Karla Austin

Cheri Sumida

On the morning of August 20 at Royal Vista of San Gabriel, Cheri Sadako Sumida, passed away peacefully in her sleep at the age of 97. Cheri was born on January 20, 1923 in Los Angeles. She was the eldest daughter of Sadaichi and Wakayo Kaizoji. Shortly thereafter she became older sister to her younger brother, Sadao (Glen). On occasion when her parents had to work, both kids were sent back to Japan to be cared for by relatives. She grew up in Los Angeles and graduated from Belmont High. Cheri always had a love of learning and studying and considered herself to be a good student. Her plans were to attend college and major in French. She loved everything about the language and dreamed about traveling to France someday. It was also her reason for picking "Cheri" as her American name. The war, however, put her college plans on hold. During World War II the family was relocated to Manzanar. From there they were moved to Tule Lake because her father had answered "No" twice on the loyalty questions. She was proud that her father had stood up to the governments' hypocritical questionnaire. It was at camp where Cheri began teaching English - the beginning of a life long passion for her. After the war the family returned to Los Angeles, Cheri married Sumito "Steve" Sumida on June 20, 1954. They bought a house in Monterey Park and later became a family when their daughter, Joy, arrived. Cheri worked alongside her husband as a part-time aide to the civil engineers at LA County Flood Control. She was one of the first women in that role and remembered dealing with the discrimination that came with the job. She went back to school and earned her AA degree at East Los Angeles Community College and became an English teacher at San Gabriel Adult Ed. Cheri would frequently travel to Japan to visit her father and family. While she was there, she studied at Hiroshima University and worked with two professors. She also had time to study the koto and earned the title of Master Koto teacher in Nagano. She brought her knowledge and love for koto back to the states where she taught and performed. Her other hobbies included performing Enka on stage, singing, watching Korean soap operas, playing cards with friends, spending time with her 3 grandsons, and speaking Japanese to her poodle, Mimi (French named dog). Years later, long after the passing of her husband, she would move to Royal Vista Assisted Living in San Gabriel. Here she enjoyed Bingo, exercise classes, going out to Panda Express with her friend, Anna, and trying to teach residents and staff how to speak Japanese. Cheri is preceded in death by both parents, husband, Sumito "Steve", brothers, Sadao "Glen" Kaizoji, half-brothers Frank Hirahara and Bob Kishita and numerous uncles, cousins and other relatives. Cheri is survived by her daughter, Joy Sumida, grandsons, Dean, Derek and Jimmy Nakashima, niece, Karla Kaizoji Austin, grandnieces, Rachel Kaizoji, Jodie Austin, and grandnephew Michael Austin, and close friends, Anna Vida and Motoko Saneto. Thanks to Susie Fuentes, Lily, Jun, Sybel, Marina, Josefina and the wonderful staff at Royal Vista of San Gabriel Care Center. Thanks for all your patience, kindness and understanding. Thanks as well to grandson, Derek, for taking her out and about and bringing her treats from daughter, Joy. Super special thanks to Anna Vida for being her close friend through good times and bad times, for cooking all those delicious meals, baking all those treats, taking her to all those appointments, bringing her dorayaki,…. you name it, Anna did it. Due to covid, the memorial service for Cheri will be scheduled at a later date. fukuimortuary.com

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Cheri Sadako Kaizoji Sumida

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