Chihoko Adachi Parker

Chihoko Adachi Parker left this World at age 93 to take her place in Heaven. She sacrificed selflessly for those she loved.

Chihoko’s life journey began in Yokohama, Japan. Her Father, Ineichiro Adachi, was a civil engineer and her Mother, Kikuno, a homemaker. She grew up with a brother, Mitsuho, and a sister, Mihoko. And then The War came. Kikuno died prematurely and Chihoko gained a step-mother soon after. The Adachi Family adopted an orphan, Harue (sister), as adoption became a post-war necessity.

During the US occupation, Chihoko (at 17) went to work in a USO Canteen. There she met Isaac (“Mickey”) Bell, a young soldier. When military regulations permitted, they married and Chihoko and her first-born (Cynthia) traveled to the US to join her new American family in The Bronx (New York). Here her second child (Michael) was born.

Chihoko moved to Trenton, NJ, near Ft. Dix, where she studied English and became a Naturalized US Citizen on September 8, 1955. As a military spouse she lived and worked in several different towns while raising her children. She maintained ties to a few women who had common circumstances. Hideko Carruth, Setsuko Clark, and Sachiko Sammons became like sisters. In their small social circle these Japanese wives shared things they learned and their children were “cousins.”

When Chihoko became an empty-nester she divorced. And after a few lonely years, she found a LOVE that would last her lifetime. She met Joseph W. Parker at a Labor Day cook-out. After a couple of years they married (March 1984) in Honolulu with her children’s happy blessings.

Chihoko and Joe shared common interests and mutual respect. They became inseparable. When Joe launched a Private Detective Agency, Chihoko went on surveillances with him. They were fond of boating on the Chesapeake Bay, attending Jazz concerts, road-tripping, and feasting on steamed crab, corn on the cob, and ample portions of beer. Together they discovered the best sushi joints and relished over-sized chocolate éclairs from Eddie’s at Roland Park.

The couple traveled to Yokohama several times. “Jo-san,” was a big hit with Chihoko’s relatives and language was never a barrier. She enjoyed immensely her visits there and visits by her relatives to the US.

In 2014 Chihoko suffered an aneurysm that would have taken her life were it not for heroic measures by a surgery team at a Johns Hopkins hospital. She survived and spent the years following at Levindale Geriatric Center in Baltimore, MD. Her devoted husband visited every day and her Baltimore-based family brought her hugs, balloons and other goodies. In August 2022, Chihoko and Joseph moved to the Robin Run Village community in Indianapolis, IN. During her last months, Family visited frequently, grateful for the time with her and eager for a smile from “Mom, Gramma, O-baba, O-ba-chan, Aunt Jean….”

Chihoko is preceded in death by her parents and by Mitsuho (& Masako), Mihoko (& Tooru), Setsuko (& “Uncle Clark”), Hideko (& “Uncle Roy”), Sachiko (& “Uncle Sonny”), Mickey Bell, and all her in-Laws.

Chihoko is survived by her husband and best friend, Joseph W. Parker (now 97), a loving family, and many friends.

Children: Cynthia (Gene) Gardner (nee Bell) and Michael (Lauree) Bell.

Sister: Harue (Youichi) Ignashiki (nee Adachi) and many nieces and nephews in Japan.

Grandchildren: Kenya (Dave) Jones (nee Holmes); Sean (Melissa) Gardner; Larik (Lisa) Dais; Ayana Bell; Chonan (Stephanie) Bell; Ashley Collins (nee Gardner); Dustin Gardner; Forrest Woods-Bell; Sterling (Acacia) Adachi.

A host of Great-Grandchildren, ages 23 years to 6 months.

A gathering of friends/visitation for Chihoko will be held Saturday, April 15, 2023 from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM at Crown Hill Funeral Home, 700 W. 38th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46208. A celebration of life will occur Saturday, April 15, 2023 at 4:00 PM, 700 W. 38th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46208. An inurnment will occur Monday, April 17, 2023 at 10:00 AM at Crown Hill National Cemetery, 725 W 42nd St., Indianapolis, IN 46208.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.crownhill.org for the Parker family.