us some protection forever.”