Sumiko Matsunami
Obituary
Sumiko Matsunami, a resident of Watsonville, California, passed away on October 29, 2022. She was 80 years of age.
Sumiko was born on December 9, 1941, in Yamaguchi-Ken Japan to Tadashi Murakami and Tomiko Fujimoto.
Sumiko married Sadao Matsunami on December 16, 1964. After this day, her wonderful life with Sadao in Watsonville began. Sadao and Sumiko lived an incredible life together. They were the definition of a devoted and loving couple. Sumiko and Sadao were inseparable and worked together on their strawberry farm until their retirement. Sumiko was an active member of the Watsonville Buddhist Temple, and the Watsonville Adult Buddhist Association. Sadao also held many positions at the temple, but he did not hold these positions alone. Sumiko was always there to give him moral support, and helped him get things done. Although they were two individuals, Sumiko and Sadao always worked like one cohesive unit. They shared a special relationship, and they were each other's best friend.
Sumiko was a creative person. She participated in the Northern California Mataro Kimekomi Ningyo Club and learned to make many beautiful Japanese style dolls. The doll making required a lot of patience and a good eye to lay the material on the dolls to make the fabric flow naturally. The same dolls could be made by multiple people, but you can see the time and care she put into each creation to make them unique and in her own style. Her commitment was acknowledged by the Northern California Mataro Kimekomi Ningyo Club by achieving her teaching diploma. Like in life, she put a lot of love and care into everything she did.
Sumiko was preceded in death by her husband, Sadao in 2021. Sumiko is survived by her daughter Ayumi Dairokuno (Kenneth), her three grandchildren: Sarah, Emily, and Aaron Dairokuno; her son Mitsuo Matsunami (Patricia Garcia), Briana, Jay, and Ryan Garcia; her sister Tomie Hagiwara (Yukinari), her three sisters in law: Harumi Kuwada, Fusae Hope, Satsuki Ruiz, and her brother-in-law Hitoshi Matsunami. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held January 21, 2023 at 11AM at the Watsonville Buddhist Temple, 423 Bridge Street in Watsonville. Due to COVID requirements masks are required.
Published in The Pajaronian · December 9, 2022