Jessie Watanabe Saibara

Jessie Watanabe Saibara, aged 96, beloved wife, mother and grandmother passed away peacefully on Sunday, January 22, 2023 in Clear Lake City (Houston, TX). She was preceded in death by parents Reverend and Mrs. Paul Y. Watanabe of Los Angeles, CA, her beloved husband of 66 years Edward Saibara of Webster, TX and dear daughter Susan Joy Saibara of Houston.

She is survived by son Paul Edward Saibara of The Woodlands, TX, daughter Sandra Kay Saibara of Houston and three precious grandchildren, Katie Saibara of Boston, MA, Emily Saibara of Baton Rouge, LA and Andrew Saibara of The Woodlands, TX. Also surviving are sister Ruth Morimoto of Joliet, IL and many nieces and nephews in Illinois and Houston.

Jessie was born in Huntington Beach, CA but grew up in Los Angeles until 1942 when her family and over 120,000 people of Japanese descent living on the West Coast were forcibly removed from their homes and confined in internment camps inland, in her family’s case Poston, AZ. Thanks to her father’s thoughtful planning she and her older sister Grace as young teenagers secured sponsors and were permitted to leave the camp, under the watchful eyes of the U.S. military, to relocate to Abilene, TX where they graduated from Abilene High School and in the top 10% of their class from Hardin-Simmons University which was also their father’s alma mater many years before. Jessie completed her studies in 3 years so she and Grace could graduate together, at a time when very few women attained college degrees.

After graduation she worked in Chicago before marrying Edward Saibara, a native of Webster, TX. He was the grandson of Seito Saibara, former president of Doshisha University in Japan, who was among early settlers on the Texas Gulf Coast in the early 1900’s and who introduced rice farming to the region. Edward and Jessie made their home in Webster where they raised 3 children, Paul, Susan and Sandra. Thanks to Edward she became an avid Texas A&M football fan and she and Edward attended all the home games for many years. Their 3 children were all graduates of Texas A&M.

Jessie was a long-time employee of the U.S. Postal Service where she served the public at the Webster Post Office until her retirement. She was also a two-time cancer survivor in her mid-60’s. During this difficult time her first grandchild Katie was born. After 66 years of a long and happy marriage Edward passed away in 2012.

The family would like to thank caregivers Sella, Latisha and Kendra at ADivine Care Home in Clear Lake City for their kind compassionate care of Jessie in her final months. We would also like to express our gratitude to Village Home Health & Hospice whose team provided exceptional care and support to our mother and family.

In lieu of customary remembrances, memorial gifts in Jessie Saibara’s name may be made to Hardin-Simmons University, 2200 Hickory Street, HSU Box 16100, Abilene, TX 79698; MD Anderson Cancer Center, P. O. Box 4464, Houston, TX 77210-4464; the Texas A&M Foundation, 401 George Bush Drive, College Station, TX 77840-4811; the John Cooper School, 1 John Cooper Drive, The Woodlands, TX 77381 or the charity of one’s choice.

A reception and gathering for Jessie will be held Saturday, February 11, 2023 from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm. A celebration of life will start at 2:00 pm and an inurnment to follow. All services will be held at Forest Park East Funeral Home and Cemetery, 21620 Gulf Fwy, Webster, TX 77598. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared below for the Saibara family.