TOMI HIGA
1902 - 1999
Tomi Higa of Taber, beloved wife of the late Matsu Higa, passed away in Taber on Monday, March 1, 1999 at the age of 96 years.
Tomi was born in Ogusuku, Okinawa, Japan, on May 21, 1902. She came to Canada in September of 1927 to join her husband Matsu, who came before her in 1924, and settled in White Rock, British Columbia. In 1935, she moved from White Rock to south of New Westminster, British Columbia and lived there until 1942 when she was evacuated to Stirling to work with sugar beets. In 1948 she came to Taber and has resided here until her passing.
Tomi is survived by her sons Noriyasu Nori (Shinako) Higa of Taber, Masayoshi Roy (Helen) Higa of Taber; daughters Fumie (Gin) Nakama of Lethbridge, Fujiko (Joe) Nakama of Lethbridge and Yasue (Ken) Maruyama of Taber; twenty two grandchildren and thirty great grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister Haruko Sato of Hope, British Columbia and a nephew George (Kay) Higa of Lethbridge; nieces Nancy (Ken) Setoguchi of Taber and Judy (Mas) Kawaguchi of Hope, British Columbia.
Besides her husband Matsu, Tomi was predeceased by a son Jinsei and her parents Matsuzo and Kame Higa.
Tomi enjoyed going to watch hockey games at the local rink, baseball, going fishing and as an avid gardener, she spent much of her time tending her flower garden.
The Funeral Service was held at the Buddhist Church, Taber on Friday, March 5, 1999 at 1:00 P.M. with Reverend Michael Hayashi and Reverend N. Hattori officiating. Interment followed at the Taber Memorial Garden.