Obituary of Mary Ann Tsubota

Mary Ann Chiyoko Tsubota 

December 13, 1938-September 28, 2022

 Mary Ann, 83 of Ontario passed away on September 28, 2022, peacefully at home due to complications from a stroke. 

A graveside funeral service will be held on October 15, at 11:00 am at the Evergreen Cemetery in Ontario. Lunch will be served following the service at the Ontario Community Church. 

Mary Ann was born on December 13, 1938, in Kent, Washington. She graduated from Ontario High School in 1957. She was asked to sing at the Cinderella Ball when she was a sophomore. She sang " Dancing in the Dark" which was the theme. She also sang at a few other entertainment events. She had a beautiful voice. Another favorite song she would sing often was "The Tennessee Waltz". Her closest friends were Margaret Bodewig and Joan and Dusty Kelly. Mary Ann loved her cats, Sally Field and later Rocky. She named her cats after famous people even before it was a trend. She liked yard sales, I Love Lucy, Betty Boop, sushi, Chinese food, pancakes, coffee, diet coke, and the colors pink, blue, and red. She was the sweetest sister, always telling her siblings she loved them and being concerned for people, for instance driving on bad roads during the winter months to see her. She thought of others before she thought of herself. She would have a quick smile and laugh. Mary Ann loved Jesus and all of the bible stories. Once she knew him, she was committed to him and her faith never wavered. God mercifully took her in her sleep knowing that she was tired and that there was no cure for her. Mary Ann was mentally ill for most of her life but she stayed strong and persevered while living with it and improved for many of her last years. She loved the people around her and they loved her. We will miss her and in the blink of an eye, join her in heaven. Thank you to palliative care and hospice. Special thanks to Charlotte Kreftmeyer and Sarah Ray Groberg, providers and Jay Byers and Erin Denison, caretakers, and Pastor Tom Greco for his support for my sister and the JACL for providing her with the delicious bento boxes.

Survivors include Ron Tsubota, brother, Carlene Nomura, sister, Larry McArdle, and Beverly Tsubaki-McArdle, brother-in-law and sister, Chris Nomura and Tracey Thai, and Mia and Kylie, nephew and family, Shane and Laura Tsubaki and Addison and Harper Tsubaki, nephew and family and numerous cousins and their family. Preceded in her death were her grandmother, Fusano Tsubota, and her parents, Henry and Peggy Tsubota, her brother-in-law, Harry Nomura, and brother-in-law, Aaron Tsubaki.