Miwa Kitamura Stansberry

It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of Miwa Kitamura Stansberry, who left us on October 13, 2023, after a courageous battle with Stage IV Bladder Cancer. Born on January 8, 1968, in Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo, Japan, Miwa spent her final days surrounded by family in Kirkland, Washington.

An incredibly talented individual, Miwa received her Bachelor's Degree in Interior Design from Bellevue College. Throughout her life, she brought her unique skills to multiple sectors, working for renowned companies like Apple, Amazon, and Zillow in various roles that showcased her remarkable ability to bridge Japanese and American cultures.

While Miwa was a career woman at heart, she was also incredibly artistic, displaying a special knack for knitting, sewing, crocheting, and graphic design. Her love for the art form of Kawa-ii— a word in her native language that roughly translates to "cute" in English—defined her approach to life and art. She was our Kawa-ii Queen, whose creations brought joy and warmth to everyone around her.

Miwa enjoyed a range of interests from fantasy football to anime, and she never missed a baseball game if she could help it. Her spirit of youth and enjoyment of life's simple pleasures were contagious.

She is survived by her husband, Kyle Elliot Stansberry; her son, Sean Michael Stansberry; her daughter, Naomi Aisha Farnum; son-in-law, Aaron Joseph Farnum; her mother, Mieko Kitamura; and her brother, Shingo Kitamura. Miwa was predeceased by her father, Kazuro Kitamura.

A graveside service will be held on November 20, 2023, at 10:30 AM at Sunset Hills Funeral Home.

We want to extend our deepest thanks to Dr. Varadarajan and the medical staff at Evergreen Hospital in Kirkland for the excellent care Miwa received in her final days.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks for moments of reflection on the joy and beauty that Miwa brought into the world.