Elizabeth Takaoka (Schade), a 55-year resident of the Berkeley Hills, passed away on February 5, 2022 at the age of 96. Elizabeth was born on February 10, 1925 in Glogau, Germany, to Martha and Alfred Schade. She is survived by her 4 children, Alfred (Doreen), Alex, Christine and Tao, as well as 4 grandchildren, and 4 great grandchildren.
Nearing the end of WWII, Elizabeth’s travels took her to Berlin where she assisted in the reconstruction efforts of Germany. It was there she met and married Canan Takaoka, a Japanese-American soldier. Together they moved to Paris, France, and started a family. She immigrated with her family to New York in 1950 and became a naturalized citizen on March 26, 1954. Elizabeth and her family lived for short periods of time in Chicago, Santa Fe New Mexico and Los Angeles, before taking up permanent residency in the San Francisco Bay Area. Elizabeth worked in the keypunch department of Electronic Data Systems (EDS) in San Francisco for more than 25 years. She enjoyed walks in the Berkeley Hills, gardening, and preparing holiday and birthday events for her family. She was an unselfish woman, only wanting the best for her family. Her mannerisms, laughter, smile, supportive and loving heart will be missed and never forgotten.
A private burial service for family and close friends will take place at Sunset View Cemetery, Heian Gardens, in El Cerrito, California on February 18, 2022.
To plant a tree in memory of Elizabeth Takaoka, please visit our Tribute Store.