Momoe Kraft

Born: January 1, 1930 in Kofu-shi, Japan

Died: August 26, 2010 in Sherwood, Oregon.

Memorial Service at Young's Funeral Home, 2:00 PM Saturday October 16, 2010

On July 7, 1945 after ongoing air raids on Japan, her home town was bombed, she was fifteen years old. She recalls the war starting when she was about ten years old. Her two older brothers were gone to war. Her father had passed away, she was with her mother and sister. She would never forget December 8, 1945. She recalls the Emperor

making a speech, she did not under stand Japan was going to be under the occupation of America. She later began working in Communications at the Air Force Base.

Momoe Akiyama immigrated to the United States after marrying Joseph Kraft on January 23, 1958 at the American Embassy in the city of Tokyo, Japan. She became a naturalized citizen in August of 1970, as Momoe Tereasa "Terry" Kraft. She lived happily in her adopted country until the time of her passing. She was married for 16 years. She lived in Garden Grove, California, later in 1993 she moved to Medford, Oregon.

Momoe enjoyed studying and was fortunate to have attended several different educational venues throughout her life. She attended elementary school from 1936-1942 at Kasuga Elemtary School in Kofu, Japan. Then she enrolled at Yuda Business High School in 1942 where she graduated in 1946. Since she was hoping to come to America, she wisely took a year long course of study at the English Language School in Tokyo from 1953-1954. After coming to this country she continued her studies attending accounting school in Santa Anna, California from 1973-1974, computer school in Garden Grove, California in 1990, and then Santa Ana Community College from 1973-1974.

After arriving in the United States, Ms. Kraft spent many years employed as a tailor. She developed quite a reputation and her expertise led to a wide variety of boutiques employing her to do their alterations. This work led her into the dry cleaning industry. She became an entrepreneur, owning her own dry cleaning business called “Thrift-D-Lux Cleaners” in Tustin, California for 13 years from 1977-1990.

Ms. Kraft thoroughly enjoyed oil painting. She was self taught and did wonderful work. She was an expert at Sumi, a traditional Japanese calligraphy. In addition she was also know to be an expert gardner and had a lifelong great love of animals. Momoe continued her talents as a tailor even in her latter years. She never lost her fascination with sewing and tailoring. Her enthusiastic personality often endeared her to her customers, becoming life long friends.

Ms.Kraft had a beautiful voice, and loved music and especially singing. While her children attended a Parochial School she was an active parent. She volunteered and assisted with the sewing and tailoring for the garments and altar cloths for the Church. She sang Ave Maria as a solo in the Christmas Mass for many years. She later purchased a piano and taught herself how to play. This was a passion she enjoyed for many years. Her sister, Tsukie Akiyama, 82 years of age, still lives in Kofu shi, Japan, where they have lived for over half a century.

Momoe Kraft is survived by her four children: Don Akiyama, Cathy Rainey, Cindy Beaird, and Ramona Valencia and 7 grandchildren: Jordan Barber, Timothy Valencia, Sierra Beaird, Jacqueline Beaird, Miles Beaird, Alaina Akiyama and Brandon Akiyama.

Momoe was beloved by her children. They consider it an honor to have her as their mother and grandmother. They will never forget her spirit, her legacy of independence, hard work ethics, entreprenurial enthusiasm and mostly her sacrifices as a mother. Her family loved her very much.