Hannah Sonoda

Hannah passed away peacefully of natural causes on April 13, 2020 at the age of 95 years. Hannah was born in central California to a farming family. She lived a life full of family, craft projects and meticulous care of her home.

In 1942, Hannah, her older brother John and her parents Tokuzo and Kiye were sent to the War Relocation Center in Jerome, Arkansas where Hannah graduated high school. She also worked in the camp post office. Toward the end of WWII, Hannah was furloughed to Chicago, IL where she worked in an Army tent manufacturing plant sewing tents.

When Hannah returned to California, she was introduced to Howell Sonoda by a friend of the two families. They married in 1951. Together, they lived in Lindsay, CA where they bought a house on an olive grove and grew olives and tomatoes. They had four children. In 1959, they moved their family to Vista, CA. Howell’s father, mother and several siblings bought a tomato ranch in San Luis Rey and they also farmed strawberries and tomatoes in Fallbrook and Carlsbad. Hannah and Howell joined the family business called “Sonoda Brothers”.

Hannah was an excellent seamstress and she made clothing for family members. She had a beautiful voice but did not sing often yet enjoyed music and variety shows on TV. Hannah spent time gardening, volunteering at the Japanese Cultural Center in Vista, caring for the family and also worked several years as a seamstress and assembling electronic parts.

Hannah traveled to Japan several times. She and her mother visited family members in Japan and went to the World’s Fair. She and Howell later traveled to Hawaii, Japan, and Hong Kong for pleasure.

Hannah is remembered as a gentle and patient person. She was a Buddhist and longtime member of the Vista Buddhist Temple, who lived truly in her faith in her actions of bringing the most joy and the least suffering to her world. She was an example of kindness and calm.

Howell and Hannah were married for almost 55 years when he passed away in 2006. They are survived by their four children, five grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren, who brought her much happiness.

Her family and friends miss her deeply and feel the loss of such a caring person from our world and lives.

Interment will be with her husband Howell at Eternal Hills Mortuary in Oceanside, CA. Because of the restrictions of gathering due to CoVID-19, a memorial service will be scheduled at a later date.