Celebrant Pam Meily Vetter


	Celebrating Life Everyone Has A Story...

Shizu was born to Asami and Juichi in Medford, Oregon. Growing up in Medford, Shizu lived on a farm with her parents and siblings. She was very close to her mother learning about her Japanese heritage and the importance of family. She also learned responsibility at a young age, helping to pick fruit in the orchards. After graduating from high school in Medford, the time of World War II approached. As Americans with Japanese ancestry, Shizu and her family were sent to internment camps, first in Tulelake, California, followed by time at a camp in Topaz, Utah. The family was fortunate that a friend at a neighboring farm in Oregon, Helen Metros, stored some of their belongings. Official paperwork and many heirlooms, though, were lost forever. After leaving the internment camp, Shizu went east to Ohio, where her brother, Roy, had joined to the Army. She returned to Medford and eventually traveled to settle in California with her friend, Edna, and her sister, Masako.

Shizu quickly gained work in Little Tokyo at a noodle restaurant, where there was a supportive Japanese community. The noodle restaurant was where she met Don Kawasawa. He was a customer who often visited the restaurant where Shizu made him coffee. The couple started spending time together. Don soon followed Shizu to Oregon to ask her father for her hand in marriage. The couple married on June 27th, 1948. In the years to follow, Shizu and Don welcomed three children into the world: Tommy, Dennis, and Helen. For birthdays, Shizu enjoyed having a special birthday party for each of the children when they were young and welcomed children in the neighborhood to join them. She loved all of her children, always supporting them. She was also a good mediator with her children because she was willing to listen. She was the perfect mother as the children were always well taken care of and loved. Family was a priority in her life. Shizu was a hard worker, not only at home, but she also worked for a real estate company on Martin Luther King Boulevard in Los Angeles. Later, she worked for Grace Pastries as a manager for more than two decades.

Shizu was thrilled to welcome each one of her grandchildren in her life: Renee, Jamie, Adam, Brett, and James. When Helen became a single mom, Shizu developed a special relationship with Renee and Jamie, because the family lived together. Shizu and Don offered a strong support system to the girls. In many ways, Shizu was a second mother to them. After school, the girls spent time at the pastry shop with Grandma Shizu. They’d have their name written in icing on wax paper and then start their homework. On weekends, they’d sometimes visit Grandpa Don’s work at the record studio at Santa Monica and Vine, where he worked as an electroplating technician, plating vinyl records. With her family, Shizu supported Japanese tradition to honor their ancestors by attending the Buddhist event known as the Obon Festival every year. As a period of prayer, people believe that their ancestors’ spirits visit their homes to be reunited with their family during Obon.

At home, Shizu was Grandma to everyone, the doors were always open and everyone was welcome. The biggest holiday of the year was New Year’s, when all of the family spent time together throughout the day. Shizu often taught the girls and adopted grandchildren how to cook, encouraging them to roll up their sleeves and get to work. Over the years, Shizu groomed each person in the family to be a certain way and she encouraged them to embrace their chosen role. No matter what, she loved her position as caretaker to the family she loved so very much. When her great-granddaughter, Kayla, was born, she became the light of her life. After her husband passed away, Kayla’s beautiful presence kept her going the last four years of her life. She enjoyed spending time with Kayla and would give her treats such as ice cream and Twinkies. Kayla especially liked it when Grandma helped to pick her up after school or they’d go shopping together and Grandma bought her balloons. Shizu always told Kayla "I love you," and hugged her often.

Shizu was 100% a giver in life. Whether she told you or showed you, family was always her priority. Her advice would be to understand each other, love each other and make a commitment to family. Her family will miss talking with her, being comforted by her presence, and spending time with her. Shizu Kawasawa will be remembered as a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, who loved her family unconditionally. With a quiet strength, Shizu took care of everyone in her life.