Teruko Helen Hirahara
Obituary
Teruko "Terry" Hirahara passed away on October 5th 2021 in Santa Cruz, California.
She was born to Isao and Etsuko Yano in Greeley, Colorado. Terry was married to the love of her life Kaoru Hirahara in 1972 and resided in Watsonville, California. She was a devoted mother to her daughter Heidi and son-in-law Lowell Abenoja and a spectacular grandma to Bradley and Blaine.
Terry enjoyed a wonderful life with beautiful memories of travels and lots of great events with family and friends. She shared Kaoru's love of the San Francisco 49ers & San Francisco Giants. She spent a year in Japan studying Ikebana flower arranging and spent the rest of her life studying Ikebana under Mrs. Matano and eventually became a professor in Ikenobo. She also enjoyed playing the koto and learning classical tea ceremony. She had many friends around the state from being involved in the Watsonville Buddhist Temple as a teacher and superintendent and BWA member. With her close friends she had a poker group and bridge group. Terry enjoyed entertaining and was a talented cook and baker. Terry was an amazing wife, mom, grandma, daughter, sister, auntie, teacher and friend, who will all miss her immensely.
Her dad Isao Yano, Ron Enomoto, Takeo Hirahara, Manabu & Jill Hirahara and Mieko Watanabe preceded her in death. She is survived by her sister Nancy Enomoto, brother Steve Yano (Shirlene), brother Bruce, sister-in-law Carle Hirahara, brother-in-law Howard Watanabe and numerous nieces and nephews who all loved her.
Memorial service will be held on Sunday, October 17 in Watsonville. Due to Covid protocols attendance will be limited to close family
and friends.
Published in The Pajaronian · October 14, 2021