Fumi Inaba

1919 - 2015

Fumi Lynn Inaba (nee Shirakawa) wonderful mother, caring grandmother and great grandmother and devoted wife to Mas until his death in 2009, passed away in Calgary on Monday, August 31, 2015.

Relatives and friends were invited to meet with the family at Southland Funeral Chapel, 5006 - 48 Avenue, Taber on Friday, September 4, 2015 between 7:00 P.M. and 8:00 P.M.

The Funeral Service was held at Knox United Church, 4929 - 50 Avenue, Taber on Saturday, September 5, 2015 at 2:00 P.M.

Fumi is survived by her seven children Frank (Toseko-"Dimples") Inaba of Lethbridge, Nancy Uchida of Ottawa, Dan Inaba of Lethbridge, Larry (Lori) Inaba of Calgary, Janet (Shig) Tamikado of Calgary, Ron (Wendy) Inaba of Leduc and Michael (Tracy) Inaba of Vulcan as well as twenty grandchildren and great grandchildren.

She was predeceased by her infant daughter Tina Inaba, brother Takeshi Shirakawa, sister Sayoko Murakami and son-in-law Elbert Uchida.

Fumi was born in Mission, British Columbia the middle child of three. Fumi married Mas who came from Japan to work on her parents' farm in 1937. A forced evacuation in 1942 brought the couple to Alberta with two small children. The first part of their life was one of extreme hardship but the latter part for both of them was filled with many happy, joyful and fulfilling moments with many wonderful friends and a growing family. They enjoyed golf, curling, karaoke parties, dominoes and traveling with their many friends to places like Hawaii and Las Vegas. Fumi enjoyed gathering with her eight coffee lady friends at A&W. They would meet monthly with their two for one coupons. She was a wonderful seamstress who was proud of her certificate of achievement in dressmaking. Fumi sewed school clothes for her children and many bridesmaid dresses. Her mind was still sharp while living with her daughter and son-in-law Janet and Shig in Calgary. Fumi would go for daily walks, made more than fifteen kimekomi dolls, did Sudoku and jig-saw puzzles and played a competitive game of dominoes.

She will be lovingly remembered by her children, extended family and many friends.

If friends so desire, memorial tributes in Fumi’s name may be made directly to the Japanese United Church, 821 - 9 Avenue North, Lethbridge, Alberta T1H 1E8 or to the Taber and District Health Foundation, 4326 - 50 Avenue, Taber, Alberta T1G 1N9 or to a charity of one’s choice.