Martha Masako Banno

With the deepest sadness and heartbreak, we announce the passing of Martha Masako Banno, devoted daughter of Mr. Shotaro and Mrs. Onobu Yamakami, and wife of Dr. Patrick Masakazu Banno who predeceased her by 30 years. Loving mother of Douglas, Dean (Sarah), Leslie, Lynda (Patrick), sister (2 brothers, 2 sisters) and grandmother of five (Jaime, Justyne, Alexander, Christopher, Courtney). Mom celebrated her 90th birthday in hospital, passing away just 2 days later, surrounded by so much love from her family and private nurses.

Capturing the richness of a life in a few words is no easy feat, and all the more so for someone as multidimensional as Mom who lived wholeheartedly, explored varied passions, travelled the world, and brought an unwavering community spirit to inspire people around causes.

Mom was born in Vancouver, but her family was uprooted to Rosebery, BC during the WWII Japanese internment. Following the war, unable to return to the BC coastal region, the Yamakami family relocated to Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, where she grew to appreciate the Canadian prairie’s four seasons and the “honest, hardworking, and salt of the earth” people and friends with whom she kept in touch her entire life. A bright, dedicated student and high achiever, Mom graduated from high school at age 16 as the class Valedictorian, then pursued a nursing school degree with full scholarship from the University of Saskatchewan.

Post graduation, Mom moved back to Vancouver where she practised nursing as Head Nurse at VGH, then met and married the love of her life before raising 4 children. A tremendously doting mother, she chauffeured her kids to Boy Scout, music, swimming, Japanese dancing and figure skating lessons, participated in school parent committees, and picked up the neighbourhood kids on their way to school in her large red Mercury car. Pulling over to the side of the street and identifying all the kids by name, she called from her window, “get in, I’ll drive you to school,” and they would happily pile into her car for a ride.

A huge sports fan, Mom held life-long seasons tickets for the Vancouver Canucks and BC Lions, proudly wearing her BC Lions scarf and Vancouver Canucks sweatshirt on game days, citing the team players by name, and staying until the excruciating end of each game even when her team had clearly lost. Although she was a high school badminton champion and sharp-shooting basketball player, Mom was unable to receive swimming lessons. So, she and Dad built a swimming pool for training at home and sent their kids to advanced level swimming lessons so that they could acquire an important life skill that Mom didn’t have herself.

An avid patron of the arts, Mom supported the Vancouver Opera with seasons tickets and regularly attended additional classical music and ballet shows with friends and family – an especially beloved tradition was The Nutcracker ballet at Christmastime -- though she was known to nod off for part of the show, explaining that the music was just too beautiful and soothing to her ears. When Mom travelled, she loved visiting museums and tourist sites to learn about history, art and other cultures. During her regular visits to Disneyland, she never tired of riding the “It’s A Small World” boat ride with childlike enthusiasm, enthralled by the cute dancing children or animals from different countries. A yearly highlight for Mom was spending time in Honolulu Hawaii with her husband, and after he passed away, with her daughter, attending Ikebana workshops and socializing with her friends.

After her children became more independent, one of Mom’s greatest passions was Ikebana flower arranging, and she held the position of President of the Ikenobo Association (Vancouver Chapter) for more than 20 years, organizing professor workshops and conferences, creating arrangements for high-profile visitors such as Queen Elizabeth II, and acting as a fully fluent Japanese translator during their visits. Traveling to other cities and Japan annually, Mom attended Ikebana teaching workshops where she acquired the higher skills and education to be a Sensei to other students and spread the joy of finding beauty in the balanced Shin and Tai of a perfect Ikebana arrangement.

This continued at the local Van Dusen Botanical Gardens where she gave of her time as a volunteer teacher’s assistant. Even during her last precious years with us, she thoroughly enjoyed her own flower and vegetable gardens, tending to her plentiful tomato and strawberry plants that she said gave her “purpose” in life, and arranging beautiful fresh-cut flowers in her home.

For many years, Mom also kept active with the Vancouver Buddhist Temple as a board member and volunteer. Attracted by the church community spirit and honouring her mother’s religious belief, Mom went on trips with other church members, made many wonderful friends through her participation, and sought to do good in the world through sponsorship and volunteerism. As Co-President of the Church Women’s Group, she organized significant fundraisers and trips to a host of cities in Canada and the US. Truly, her life was an example of living fully, actively, and passionately.

A proud grandmother, mom attended her grandchildren’s school, musical and sporting events and graduations, and delighted in their home visits in her later years. The grandchildren, in turn, adored her sharp wit and sense of humour, often playfully trading jokes with her. Mom’s dream for her grandchildren, as well as her children, was for them to graduate from high school and seek higher education so that they could become responsible contributors to society. She left them well on their way in the world, pursuing higher scholastic studies and their passions, while also imparting a little bit of her funny personality with them too.

Mom, you were larger than life, you lit up the room wherever you went. Your bright light has gone out, but your extraordinary legacy, values and teachings live on forever in the hearts and memories of your family, friends and colleagues. We are comforted by knowing that you have now joined Dad and can happily cherish him singing to you again.

A special thanks to Mom’s private nurses, who tirelessly gave of themselves to ensure the best care for her, taking her on road trips to Stanley Park, Queen Elizabeth Park and local farm markets, planning countless celebrations, cooking salsa with her home-grown tomatoes, and finding opportunities to exercise, dance, sing and play games. They became not just her nurses, but her close friends and family. To Dr. Daniel Budgell, who gave us the gift of two extra healthy months with our Mom, that we might not have otherwise had.

A private family service is planned. In lieu of koden or flowers, please kindly donate to the Vancouver Buddhist Temple or the Canadian Diabetes Association in memory of Mom.

Remember by Christina Rossetti

Remember me when I am gone away,

Gone far away into the silent land;

When you can no more hold me by the hand,

Not I half turn to go yet turning stay,

Remember me when no more day by day

You tell me of our future that you planned;

Only remember me; you understand

It will be late to counsel then or pray.