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Ethel Shimamoto (98) passed away at home on Good Friday, April 7, 2023. She was born in Honolulu on September 15, 1924 to nisei parents Mack and Dora Fukuda. Ethel graduated from McKinley High School class of ’42. She attended UH for two years before her marriage to Yorio Shimamoto (also class of ’42). Ethel and Yorio lived in Nanakuli, Maili and Waianae and raised four sons. Over the years, she worked with Yorio at their farm, feed store, insurance agency and travel office. Around 1975, Yorio started Travel Ways with offices in Waianae, Kailua and Honolulu. Ethel and Yorio moved from Waianae “country” to Honolulu where they found their dream home and worked at the Honolulu office. Yorio passed away in 1995 (age 70) and Ethel continued to work at the agency for a few more years before her retirement. She enjoyed her retirement years tending to the yard and bromeliad garden and taking care of her beloved Clumber Spaniels. Ethel was also able to enjoy a few trips (to Wisconsin, Scotland, Ireland, Kenya, Tanzania) during her retirement. In 2001, Ethel was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. It was slow progressing and she lived an unassuming and near normal life for many years. From the beginning to the end stages, she was always very pleasant, always listened, never made a fuss and she was always easy to take care of. Everyone that knew Ethel from her young days to her senior years described her as sweet, caring, soft-spoken, pleasant, gentle, kindhearted and with a distinct aura that was peaceful and attractive. Ethel lived a full life… a busy working mom and together with Yorio they were able to see the world… travelled throughout the U.S. mainland, to England, Scotland, Ireland, Denmark, Germany, Czechoslovakia, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Greece, France, Spain, Portugal, China, Tibet, Outer Mongolia, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, Burma, Sri Lanka, India, Sikkim, Kashmir, Iran, Lebanon, Israel, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Egypt, Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, Tanzania, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, Straits of Magellan, Chile, Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Guatemala, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand… The Masai Mara in Kenya was her favorite destination having been there 7 times staying at tented camps and going on game viewing and bird watching safaris.
Ethel is survived by sons, David, Jon (Susan), Cy (Rachel), Marc, two grandsons, two great-grandsons, sisters, Muriel Hiramatsu, Dorothy Kakugawa.
Celebration of Life for the family was held on May 5, 2023 |
