Hazel Haruko Nakabayashi passed away peacefully in her sleep on September 26, 2017 in Sunnyvale, California. She was 88 years old.
Born December 14, 1928 in Honolulu, Hawaii, Hazel was the sixth of seven children born to Kiyo and Nenohachi Nishimura. Hazel was raised and educated in Hawaii. A graduate of Hawaii’s Queen’s Hospital School of Nursing, Hazel worked as a registered nurse until her retirement in 1994. Hazel married her Jimmy on June 14, 1952 and together they have 4 children – Lynn, Ann, Cy and Joy. The couple packed up their family in 1964 and moved across the Pacific Ocean to El Cerrito, California to begin their life on the mainland. Once in California, Hazel continued her career in nursing, working at Brookside Hospital in the newborn nursery. She attended the Berkeley Buddhist Temple and became active in their women’s organizations. She was a constant fixture at all her children’s school, music and athletic events and thoroughly enjoyed cheering her children and then her grandchildren on in any activity. Hazel had a beautiful singing voice and a deep appreciation of music. She enjoyed music in all forms and her voice will be remembered singing karaoke, church gathas, happy birthday and lullabies to the babies. Hazel loved her family, especially her 12 grandchildren, singing, quilting and sewing, crocheting and knitting, and cooking for family and friends.
A loving wife, mother and grandmother, Hazel is survived by her husband James (Jimmy), daughters Lynn Noma (Mike), Ann Kitayama (Dennis), Joy Coyle (Dan) and son Cy Nakabayashi (Sharon) and 12 grandchildren, Lisa & Mikie Noma, Daniel, Steffani (Gabe), Taylor & Blake Kitayama, Cory, Sean & Lia Nakabayashi and Kaitie, Kelly & Shannon Coyle.
Services will be held at the Berkeley Buddhist Temple, 2121 Channing Way, Berkeley, California on Saturday, Oct. 28 at 4:00 p.m.
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