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DIANE EVETTE UEHARA
Diane Evette Uehara, the most beautiful, brown-eyed girl was born to Patsy Fusae Yasuda and Richard Kokichi Uehara in Honolulu February 2, 1944.
Diane was the first of 3 girls. She spoke of her childhood fondly, about carefree times in Chinatown on Buckle Lane. Her mother was a waitress and her father a chef so she often missed them, particularly on holidays. Dad's parents lived next door so she grew up with Okinawan traditions. Young Diane demanded fish when neighbors invited her for dinner.
Diane was shy but blessed with a delightful, youthful spirit and a most caring nature. After high school she was interested in physical therapy but started nursing school instead as she wasn't ready to leave Hawaii. Plans changed after marriage and she began studying ceramics. Later she divorced and ultimately received her Masters in Fine Arts from UH.
Diane operated a pottery studio at The Foundry in Waikiki for years and many attended her classes at the YWCA. Diane's jobs included selling sea shells by the seashore, vacuuming bugs out of pineapples and working at Cane Haul Road. For 23 years she sold classified ads for HNA where she met many friends and joined a canoe club.
Diane moved from Aiea to Everett, WA 10 years ago. She loved exploring Seattle's vibrant arts community. Pursuing both her passion for cooking and for creating art by hand, she graduated from South Seattle's Pastry & Specialty Baking College. She was a pastry chef until diagnosed with Stage IV lung cancer in 2006, at which point she retired.
Given only months to live, Diane surprised everyone by responding well to numerous treatments for several years. She had a zest for life and so loved exploring the mainland and learning new things. She traveled extensively and was thrilled to make her dream trip to Japan and Korea.
This last year she focused on friends and family and her final 2 trips to Oahu. She showered us with love and we did everything to keep her happy, comfortable and surrounded by love and affection. She died at home in Everett, WA.
Diane is survived by her life partner, Ronnie Armstrong; her father, Richard Uehara; her sister, Karen Inn; her nieces, Denise Nakasone and Geri Lee Rita; her half-brother, Arick Emoto and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. Her Aunties, Nancy Hagiwara and Sally Shimabukuro, were especially close to her. Diane was preceded in death by her mother, Patsy Yasuda Emoto, and her sister, Paulette Embury.
Diane received extraordinary care from Howard West, MD, at Swedish Hospital in Seattle. Donations in her honor may be made to his nonprofit educational entity for lung cancer: GRACE, 4616 25th Ave. NE, #300, Seattle, WA 98105-4183.
Please visit the memorial website: www.forevermissed.com/ diane_uehara
Visitation 4:00 pm on Saturday, November 19, 2011, at Nuuanu Memorial Park. Service at 5:00 pm. Aloha attire. Bring stories and pictures to share.
DIANE EVETTE UEHARA
Diane Evette Uehara, the most beautiful, brown-eyed girl was born to Patsy Fusae Yasuda and Richard Kokichi Uehara in Honolulu February 2, 1944.
Diane was the first of 3 girls. She spoke of her childhood fondly, about carefree times in Chinatown on Buckle Lane. Her mother was a waitress and her father a chef so she often missed them, particularly on holidays. Dad's parents lived next door so she grew up with Okinawan traditions. Young Diane demanded fish when neighbors invited her for dinner.
Diane was shy but blessed with a delightful, youthful spirit and a most caring nature. After high school she was interested in physical therapy but started nursing school instead as she wasn't ready to leave Hawaii. Plans changed after marriage and she began studying ceramics. Later she divorced and ultimately received her Masters in Fine Arts from UH.
Diane operated a pottery studio at The Foundry in Waikiki for years and many attended her classes at the YWCA. Diane's jobs included selling sea shells by the seashore, vacuuming bugs out of pineapples and working at Cane Haul Road. For 23 years she sold classified ads for HNA where she met many friends and joined a canoe club.
Diane moved from Aiea to Everett, WA 10 years ago. She loved exploring Seattle's vibrant arts community. Pursuing both her passion for cooking and for creating art by hand, she graduated from South Seattle's Pastry & Specialty Baking College. She was a pastry chef until diagnosed with Stage IV lung cancer in 2006, at which point she retired.
Given only months to live, Diane surprised everyone by responding well to numerous treatments for several years. She had a zest for life and so loved exploring the mainland and learning new things. She traveled extensively and was thrilled to make her dream trip to Japan and Korea.
This last year she focused on friends and family and her final 2 trips to Oahu. She showered us with love and we did everything to keep her happy, comfortable and surrounded by love and affection. She died at home in Everett, WA.
Diane is survived by her life partner, Ronnie Armstrong; her father, Richard Uehara; her sister, Karen Inn; her nieces, Denise Nakasone and Geri Lee Rita; her half-brother, Arick Emoto and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. Her Aunties, Nancy Hagiwara and Sally Shimabukuro, were especially close to her. Diane was preceded in death by her mother, Patsy Yasuda Emoto, and her sister, Paulette Embury.
Diane received extraordinary care from Howard West, MD, at Swedish Hospital in Seattle. Donations in her honor may be made to his nonprofit educational entity for lung cancer: GRACE, 4616 25th Ave. NE, #300, Seattle, WA 98105-4183.
Please visit the memorial website: www.forevermissed.com/ diane_uehara
Visitation 4:00 pm on Saturday, November 19, 2011, at Nuuanu Memorial Park. Service at 5:00 pm. Aloha attire. Bring stories and pictures to share.Our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased
