SHIZUKO KANAI MCINTIRE Shizuko Kanai McIntire, 90, of Waipahu, passed away in her Phoenix, Arizona home on April 16th, 2016, while visiting her son Michael Montgomery and daughter Loretta Shinobu Montgomery. She was born in Yokohama, Japan, in 1926 and came to Hawaii in 1955. Her family was at her side the evening of her passing. Although already holding a university degree and RN license from St. Lukes International School of Nursing in Tokyo, Japan, Mrs. McIntire obtained a US university degree and US RN certification in addition to becoming a US citizen. The day after she arrived in Hawaii she obtained a nursing position at Kuakini Medical Center. Mrs. McIntire was preceded in death by her husband, William Nathaniel McIntire, professor of political science at the University of Hawaii. When her husband became terminally ill, Mrs. McIntire obtained permission from the state and county to care for him in their home during his final years. As an RN providing end-of-life care in her home, she became the first person to provide hospice care, before hospice care existed. After the death of her husband, Mrs. McIntire retired from nursing and obtained a degree from the University of Hawaii. She changed careers and became the buying and inventory manager for Yokohama Okadaya USA, a career she stayed with until retirement. She devoted her life to her children and grandchildren. Mrs. McIntire spent the last three decades travelling between Hawaii and Tokyo, and over the last 14 years had many trips to visit her daughter and son in Phoenix, and from there visited many destinations in Arizona, California, New Mexico, Nevada, Texas, Louisiana, Illinois, and Missouri, as well as Mexico cruises. Among her favorite places was the peaceful, slow-paced lifestyle of the Amish country in Illinois. During the 1960s Mrs. McIntire travelled cross-country by car, and she was excited to revisit some of the places she had seen so many years ago. Over the last 10 years visits to Phoenix became more frequent. Mrs. McIntire loved the warm weather and quiet and peaceful backyard. She enjoyed coffee or tea on the lanai every morning. She loved picking fresh fruit and vegetables from the garden that she helped care for, and picking and arranging roses and other flowers to decorate the home. Services will be held Friday, June 17 at 6:30 PM at Harris United Methodist Church, 20 South Vineyard Boulevard, Honolulu. Dark attire preferred. No flowers please. Calls will be taken by (602) 320-7104 or (623) 824-5070. A private burial will be held at Punchbowl National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. Mrs. McIntire is survived by the family Matriarch, her elder sister, Haruko Kanai San; a brother, Masao Kanai; son Paul; daughter, Loretta Shinobu Montgomery; legally adopted son, Michael Scott Montgomery; grandson and Hanai son, Christopher Lum-Lee; two grandsons, Treavor and Spencer Matsushima; several nephews in Yokohama, Japan, including Tetsuya Toguchi, along with great nieces and nephews. She is also survived by Hanai sons, Nelson Kotaka, Ruben (Marisa) Donadio, Hanai daughter Virgie McGee and two great-grandsons, Deegan and Landon McGee, and caretaker of many years, Mr. Don and Chris Mabuti.
SHIZUKO KANAI MCINTIRE Shizuko Kanai McIntire, 90, of Waipahu, passed away in her Phoenix, Arizona home on April 16th, 2016, while visiting her son Michael Montgomery and daughter Loretta Shinobu Montgomery. She was born in Yokohama, Japan, in 1926 and came to Hawaii in 1955. Her family was at her side the evening of her passing. Although already holding a university degree and RN license from St. Lukes International School of Nursing in Tokyo, Japan, Mrs. McIntire obtained a US university degree and US RN certification in addition to becoming a US citizen. The day after she arrived in Hawaii she obtained a nursing position at Kuakini Medical Center. Mrs. McIntire was preceded in death by her husband, William Nathaniel McIntire, professor of political science at the University of Hawaii. When her husband became terminally ill, Mrs. McIntire obtained permission from the state and county to care for him in their home during his final years. As an RN providing end-of-life care in her home, she became the first person to provide hospice care, before hospice care existed. After the death of her husband, Mrs. McIntire retired from nursing and obtained a degree from the University of Hawaii. She changed careers and became the buying and inventory manager for Yokohama Okadaya USA, a career she stayed with until retirement. She devoted her life to her children and grandchildren. Mrs. McIntire spent the last three decades travelling between Hawaii and Tokyo, and over the last 14 years had many trips to visit her daughter and son in Phoenix, and from there visited many destinations in Arizona, California, New Mexico, Nevada, Texas, Louisiana, Illinois, and Missouri, as well as Mexico cruises. Among her favorite places was the peaceful, slow-paced lifestyle of the Amish country in Illinois. During the 1960s Mrs. McIntire travelled cross-country by car, and she was excited to revisit some of the places she had seen so many years ago. Over the last 10 years visits to Phoenix became more frequent. Mrs. McIntire loved the warm weather and quiet and peaceful backyard. She enjoyed coffee or tea on the lanai every morning. She loved picking fresh fruit and vegetables from the garden that she helped care for, and picking and arranging roses and other flowers to decorate the home. Services will be held Friday, June 17 at 6:30 PM at Harris United Methodist Church, 20 South Vineyard Boulevard, Honolulu. Dark attire preferred. No flowers please. Calls will be taken by (602) 320-7104 or (623) 824-5070. A private burial will be held at Punchbowl National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. Mrs. McIntire is survived by the family Matriarch, her elder sister, Haruko Kanai San; a brother, Masao Kanai; son Paul; daughter, Loretta Shinobu Montgomery; legally adopted son, Michael Scott Montgomery; grandson and Hanai son, Christopher Lum-Lee; two grandsons, Treavor and Spencer Matsushima; several nephews in Yokohama, Japan, including Tetsuya Toguchi, along with great nieces and nephews. She is also survived by Hanai sons, Nelson Kotaka, Ruben (Marisa) Donadio, Hanai daughter Virgie McGee and two great-grandsons, Deegan and Landon McGee, and caretaker of many years, Mr. Don and Chris Mabuti.
Our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased
