Born in Hilo, Hawaii, to Kumakichi and Hatsuyo Matsui, Toshiko had five siblings, Hayako "Helen" Matsui, Tamotsu "Tom" Matsui, Tadashi "Jack" Matsui, Yaeko Morimoto and Emiko "Amy" Sugikawa. Toshiko graduated from Hilo High School and then came to Honolulu where she attended the Queen's Nursing School, which was at Queen's Hospital. Toshiko graduated in 1943 as a registered nurse. Her closest friends were her classmates because they also dormed there at Harkness on the Queen's campus. She then attended the University of Hawaii as well as the University of Chicago to become a public health nurse. After the war, Toshiko met and married Tokuji, a young GI from the 100th Inf. Battalion who had come home from Europe. Together they raised three children, Diane, Jeffrey and Peter.Toshiko worked as a public health nurse and as a public health nursing supervisor for the State of Hawaii Department of Health. When she retired, she spent her time going to various exercise classes, babysitting her granddaughters, walking and for a time learning the abacus to keep her mind sharp, she said. They traveled numerous times to Japan after Toshiko retired.
At 103 years of age, Toshiko certainly had a life well lived. For the Ono Family, her death is the passing of an entire generation. She outlived all of her siblings, her in-laws on both sides of the family as well as her friends. Her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren all consider themselves very fortunate to have had her guidance, kindness, love and generosity for so many years.
The Ono Family extends a warm and grateful "Mahalo nui loa" to the CNAS from Manoa Senior Care who lovingly cared for Toshiko in her home on lower Wilhelmina Rise. Shirley, Winjell, Leilani, Michelle, Perla, Vicky and Maricel, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
In keeping with her wishes, a private service was held. A donation in Toshiko's memory will be made to the Tokuji and Toshiko Ono Endowed Scholarship Fund/UH Foundation that benefits two students each year, one in Education and the other in Nursing, at the University of Hawai'i.
Arrangements Provided By: Hosoi Garden Mortuary
