Florence Kimiyo Okami (Okamoto)

On June 27, 2023, our mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend, made her transition to heaven and is now reunited with her beloved poodle, Roxie, her husband, Harold, her parents, siblings, and the many relatives, friends, and canine companions she so adored in her 89 years, all whom she missed very much. Florence is survived by: her three children, Nadine Yamada-Light (Okami), Jeffrey Okami, and Jon Okami, her granddaughter, Mari Okami, her sisters Betsy Suyeoka, and Thelma Chang, and many nieces and nephews as well as her husband’s extended family whom she loved like her own.

Florence was born in Hilo, Hawaii, the sixth of seven children, to Satoshi (George) and Tsuruko (Fukunaga) Okamoto. She grew up with fond memories of living a simple, quiet lifestyle. A memory she shared was how much she and her siblings would enjoy the freshly picked fruit from the neighborhood trees. She also loved it when the “volcano would erupt” and described the orange glow in the sky and how they would sometimes rush over to an area where they could view the eruption more closely. Florence’s mother was an outstanding seamstress, and she once sewed a special muumuu for Florence, which she wore to a muumuu contest and won! Upon graduation from Hilo High School, Florence and her sister left the Big Island and moved to the “big” city of Honolulu to attend business school. It was during this time, when Florence and her sister were living together, that she met her future husband, Harold (Hideo), who had stopped by their apartment selling “pots and pans” as she put it. The rest is history, as they say!

Florence and Harold had a simple wedding in Honolulu. Within their first year of marriage, they welcomed their first child, Nadine. Four years later, their son, Jeffrey, was born. After renting and moving around like “gypsies” as Mom described, they were able to buy their first home in Wailupe Valley. Almost immediately afterwards, they welcomed their third child, Jon. Well, sometimes there are unforeseen circumstances that change the course of one’s life, and in this instance it was the force of nature. One rainy night, about five years later, a huge boulder came rolling down the hillside behind their home, heading right for their bedroom, but it was stopped short by a shed that was right outside. Good fortune would lie ahead for Florence and Harold, as they picked right up, and found their next home in Hawaii Kai. It was a good move to a community that would be part of their lives for the next four and a half decades.

A long, and enjoyable, career with the State of Hawaii, Judiciary Branch, kept Florence busy, along with raising her family. She advanced through the system, starting as a clerk-typist, and retiring in a supervisory position. She would often mention how much she enjoyed being around her co-workers. Florence embraced the freedom of her retirement years completely and pursued many interests. Her main passion was baking and cake decorating; she loved to share her wonderful talents with friends and family. Truly a person with a lot of energy, Florence also enjoyed taking cardio classes, going to the gym, going on long walks, bowling with her team, golfing occasionally, ballroom dancing with Harold, and spending time with the many dogs that enhanced their lives. Florence and Harold were such dog lovers and were never without at least one dog for as long as her children can remember! She even loved dog sitting for special friends. Additionally, both she and Harold worked part-time at their friend’s pet shop in Hawaii Kai, which became another enjoyable outlet for them. Florence was also a person who was not afraid to try something new, even if it might have been out of her “comfort zone.” An example of this is that Harold was a singer, and he pursued this hobby with a passion that took them out to karaoke clubs on a regular basis, and even on a trip to Japan! Guess what? Yes; Florence decided that she would also get into karaoke singing, devoted herself to learning how to sing, and eventually sang on stage at group events. With musical talent being a notable part of Harold’s family, she also joined in with Harold to play ukulele at church for their choir.

After Harold made his transition, Florence had the courage to expand her boundaries again – this time leaving her home in Hawaii and moving to Washington State to be closer to her son and daughter. Before too long, her granddaughter relocated to Utah, and this created a perfect situation where Florence could see her more often. More surprises followed when her former pastor from Hawaii Kai also relocated to Auburn, WA, along with some former church members and friends. Good fortune would present itself again when another long time friend from Hawaii would spend time in the area and come to visit her occasionally. All in all, she enjoyed seven years of living with her son, Jon, in Auburn, WA, and experienced a new lifestyle, culture, and climate. Florence will be the first to admit, though, that she truly disliked the cold, dreary winters, but she tried her best to adapt and continue to pursue and enjoy the simple pleasures of life. There was also a part of her that appreciated this opportunity to experience living outside of Hawaii. Florence’s amazingly strong spirit, in the face of physical challenges she endured in the last year of her life, was truly admirable. She continued to bake her wonderful treats that everyone would look forward to, and she lived fully, driving herself around on errands, taking tai chi classes, and doing her daily crossword puzzles and jigsaw puzzles until the very end.

Florence truly cared deeply for her family, relatives, and friends, and she was often reminded that the feelings were mutual. She wanted everyone to know that she has requested not to have a service. In lieu of flowers or monetary donations, please share the memories you have of Florence and spread the kindness that she extended to all who crossed her path. Her family would really appreciate this.