Dorothy Kaneko service (cont.)
From Debbie Mieko Burns, Archivist, Japanese American Service Committee
I am very sorry for the loss of Dorothy. I had the pleasure of working with her when she volunteered for the JASC's Legacy Center. She provided invaluable information about community photographs and early JASC history. She told me many stories about providing services, assistance, companionship, and caring to the Issei people in Chicago. She was instrumental in developing the JASC's programs to assist the Issei generation. I am very grateful that she shared her expertise and knowledge about the community with the Legacy Center. I will miss seeing her at the JASC and send my deepest sympathy to all who loved her.
From niece, Jeannie Kaneko Yee
November 30, 2006
Memories of Auntie Dorothy
As I think about all the wonderful Aunties that I have, I realize how blessed I am to have such a loving variety. Auntie Dorothy is my "Cultured Aunt". She did her best to expose us to art and music. As an eight year old, she took me to hear some Japanese conductor. Yawn. But now as an adult, I appreciate that it was Seiji Ozawa.
And then there were the books. Honestly, what seven-year old would be happy with a Rand McNally World Portrait Atlas? I know that I wasn’t exactly thrilled to get a big book with maps and words. On the first page, I printed in pencil "From Auntie Dorothy". On the next page it says, "Motto: I hate Michelle. Michelle is nosey because she is peeking in this book!" It seems that I viewed this gift as more of a diary that valuable resource! The book was published in 1963; the world population has literally doubled from 3 billion to 6 billion since then and today’s maps of Russia do not have RUSSIAN SOVIET FEDERATED SOCIALIST REPUBLIC emblazoned across the country. The point being that I still have the book. All the other toys have long since been thrown away, but Auntie Dorothy’s thoughtful gift lives on.
From the family of niece, Wendy Hirano
Brandon Hirano age 7
"What I Remember
I play Ante Monopoly. This is Brandon."
Michele Hirano age 9
"What I liked about Auntie Dorothy
1. is that she was very nice.
2. and that she liked to talk to me a lot.
3. and that she enjoys company with people."
Candace Hirano age 11
"What I liked about Auntie Dorothy
1. She liked to talk to me.
2. She liked to spend time with me.
3. She played games with me.
4. She helped me with different things.
5. She loved fried potatoes so when she was at our house Grandma-Moto made it & I got to eat it, too!
6. When it was Thanksgiving time Auntie & I would cut orange skins to put cranberries in.
7. We went on walk together."
From Cha & James Hirano
Auntie Dorothy, thank you for taking the time to come out to Los Angeles with Uncle Hiroshi and visit during the holidays! It was so nice to have you both stay with us for those few weeks.
Thank you for taking a sincere interest in talking with Candace, Michele and
Brandon. You seemed to just enjoy the company and the pleasure of being around little ones. Brandon loved it when you would play Monopoly. You bought that for him for Christmas last year. That is his favorite game. Every time he plays we will think of you.
We will miss you, Auntie Dorothy. I am trusting that God has you in His arms and that you are now in the presence of your Creator.
With our love,
Cha and James
From Reverend Bill Johnson
Our Friend, Dorothy
One word describes Dorothy to me: sister. She had an uncanny ability to make you feel important and loved. Her smile was disarming and yet so important as she always seemed to wear it all the time. She would look up to me, due to height differences, smile and then share life and its moments with me. What a woman!
When we came to Christian Fellowship we were new to the Japanese culture and foods. She took it upon herself to acquaint us with Japanese foods and we came to appreciate all the different dishes. We remember with great pleasure the New Year’s Day get-togethers with friends and relatives. Now when we got out to eat Japanese food, we owe our love of it to Dorothy.
Dorothy always seemed to carry a little more than her share of the load in the church. Her life was, for me, an example of service and servanthood. She expressed her Christian faith through her humility, willingness to help others, an open mind, and dedicated life. As a sister, she put others first and shared her life in so many ways.
Ruth and I want to thank God for the privilege of knowing her and sharing life with her. She lived a beautiful life.
I was surprised to hear the sudden news about Auntie Dorothy. It is so painful to think
about how Uncle Hiroshi and everybody are feeling now. Auntie Dorothy did so much
for us when we went to the U.S. to visit. We were so far apartand we can't meet often
but she welcomed us and I was so grateful. It is December and the cold wind is blowing
outside but the memory of her makes me feel wafin thinking about how she welcon\ed us
with her kind smile as she tried to speak to us even though we didn't understand English
and not commonly used Japanese. Sheis alive in my heartand also in rrry families' heart
always, even now and always will be. I am grateful for her kindness. Thank you very
much. Takayuki Kaneko ( n4lu)
I will always remember Auntie Dorothy's never ending hospitality to us rn
Chicago when we were growing up. I have so many memories of spending time at the
Kaneko's house for holidays, New Year's or just an evening together as an extended
family to celebrate someone's birthday or special occasion. I remember her making us sit
quietly with a book at the kitchen table for half an hour (She was innovative before her
time, as the educational system now calls this SSR-silent sustained reading). We were
supposed to be reading for thirfy minutes, but I recall we giggled a lot and tried to kick
each other under the table without laughing and getting in trouble.
