Kumi Mahany

On January 14, 2012, Kumi "Mitzi" Mahany, a 45-year resident of the San Antonio area, left this world to reunite with James Mahany, her husband of 51 years. Kumi, meaning "forever beautiful", was born in Gifu Prefecture Japan on February 3, 1931. As a child, she enjoyed participating in the performing arts often being selected to play the lead role in plays, perform as a solo vocalist, and dance at the local shrine for community events and national holidays. Her upbringing was fairly typical for a young Japanese girl with a sister and two brothers, but life became extremely difficult with the death of both of her parents by the time she reached the age of fourteen. After four years of boarding school and high school graduation, Kumi supported herself by working as a textile worker, telephone operator and then a waitress in a military dining hall in Nagoya, Japan. To better her job prospects, Kumi completed typing school and gained employment as a postal office worker. While attending a dance at the NCO club, Kumi caught the eye of a young American airman, James Mahany. Kumi and James began a steady relationship that was tested when James's tour of duty ended and he left Japan in 1951. Kumi and James faithfully corresponded over a two year period until James returned, as he had promised, on a second tour to Japan. They were married on November 9, 1954. Following the birth of her first two sons, Roy James and Kevin James, the family moved stateside to Chanute AFB Illinois in 1960 where third son, Steven James, was born. Following an assignment to Wright-Patterson AFB Ohio, the family made their final relocation to Randolph AFB in Universal City in 1966 where daughter, Lisa Ann, was born. With James's retirement from the military in 1972, Mitzi, as she was known to her friends, went to work as a store clerk in order to help with family finances while James studied to earn his college degree. With her intelligence, strong work-ethic and engaging personality, she quickly progressed to store manager and eventually managed the highest volume stores in the San Antonio area. At one point in her career, Mitzi was offered an area supervisor position but turned it down because she enjoyed the everyday relationship with her regular customers so much. She also took great pride in her store regularly finishing as the company's top annual fundraiser in support of the Muscular Dystrophy Association. She retired from Southland Corporation 7-Eleven with over 20 years of service. Mitzi and James spent their final years as residents of the Encino Park neighborhood of San Antonio where they enjoyed spending time with their eleven grandchildren. In 2007, Mitzi fought and won a courageous battle against cancer, endured two courses of chemotherapy and a major surgery. Mitzi welcomed her first great-grandchild in 2010 and enjoyed a year free from treatments during 2011. The family wishes to thank Mom's circle of acquaintances for their friendship and companionship, oncologist Dr. David Gordon and his staff for curing her lung cancer, and internist Dr. William Atlas and his staff for the excellent primary health care they provided to both Mom and Dad for many years. Mitzi was preceded in death by husband James Roy Mahany; parents Kazuichi and Shizuko Kagami; brother Takashi Kakamu; daughter-in-law Martha Francis West Mahany. Survivors include the family of Takashi Kakamu of Japan; sister Takiko Yasue and family of Japan; brother Itaru Kagami and family of Japan; son Roy Mahany and his friend Sheila Rosenberg of Michigan; son Kevin Mahany of Corpus Christi and his children Lindsey, Kevin, Steven, Melissa Budd and her husband Dan Budd and their daughter Madison; son Steven Mahany and his wife Natalie of Austin and their children Mark, Leslie, and Laura; daughter Lisa Castellanos of San Antonio and her children Erin, Brittany, Luis, and Annalisa.

Graveside Service

Friday

January 27, 2012

2:00 pm

Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery

You are invited to sign

the Guestbook at

www.porterloring.com

Arrangements with

PORTER LORING MORTUARY NORTH

2102 NORTH LOOP 1604 EAST

SAN ANTONIO, TX 78232 - (210) 495-8221