The celebration of life will be held at 10:00 AM on Friday, Nov. 15, 2019 at Gonzalez Funeral Home in Tampa. The gathering will begin 10:00 AM with the celebration service to begin at 11:00 AM. The gathering will continue until 1:00 PM with light refreshments, and then lunch at China Yuan at 2:00 PM. There will be no funeral, as her cremated remains will eventually be returned to her family plot in Numazu, Japan.
Nobuko was born in Yokohama, Japan on September 28, 1928 to Kosuke and Tsune Iwamura. She had three older siblings: Fumiko, Sachiko, Hideyuki, and two younger: Saichi and Ayako.
Nobuko married Dallas O. Baker on August 28, 1969; they were married for 50, love-filled years.
Nobuko started and owned Exquisite Tailoring and Dress Making at Tachikawa, Japan, in 1962. After moving back and forth between the USA and Japan several times, she settled in Tampa, Florida in 1979. She started another business in 1983 as a sewing contractor, and continued until 2005.
Nobuko loved to arrange flowers, cook, bowl and play pinochle and Hand & Foot. She was a member of the Keylime Newsletter and Japanese community for over twenty years.
Nobuko Baker created her own unique form of framed oshibana art as well as custom handkerchiefs with which she, over the years, blessed many recipients.
Nobuko is survived by her husband Dallas; sister, Ayako, and many loving nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to LifePath Hospice (chaptershealth.org) or the Alzheimer’s Association (alz.org).
The family of Nobuko Baker wishes to thank LifePath Hospice and the Alzheimers Caregivers at Hyde Park Methodist Church for their exceptional and warm assistance and support and also to all of the wonderful doctors and nurses who have provided their care and expertise over the years. Condolences to the family may be left on Nobuko’s online memorial website by visiting the Obituary section at www.GonzalezFuneral.com.
Funeral arrangements entrusted to the care of Gonzalez Funeral Home, ph. 813-931-1833.
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