Saji Kanazawa

Saji Kanazawa, 96, beloved wife, mother, sister, and grandmother, passed away peacefully on June 29, 2016 in Seattle, Washington. She was born November 12, 1919 in Alstown, (Douglas County) WA to Hidekichi and Nobui Nishibue. She and her five siblings were raised in Spokane Washington. After graduation from Lewis and Clark High School, Saji spent two years in Japan at the Keisen School for Girls. When she returned to Spokane in the spring of 1941, she met the love of her life, Minoru Kanazawa. They married on December 6, 1942. They resided in Spokane, Madison, WI, Philadelphia, PA and Vashon Island WA before settling in Seattle where they raised their family. Saji graduated from the University of Washington in 1965 with a degree in elementary education. Her first teaching assignment was at Van Asselt Elementary, Later she moved on to Lake City Elementary and then North Beach Elementary. The final three years before retiring from education in 1983 were spent teaching Japanese language at McClure Jr. High School in Seattle.

Saji was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 48 years, Minoru, brother Kozo Nishifue, and sisters Mii Tai, Kimi Yasui, and Atsu Nishibue. She is survived by daughters Katherine Hutchings of Kirkland, Margaret Kanazawa of Seattle, granddaughter Stephanie Ballou (Eugene) of Lacey, WA, grandson Mark Hutchings of Kirkland, and sister Ida Onishi of San Diego, CA.