Beloved Mary F. Nakayama passed away early Tuesday morning, May 19th, joining her Husband James and Son Alan in the loving arms of God. She died very peacefully at the age of 97 in McNeal Hospital’s Hospice in the tender care of the wonderful staff.
She was born January 31, 1923 to Fusakichi (father) and Asayo (mother) Okimoto in California. She was named Fusaco Okimoto, but had her first name changed to Mary by her 1st grade teacher (finding it easier to pronounce). (The school was in Marysville.) Mary liked the name and adopted it for the remainder of her life. She had three brothers; Henry, Ted, and George; and a sister, Yukiko.
Having both of her parents pass while at an early age, Mary was raised by her sister. In early 1942 after the start of WW II, she along with her family were relocated and interned in Amache, Colorado at the prison camp there. In early 1945 toward the end of the war, she was released on a job/work program and sent to Chicago, Illinois. While there she met and eventually married James (Jim) S Nakayama.
Jim and Mary had two sons, Dean and Alan, and in 1958 moved to the town of Lyons, just outside of Chicago. They both loved Lyons and were highly active in numerous affairs there. Jim in the Lions Club, American Legion, and serving on the public school board as president. Mary as the nurses aide at several elementary schools in Lyons for many years and becoming active in the town’s senior center as she grew older.
Highly patriotic and dedicated to service to country, Jim was a veteran of WW II; sons Dean in the USN, Alan in the US Army; granddaughter Kristy in the US Air Force; and grandsons’ Kevin (now serving in the US. Marine Corps) and Mark (presently as a police officer Chicago PD).
Dean’s wife is Sandra née Swanson with daughters Kristy and Kerry and two grand children. Alan’s wife is Deborah née Burke with sons Kevin and Mark. Alan and Deborah were the loving caretakers of Mary in her later years until Alan passed in 2018. Deborah took over all of the responsibilities at that point and gave Mary the best care anyone could have desired. She did it with love and tenderness.
In light of the present pandemic there will be no plans for a service now and Mary will be cremated. Some time in the future when things have settled, her remains will be interred besides her dear husband and son at a celebration of her life. No flowers or donations are wanted, but a prayer and a moment of remembrance of her and any interaction she may have had with you is appreciated. Sayonara Mary.
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