Auntie Dorothy always had a welcoming smile on her face. In her later years, I
always enjoyed the fact that she'd carry around a new set of photos of her family and
would share her latest adventures and travels through photos.
Her taste in clothes was impeccable and winter coats,d resses,e ven ice skates
would flow down from Donna, to Cherie, to Stephanie, to Kathy, to me, to Michelle, and
finally to Jeannie, and the clothes were STILL in good condition and in style. Auntie
kept the string of seven girl cousins dressed to the nines and we never lacked for clothes,
wann winter coats, or books. I will always recall her emphasis in life on the arts,
Japanesefo od and culture, music and plain good manners.S he was a regal auntie.
I watched in arnazemenat s she aged gracefully and I stood in awe of her
wonderful attitude toward life. She always seemed willing to travel to California, Maine,
Oreon, and New York or wherever; she had a can-do attitude and was slow but sure about
each step she took, each word she spoke and even each bite she took. Her appetite
always arrazedme and although she ate slowly, she could eat!
I will miss her presence here on earth but I know I have the hope to see her again
in heaven sitting in the arms of our Lord, Jesus Christ.
May God give each of you comfort at this time during the loss of Auntie Dorothy.
She will be greatly missed, and may the fond memories we have of her carry us through
this time of grief and loss. Lovingly, Teresa (Takaki) Matsushima,maternalniece
A TRIBUTE TO DOROTHY KANEKO
Because I was thinking of Dorothy on Sunday, the refrain from the song “This is the Day the Lord Has Made” spoke to me, and it made me think of Dorothy. I will explain. The refrain goes like this — This is the day the Lord has made Nothing is going to steal my joy from me Love to dance and love to play - May my life be a song of praise all day.
When I think of Dorothy, what comes through was her joy and love of life. This is not to deny or overlook the many hardships and struggles that she had to endure. But, she never let them get her down. She loved people, and she was a very sociable person. She enjoyed so much sharing and connecting with people from all backgrounds. Many of you here tonight, I am sure, have stories to share.
Dorothy was not one to sit on the sidelines. She had a curious and open mind, and she was eager to be involved in what she thought was relevant and meaningful. Her church and the community were very important to her, and she did not hesitate to give of herself willingly and generously. She was a model for all of us. When a task had to be done, we always asked Dorothy to ask persons to help because those she asked could not refuse her. She leaves her spirit and legacy of service.All of us who know her feel blessed that she was a part of our lives. We shall miss her very much.
Kiyo Yoshimura
I asked the Kaneko family if I could have a few minutes to say a few words.
Yesterday, the Kaneko’s and the Morita’s, along with Susan’s mom and sister gathered for dinner at Kevin’s. Lin and I were honored with an invite and as I walked around I observed an occasional quiet moment, but no frowns or hushed voices. I did see lots of smiles, joyous sounds of laughter and noise; from siblings, Children, and Grandchildren. I also realized that I knew almost everyone there, and even the one’s that couldn’t make it. That doesn’t happen if you aren’t close.
Kevin and I have been friends, best friends, for over 40 years. My other best friend is Kev’s cousin Bob Terada, which speaks volumes for genetics. You know, you can’t be friends with someone that long without getting to know the parents. As Kevin and I grew up together I can still hear Hiroshi and Dorothy’s voices gently and not so gently, on occasion scolding Kevin about something or other and realizing that a lot of that was probably directed at me as well.
As a normal teenager, meaning I knew everything, and my parents nothing; Well, I saw Hiroshi and Dorothy as very educated and smart people, even with a sense of humor. It certainly made me turn around and look at my own parents in a different light.
I have very mixed emotions today. I am terribly sad and I’m here with a broken heart. Yet at the same time I feel joy and a sense of celebration, because I have some great memories and stories about and around Dorothy and her family.
Very quickly, here are a few moments that come to mind that are a reflection of some of my feelings of love and respect for her and her family.
I remember Mrs. Kaneko, calling my parents. Boy, it took years for me finally call her by Dorothy, and feel comfortable about it. Anyway it was on a Saturday night to see if I had gotten home all right from their home. That’s because Kevin had just thrown me out of a party at his house for arguing with him. I didn’t know what I was talking about, so Kevin, I have to admit that you were justified. Ah a mothers concern, even for a petulant other child and my own parents grilling me about what I had done now.
It was probably 5 or 6 years later that Dorothy called and I found myself, with Kevin, shoveling a truck load of horse manure so that the Issei from JASC could grow a vegetable garden. With that much fertilizer you should be able to grow stuff on rocks. It led to, that over the next 3 decades, that if I got a call from Dorothy Kaneko, I had just volunteered to do something. It really was almost an obligation, a calling if you will. It certainly was a reflection of her commitments to the community and to this congregation. How do you say no to that?
Finally, after my mother passed away, and my father wandered around looking for something to eat, I found out that the Dorothy and Hiroshi always seemed to find an occasional extra seat at their dinner table. Thank you on behalf of my family for that.
Hiroshi, Donna, Sherry, Kevin, thanks for sharing your wife and mom with me and my family. Not that I think she would have had it any other way. THANK YOU, THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR BROKEN HEARTS.
