Tamayo Yamada's Obituary
Tamayo Yamada
Born: June 11, 1925
Died: July 23, 2024
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Tamayo Yamada, a beloved, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend. Born in the Township of Makawao, Village of Waiakoa, County of Maui, Territory of Hawaii, 99 years ago. Tamayo lived a life full of love, resilience, and dedication to her family.
She was the daughter of Jutaro Yokoyama, a merchant, and Matsuno Monden, a housewife, both originally from Hiroshima, Japan. As a nissei, she learned to cook from her quiet, skilled father, mastering recipes such as tofu and natto from scratch. Her cooking became a cornerstone of her family life, known especially for her ono taco dip, special French dressing and orange butter cookies. She became a babysitter for the Von Tempsky, Hobdy, and the Murray families in her younger years and often kept in touch with them.
Tamayo married Tilton Toshio Yamada on August 6, 1948, and together they raised four children, five grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and her hanai family. Despite only having a 6th grade education, she valued learning immensely, encouraging her family to pursue higher education. She filled their home with borrowed books from the library and the book mobile, always fostering a love for knowledge and self-improvement.
Life on the farm was challenging, with long days and early mornings, but Tamayo faced these difficulties with unwavering determination. She planted many fruit trees in her garden and would often make her famous pickled peach. Her strength and work ethic were an inspiration to all who knew her. She also had a remarkable ability to care for animals, earning the affectionate title of ‘dog whisperer’ from her family.
Her later years were marked by her battle with dementia and Alzheimer’s, but even then, she remained warm and personable to friends, caregivers, and families. Her conversations at Maui Adult Day Care and with the Islands Hospice nurses were a testament to her enduring kindness and sweet personality.
Tamayo leaves behind a legacy of love, hard work, and an unbreakable bond with her family. She is survived by her children Dan Yamada, Glenn Yamada, Dean Yamada, and Joyce (Dr Michael) Miyamoto, grandchildren Garrett (Lynn) Yamada, Marina (Chester) Patoc, Dr. Courtney Miyamoto (Dr. Richard Ariza), Caitlyn (Reed) Branson, Lindsey Miyamoto, and great-grandchildren Kendyll and Cade Yamada, Addison and Annika Patoc, Charles and Penelope Branson; hanai grandchildren Tamara Pulido, Leigh (Art) Candelas, and Dawn Kobayashi; hanai great-grandchildren Kiani and Kyra Candelas and Jarred and Ashley Pulido. She will be deeply missed but forever remembered in the hearts of those who loved her.
Mahalo to Maui Adult Day Care for providing the social and emotional support and to Islands Hospice for her health and respite care. Together it took a village to support our mom, we are forever grateful.
Funeral Services will be held at Nakamura Mortuary on August 23, 2024, Friday, at 4:00 pm. She will be cremated and buried at the Makawao Veterans Cemetery alongside her late husband. Please share your memories of her at the nakamuramortuary.com website.
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