Martha Tanita

PHOENIX – Martha “Martie” Tanita passed away peacefully with her children and grandchildren by her side on Monday, January 30, 2023. Martie was born on January 16, 1930 in Tolleson, AZ to Tsunenori and Katsuko Okabayashi, she was the eighth of ten children. The Okabayashi Family immigrated from Japan in the early 1900s and farmed a variety of crops including lettuce, melons, strawberries and they were among the first Valley farmers to grow celery. Martie graduated from Glendale High School in 1948, she married Susumu Tanita in 1951 and they raised two daughters, Jacquelyn and Marcia. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and sister. She enjoyed spending time with her family, attending ASU Football games, gardening and loved supporting her grandchildren in all of their activities. She was known as “Grandma Martie” to many of her grandchildren’s friends, who all admired how involved and supportive she was with her family, and known to her great-grandchildren as “Machan”.

Martie is preceded in death by her husband, Susumu; her five sisters and three brothers. She is survived by her sister, Barbara Ishii of Palos Verdes, California; daughter Jacquelyn (Fil) Hirohata, daughter Marcia (Andy) Leeper; grandchildren Kristin (Ryan) Hartman, Courtney Konderik, Allison (Eric) Swenson, Marissa (Matt) Blanc and Drew (Lauren) Leeper; great grand-children Mackinley, Emeri, Brinley, RJ, Cole, Rori, Brayden, Lily, Elle, Van and Radford. Services will be held at West Resthaven Funeral Home – 6450 West Northern Avenue, Glendale, AZ 85301 on Saturday, February 18, 2023 at 10AM. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the National Kidney Foundation of Arizona. https://azkidney.org/ .