Masako K. Abe's Obituary
MASAKO K. ABE
January 29, 1929 – May 28, 2023
Masako K. Abe passed away peacefully under Hospice care on Sunday, May 28, 2023, at her residence in Pukalani, Maui. She was born in Hilo, Hawaii on January 29, 1929. Masako, affectionately known as Aunty Ma, was raised in the Waiakea Camp 2 sugar plantation, along with five brothers and sisters. One year, she came to Maui for a vacation and was introduced to Shoji Abe by her oldest brother. They went to watch the sunset at Haleakala, and sipped on hot cocoa and coffee. Masako and Shoji married on June 11, 1960, and she moved to Maui. She had medical and clerical experience working for Dr. Haraguchi in Hilo, so she easily found a job as a doctor’s aide in Wailuku for Dr. Otsuka. In 1965, she started working for Maui Medical Group as an insurance claims clerk. She eventually helped to open Kaiser Clinic in Wailuku in 1970. After 20+ years of service, she retired from Kaiser in 1991 as their business office supervisor.
In her spare time, Masako loved to read books by Danielle Steel and Nicholas Sparks. She was a great cook and baker. She loved baking for her co-workers, family and friends. Masako also enjoyed going to the beach for picnics and shoreline fishing with her hand pole, catching reef fish.
Masako is survived by many nieces, nephews, friends and neighbors. Although Masako did not have any children, she treated her nieces and nephews, and the neighborhood kids as her own. She never forgot holidays, birthdays and special occasions and picked out specific Hallmark cards to send to her family and friends.
Special thanks to Hospice Maui staff and private caregivers for the excellent care she received.
Services will be held at Nakamura Mortuary on Monday, July 3, 2023 at 11:00AM. Visitation to start at 10:30AM. Family requests no flowers or koden please. In lieu of flowers or koden, you may wish to make a donation to Hospice Maui.
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