Kiyoko (Kay) Yamada (nee Takahashi)

Passed away peacefully on Friday, May 22 at Baywoods Place Nursing Home, Hamilton, Ontario at the age of 102.

Kay was born December 15, 1923 in Britannia Beach, British Columbia, a remote mining town along what is now the Sea to Sky highway. She was the fifth of eight children. Mother, Suga, and father, Chozo Takahashi ran the general store for the copper mine. After a few years in Britannia Beach the growing family moved to Vancouver where Chozo worked as a gardener. Kiyoko was pre-deceased by her parents, and siblings, in order, Eita, Hideo (Ruth), Kazuko Atagi (Harry), Akira (Cathy), Toshio (May), Fumiko Tsubouchi (Tom) and Haruko Bando (Tosh).

In 1942 in the midst of World War II , Suga and the younger members of the family were interned in Lemon Creek, British Columbia. Chozo, Hideo and Akira were sent to Petawawa Prisoner of War Camp. Chozo died en route. In 1943, Hideo and Akira were transferred to the Angler Prison Camp until the end of the war.

After the war, the family relocated to Toronto, where Kay met and married Mitsuo (Mike) Yamada. They raised four children, Susumu Lloyd (Christine), Ken Edward, Yukio Glenn, and Hideko Carol Iwata (Akimiitsu). Kay's pride and joy were her eight grandchildren starting with Stephen (Jennifer) and followed by David (Amber), Leanna (Daniel), Ryo (Connie), Kenji, Colleen, Kevin and Owen. Five great grandchildren followed, Stephen's daughters, Maya, Abigail, David 's daughter Aubrey, Leanna's children, Lyla and Brayden and Ryo's son Kaito.

Kay was an integral part of her west end community after opening a small business with her husband Mike. She had many friends and grateful customers. She volunteered at the old Riverdale Hospital, reading to the elderly and other patients. She played the piano for her church. She loved music, gardening, dogs and painting - a hobby she picked up in her later years. She was always happy - even in Lemon Creek. She said that the old camp guards allowed her and her friends to go up the mountains to picnic. She taught Japanese to the children. She was proud to be a Takahashi as she considered anyone with Takahashi blood to be “perfect”. She idolized the Nissan. Hideko Carol was named after him. She is the last of the Nisei (2nd generation) of Takahashi’s.

It is said that happy people live longer. Her 102 years and 5 months age support that statement. She was happy right to the very end.

A private service and celebration of Kiyoko's life will be held at the Toronto Buddhist Church, 1011 Shepard Ave. W., North York. Donations to the Toronto Buddhist Church would be kindly appreciated.