ISHIKAWA, EDNA MARY (SAKODA) 1920-2002

Edna Ishikawa

     Edna Mary (Sakoda) Ishikawa (Poston 211-13-G) was born on February 12, 1920 in Soledad, California to Japanese immigrant parents, Sannosuke and Suye (Yanakita) Sakoda who arrived to the Salinas Valley in 1900 from to Kagoshima, Japan. Edna was a graduate of Gonzales High School and attended Hartnell College. She met Roy T. Ishikawa while living in San Francisco Japantown.  They eloped on August 21, 1940, took a train from Oakland to Reno and were married by the justice of the peace in Washoe County, Nevada.

       Following the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Roy and Edna Ishikawa moved to the Salinas Valley to accompany her  parents and siblings: Sannosuke, Suye, Yuriko Lily, Fumiye Ethel, Kimeho Kaye and Isamu Sam Sakoda, who were forcibly evacuated to the Salinas Assembly Center, and after several months, incarcerated at the Poston, Arizona concentration camp 2. They arrived on June 29, 1942.  Roy and Edna Ishikawa were assigned to live at Poston 211-13-G, which was designated for married couples. Her family was assigned to block 219-7-C.  While at Poston, her sister, Fumiye Ethel Sakoda married Seizo Kodani in February of 1943, and within 6 months, they left to resettle in Cleveland, Ohio. Her brother,  Isamu Sakoda left Poston after receiving an employment offer at Bridgeton, New Jersey on August 8, 1944.  Yuriko Lily Sakoda left Poston, Arizona on August 23, 1945 and resettled in Washington DC. The rest of her family, Sannosuke, Suye, and Kimeho Kaye Sakoda returned to Salinas, California on September 19, 1945.  In 1954, her parents, Sannosuke and Suye Sakoda finally became naturalized citizens of the U.S. 

     Edna Ishikawa lived in Carmel for 34 years and spent the majority of her life in Monterey County.  She had studied painting and culinary arts at several institutes, and built her career as a professional caterer and personal chef from the 1960s to 2002. During her long career, Edna catered parties for many locals, including Ansel Adams, Paul Anka, numerous art gallery shows, and AT& T events. Edna was a member of the El Estero Presbyterian Church, the Carmel Foundation, J.A.C.L, the Monterey Nisei Retirees Club and volunteered over the years for many local organizations. In 1999, the City of Carmel honored Edna and Roy Ishikawa with a special recognition for their contribution "to our community in an extraordinary manner and whose efforts have made this village the special place that it is."

      Edna Ishikawa was active in entertaining, exploring beaches, photography, oil painting, gardening, collecting art glass, befriending Japanese visitors and trips to Whidbey Island, Washington.

     Edna Mary Sakoda Ishikawa, a retired caterer and resident of Carmel, California, died on November 12, 2002 at the age of 82. She was preceded in death by her father, Sannosuke Sakoda (1971); mother, Suye Sakoda (1989); sister, Yuriko Lily (2000), and Kimeho Kaye Shimoji (1984); and brother, George Yutaka (1968).

     She is survived by her husband of 62 years, Roy Ishikawa of Carmel; daughters, Susan and Rona Ishikawa, both of Langley, Washington; sons, James of Seaside, Curtis, and Troy both of Carmel; sister, Fumiye Kodani of Carmel; brother, Isamu Sakoda of San Jose; and granddaughter, Whitney Ishikawa of Salinas. 

Sources:

http://www.discovernikkei.org/en/journal/2012/7/5/three-generations-cooks/

Son, Troy Ishikawa