Maria C. Yoesoep

6/1/1933 - 1/20/23

Maria C. Yoesoep, 89, of Hamden, CT, peacefully passed away at Connecticut Hospice, Branford, CT on January 20, 2023, surrounded by her loving family.

Maria was born as

Sumiko in Okayama City, Japan on June 1,1933. She was the third of seven children born to the late Toshio and Mitsue Takenaka. In 1945’s war-torn Japan, the family fled when an air raid caused their home to burn to the ground. Traveling by foot and train for many days, 12-year-old Sumiko and her family found refuge in Kokura. They were again miraculously spared when inclement weather rerouted the B-29 carrying the second atomic bomb to Nagasaki

100 miles away.

After graduating from high school, she worked at the United States Army transportation offices at Camp Drew and Camp Kokura. In 1957, she became a military bride, was baptized into the Christian faith as Maria Clara and immigrated to the United States to settle in Brooklyn, New York. Here, her daughter, Cindy, was born. Maria became a naturalized U.S. citizen and worked as an assistant dietician at Holy Family hospital in Boerum Hill. She moved to Dover, Delaware in 1973 where she was employed as a restaurant manager and was an active member of the Dover Senior Center until her retirement in 1994. While in Dover, Maria also opened her home and heart to several Japanese foreign exchange students for whom she acted as a surrogate mother. In 1995, she relocated to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada to care for her older sister until her death in 1999. She subsequently moved back to the U.S. and lived in Hamden for the past 23 years.

Maria’s many interests included crocheting, knitting, and traveling. She loved animals, especially her constant companion of 17 years, Marley. An avid Sumo wrestling fan, she could often be heard throughout the house enthusiastically cheering on her favorite wrestlers. Food, however, was Maria’s love language. She so enjoyed preparing, sharing and teaching family and friends her favorite recipes, including traditional Japanese cuisine. As a member of Hamden’s Dunbar United Church of Christ Women’s Fellowship group, she often assisted with the coordination and preparation of meals for community events.

Maria is survived by her daughter, Cindy Long, her favorite son-in-law Dale, and beloved granddaughter Casey. She is also survived by her family and friends in Japan: younger sister Mrs. Yoshie (Misao) Tanaka of Karatsu, sister-in-law Mrs. Tamiko (Hikaru) Takenaka, younger brothers Mitsuo, Isao, and Takao Takenaka, many nieces and nephews from Kitakyushu City, as well as Mrs. Sakiko (Kumar) Mahtani, of Yokohama, with whom she shared a special maternal bond. She was predeceased by her sister, Mrs. Fumiko (Yukio) Nakano and brother Mr. Hikaru (Tamiko) Takenaka.

The family sends heartfelt thanks to the home caregivers, doctors, and nursing staff who have been overseeing her care all these many years and most recently at Yale New Haven, St. Raphael hospitals and CT Hospice. A memorial service and internment at the Dunbar United Church of Christ Columbarium is planned for late spring at the discretion of the family. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Jude’s Children Hospital at www. stjude.org .