Masako Yada

MASAKO LINDA YADA (nee TANAKA). July 11, 1918 to February 29, 2020. She was born to Ichijiro and Miki (nee Tsuji) Tanaka on Powell Street, then known as Japantown, in Vancouver, B.C. She attended Strathcona School, and as a youngster, helped with her parents’ tofu business. As a young woman, she was visiting relatives in Japan when the outbreak of World War II prevented her return to Canada. While in Japan, she worked in a U.S. Army chaplain’s office.

In 1949, Masako returned to East Lillooet, which had been a Japanese-Canadian internment centre, and moved back to Vancouver with her family in 1950. She married Hideo (Harry) Yada in 1959 and they worked together in their grocery business in Vancouver and North Vancouver until their retirement. When Hideo passed away in 2004, Masako moved to an apartment in Burnaby.

Masako lived at the Robert Nimi Nikkei Home for the last five years where she was able to spend time with four of her siblings and other long-time friends at the home. She is survived by her brothers Shigeru (Bill), Minoru (Bob), Mitsuru (Miki) and Yuki, Osamu (Sam) and Virginia as well as many nephews, nieces and cousins. She was pre-deceased by her other siblings Sayo Hattori, Kazuo (Bud), and Akira (Mike). Masako will be fondly remembered for her friendliness and generosity.

A heartfelt “thank you” for the compassionate care provided by the doctors and staff at Burnaby General Hospital. Also, a debt of gratitude to the staff at Robert Nimi Nikkei Home for their wonderful care and support during her time there.

A private memorial service will be scheduled in the future. In lieu of flowers or koden, a donation may be made to either the Vancouver Buddhist Temple or the Nikkei Place Foundation (designated to the Nikkei Seniors Health Care & Housing Society) in memory of Masako Yada.