Hajime Shigemi

1933 - 2024

Hajime Shigemi (née Kimura), beloved wife of the late Tak Shigemi, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family in Lethbridge on Tuesday, July 30, 2024 at the age of 91 years.

A private funeral service was held at Southland Funeral Chapel, Taber on Saturday, August 31, 2024 at 11:00 A.M. Burial followed at Mountain View Cemetery, Lethbridge. 

Hajime is survived by her children Ron (Kathy) Shigemi, Ken (Lidia) Shigemi, Blair Kaga, Louise Bertie, Glenn (Cheryl) Shigemi, Carey (Jo Ann) Shigemi and Gene (Joyce) Shigemi. She is also survived by her grandchildren Kiyomi (Tyler) Shigemi Theberge, Mariko (Anders) Shigemi Olsen, Janice (Santi) Shigemi, Andrea (Johnny) Shigemi, Jordan Bertie, Alexis Shigemi, Brett Shigemi and Zak Shigemi, and great grandchildren Taylor, Kiera, Cullam, Kian, Ashton, Brooklyn, and Nicanna. She is also survived by her twin sister Toshino Shigemi and her children Cliff Shigemi, Connie (George) Unser, and Marcia (Jim) Kaga.

She was predeceased by her parents Mansaku and Yone Kimura, siblings Masato, Tsugeto, Tsuseyoshi, Akiko, and Akio, daughter Carol Kaga, brother-in-law George Shigemi, niece Sharlene Shigemi, and husband Tak Shigemi.

Hajime was born on January 18, 1933 in Tamana-gun, Kumamoto-ken Japan. She came to Canada in 1960 from Yokohama and arrived in Vancouver by boat. Hajime married Takaaki Shigemi on July 20, 1960 and settled in Vauxhall where she gained an instant family, Ron, Ken, Carol and Louise. She and Tak then expanded their family with three sons, Glenn, Carey and Gene. Hajime spent her first years in Canada on the farm raising the family and later got a job at PakWel where she worked until retirement. Hajime and Tak retired in Taber and later moved to a retirement home in Lethbridge.

Hajime was known for her creativity, compassion and generous spirit. She was an avid gardener and loved to grow a variety of things in the garden, which she was always sharing with family and neighbours. There seemed to be nothing that she could not nurture from seed. She was an excellent Japanese cook, and offered food to anyone who visited. Hajime was also very crafty and made temari balls and beautiful origami, which she readily gave away. She also loved to sew and often made clothes for her family. Family was very important to Hajime and she had an unbreakable bond with her twin sister Toshino. She loved to have her grandchildren and great grandchildren around. Hajime never failed to greet you with a smile, always saw the good in people and was very thankful for all that she had. She will be fondly remembered and greatly missed.

Koden is respectfully declined. If friends so desire, memorial tributes in Hajime’s name may be made directly to the charity of one’s personal choice.

The Shigemi family would like to thank Columbia Age Care and their staff for all the years they cared for Tak and Hajime, the doctors and nurses on 3B at the Chinook Regional Hospital, and to Adaptacare for the care and compassion shown to Hajime.