Masae was born in Osaka, Japan on October 26, 1927. She pursued and excelled in
many areas of Japanese culture. She attended the Yabunouchi School of Tea
Ceremony where she earned an advanced degree, Waki-kyoju (instructor). She also
received an advanced degree in Ikebana from the Misho School. She was a published
Haiku poet and continued to submit her work through the last years of her life. She
attended design school where she became an expert dressmaker bringing clothing from
her own sketches to life. She was always simple but elegant, with a great sense of style.
Despite being entrenched in Japanese culture, she was also one to bunk tradition.
Perhaps too feisty and independent to be a suitable Japanese wife in the 1960’s, she
set about to see the world. She traveled extensively to South America and the United
States, solo. While visiting her sister, she met the man that would become her husband
of 53 years, Fred. After a brief courtship, they married in Anchorage, Alaska in 1965.
Always in awe of nature, she loved Alaska and all that it had to offer. She embraced the
mountains and snow, and became a lifelong skier. It was here that she discovered yet
another talent, capturing Alaska’s natural beauty on canvas. She worked in several
mediums—oil, acrylic, charcoal, pastel and watercolor. She also pursued citizenship,
and in 1972, became a proud United States citizen. In 1975, they relocated to
Vancouver, BC, then in 1977, to the Seattle area where they resided for the remainder
of their lives. Wherever she went, she continued to preserve and foster the art of Tea
Ceremony and Ikebana by introducing and passing on, her knowledge and expertise.
In addition to her numerous talents, she was an amazing cook, kept a beautiful garden,
and loved birding. But most of all, she will be remembered and missed for being a
selfless wife, mother and grandma. Despite her many pursuits, she always supported
those that she loved, and their pursuits, more than her own.
Masae is preceded in death by her husband Fred. She is survived by her daughter,
Cathy Pirello (Mike), grandchildren, Ava and Mason; and sister, Keiko McCartney.
A memorial service will be held at a later date.
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