Jaqueline Sakura Mahoney

Jaqueline Sakura Mahoney was born in Kobe, Japan to parents Mark and Kazuko (Arai) Mahoney on March 31, 1990. She moved to New York at the age of 1 and then back to Kobe and Tokyo when she was 2. When she was 5 years old, Jackie and her family relocated to Lake Oswego, Oregon. Sister to Amy, Jackie attended Uplands Elementary for her kindergarten year and Sunset Elementary School for her grade school education. She attended Waluga Jr. High in Lake Oswego for her 6th grade year and then attended Arts Communication Magnet Academy for her middle and high school education. At ACMA, Jackie was a spelling bee champion and later achieved the honorable title of valedictorian. She delivered a very memorable and compelling graduation speech. She was an exchange student to two host families in Sendai, Japan and she had a wonderful time studying Japanese language, exploring the culture, and spending quality time with her host family and friends. Jackie attended Northwestern University for 2 years and her area of focus was communications studies. Jackie loved to dance and at Northwestern she was a proud member of the “Boomshaka” Dance Troupe.

Jackie will be remembered as a brilliant, artistic, talented, imaginative, comedic, and creative person. She was fluent in Japanese at the high school level. She was a gifted writer and she wrote many scripts and monologues. She enjoyed acting – in the 8th grade she acted in “A Christmas Karel” at the IFCC Firehouse in Portland. She wrote, directed, and acted in many creative short films with her friends. Jackie performed at open mic nights as a stand-up comedian at various comedy clubs around the Portland metro area. She was also a model. It can be said that music was an obsession for Jackie. She was a hip hop, rap, and dance music fanatic. She loved to sing and enjoyed a night of Karaoke out with good friends. Jackie lived to lift the spirits of others. Her facebook page reads “Infinite Dance Party Generator”.

Jackie is survived by her mother, Kazuko Arai Gardner; father, Mark Mahoney; sister, Amy Mahoney; step-father, Shawn Gardner; grandmother, Fumiko Arai; step-grandmother, Marilyn Gardner; grandfather, John Mahoney, Sr.; 27 cousins; and many aunts; uncles; and loving friends and family all over the world.

Jackie, you were a loving, kind, and wonderful daughter, sister, granddaughter, niece, cousin, and friend. You were taken from us entirely too soon and we cherish the brief time we had with you. We love you and miss you so much and you will remain forever in our hearts.

A celebration of Jackie’s life and reception will be held in Skyline Memorial Gardens & Funeral Home Chapel, 4101 NW Skyline Blvd., Portland, Oregon, on Saturday, March 1, 2014, at 1pm.

Public visitation will be held at Skyline Funeral Home on Thursday, February 27th, 2014, from 5-7pm.

Remembrances in lieu of flowers may be made to:

NAMI – National Alliance on Mental Illness

NAMI Oregon (http://www.nami.org/MSTemplate.cfm?Site=NAMI_Oregon)

NAMI Oregon Donations (https://www.justgive.org/basket?acton=donate&ein=93-0875209)

Arrangements under the direction of Skyline Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, Portland, OR.