Mitsuko Iwashita passed away peacefully on November 26, 2020. She was born December 11, 1931 in Hawi, Hawaii to Riyuko (Okihara) and Noboru Yamamoto. She was one of nine children and grew up during the Great Depression in Hawi. She was preceded in death by her husband, Frank, and survived by her three sons: Rod (Kumiko), Carl (Irene), Alan (Anne); five grandchildren: Miya, Yuka, Audrey, Ava Kei, and Beatrice; her sisters: Akemi (Masato), Sadami, Laura (Ben), and many nieces & nephews.Mitsuko graduated from Kohala High School and the University of Hawaii. After graduation, she worked as a University of Hawaii extension 4H agent on Hawaii, Maui, and Oahu, teaching home economics. She later moved to New York City and married Frank Iwashita. In New York City, Frank co-founded Aloha State Flowers and subsequently moved to California and bought the company outright a few years later. Mitsuko served as secretary and treasurer at Aloha State Flowers until retirement.
In San Carlos, California, she managed a household with three boys and their school and athletic activities with good humor and kept an active social calendar of many parties with family friends, travel to Hawaii, Southern California, and the Pacific Northwest to see family. She welcomed new additions to the family and especially loved the grandkids when they showed up; she shared her love of cooking and handcrafts with her grandchildren.
After retirement, Mitsuko and Frank moved back to Hilo, where they built their dream house and enjoyed many years of retirement and gatherings with friends and family. Mitsuko took up golf and played with the Noe Noe Golf Club, made many friends, and even shot a hole-in-one. Mitsuko and Frank returned to the San Francisco Bay Area to be closer to their children and grandchildren in 2010.
Mitsuko leaves behind a lifetime of good memories with her family and friends and will be greatly missed by all. She was a wonderful mother and grandmother and provided her family a lifetime of love and support. We will remember her warm nature, her sense of humor, her love of friends & family, and her respect for others.
A Celebration of Life will be held at a future date.
