Illena Clifford Takahashi

June 23, 1963 – August 18, 2021

Illena Clifford Takahashi (Illena Y’vonne Clifford) was born in Pensacola, FL on June 23, 1963. When she was a little girl, she moved to Linwood, NJ where her grand parents lived. She grew up in New Jersey until 17 years old. She moved to Delaware where she continued her high school education in Wilmington, DE. After high school, he attended the University of Delaware as Educational Studies major. She supported herself through her collage. She was active on campus and she also worked as a resident assistant (RA) at the French House. At the same time, she worked as a toll collector of Delaware Memorial bridge during the time. In early 1988, she met her husband, Tsuyoshi (Ike), in Logic class. She graduated from the collage in June 1988. After the undergraduate, she got a job at the university library on campus and she worked there until 1992.

In 1992, she moved to Japan to study Japanese. She was teaching English and studying Japanese in Yamanashi, Japan, where her future-husband-to-be lived. Illena got married in February 27, 1994. Illena and her husband stayed in Yamanashi until August 1995. Illena wanted to go to a graduate school in San Francisco. Illena and her husband moved to San Francisco in September 1995. She attended California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS). Her major was Organizational Development and Transformations. During the time, her school was going through the financial hardship and her program was reorganized a few times. She completed her master’s program in June 2005.

After the graduate school, she held multiple jobs as a teacher, a naturalist, and an environment educator at the places such as San Francisco School district, Golden Gate National Park Services, SaveNature. org, Hostel International, Aquarium of the Bay, Our City Forrest, and YMCA. Illena was a nature lover and she enjoyed spending time places like beaches and hike trails. San Bruno Mountain was her favorite place to hike. She had been living close to the mountain for 20 years. She is a big fan of mission blue butterflies.

Her viewing will be held beginning at 4pm on August 28 (Saturday) at Newall Chapel of Cypress Lawn in Colma and her funeral at 12pm (noon) on August 29 (Sunday) also at Newall Chapel of Cypress Lawn in Colma. Please join her departure to next phase of her life if your time permits. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to SaveNature.org, the organization she loved. Please mention her name in the message section if you choose to donate.

Newall Chapel, Cypress Lawn

1383 El Camino Real, Colma, CA 94014, 650-5508808