Chiyeko “Chuck” Ono
Chiyeko “Chuck” Ono, age 91, left this earthly world peacefully on April 20th, 2017 in Los Gatos, California, surrounded by those who loved her most after a long and courageous battle with emphysema. Born in Gridley, California to Kohei and Tsuya Ono (both deceased), she was raised in Oroville with her sisters Mary (deceased) and Hanaes. She had many fond memories of her childhood in Oroville until 1942, when she and her family were relocated to Tule Lake incarceration camp. They later transferred to Topaz incarceration camp in Utah. After the war, she and her family returned to California and settled in the San Francisco Bay Area. She worked for the Federal Government at the Presidio for many years making lifelong friends from her tenure there.
Chuck had such a positive outlook on life and her cheerful demeanor was infectious. She lived her life on her own terms. She was a great cook, loved to shop, enjoyed desserts, and was an avid reader keeping up on current events. She especially enjoyed reading stories about animals as she was a lover of cats and other creatures. Devoted to her younger sister Hanaes, who presently has Alzheimer’s, she continued to try to bring joy to her sister’s life, even visiting Hanaes on her birthday, days before Chuck’s own death. Chuck brought joy and laughter to her friends and much love to her god-children. She now is in heaven with her best friend Maudi Horiuchi, sitting together at a celestial kitchen table, chatting and laughing again over apple pie and strong coffee.
She is survived by her sister Hanaes Ono and family members in the US and Japan. She is also survived by her god-daughter Barbara Horiuchi, god-grandsons Michael and Danny Lulu who lovingly and gladly cared for her over the last several years. She will be greatly missed by her friends, loved ones, and cat friends Bubbie, Emmie and Wakka.
Our hearts are broken but her gift of love gives us strength. We feel her all around us.
A private celebration of her life will be held in the coming month.
Memorial Donations in her name can be made to the American Lung Association.