Text Box: A TRIBUTE TO Kazuko Kay Ito (given by Art Arai on January 8, 2003) Text Box: Thank you Rev. Willey and friends. It is very unfortunate that Mr. George Kadota, a long time family friend of Kazuko’s was to give this eulogy today but phoned to tell me that he is not well and his doctor advised him not to go out. George and his family lived across the street from Kazuko in New Westminster, B.C. and hence have known each other for a very long time. Kazuko was born October 29, 1916 in New Westminster B.C., the only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bunjiro Ohashi. In George 's notes to me, he said that his family all attended the same school as Kazuko and remembers her as being very gentle and kind. It was during this time that my parents became very good friends with her parents through the church. I understand that Mr. Ohashi was a dedicated church worker and a very eloquent speaker and he always accompanied Rev. Shimizu and Rev. Akagawa as they travelled throughout the Fraser Valley having their special services. The Ohashis operated a convenience store in New Westminster prior to evacuation and just before the family left for the Internment Camp at Kaslo B.C., Kazuko was in charge of the store. George tells me that they were very generous and when the children came in to buy candy, they would always give them an extra one for which they were very happy. Kazuko was very well educated. She not only spoke Japanese fluently but she could also read and write the language. Kazuko was always Text Box: interested in the Japanese Arts and was very proficient in many. She also played the Koto. The family moved to Montreal where Kazuko worked as a legal secretary and married her husband Paul Kazumi. Kazuko and her family moved to Toronto in 1954 and it was then that I became friends with Paul and Kazuko. He, too, was very active at the church and I had the privilege of working along side him. Kazuko worked as a legal secretary until she retired. She played a very important role at Centennial-Japanese United Church where we all remember her so well. She was the organist and pianist for all the congregations, Issei and Nisei, and she played for most of the weddings and funerals at the church . She was active in so many ways. The church was a very important part of her life. Over the years Kazuko was interested in and learned many Japanese Arts, at which she excelled. After her parents died Kazuko and her husband moved to Momiji where they were very happy. Paul was kept very busy and Kazuko was very happy in her surroundings. Paul died in 1998 and in June 2002 she moved to Greenview Lodge where she suddenly passed away on New Years day. She will be sadly missed by her family and friends.