Grace Yoshiye Oda

She was preceded in death by her husband, Jack Sadao Oda,with whom she farmed in Fresno, and her siblings Seyichi Kiyomoto Yoneo Mori, May Yahata and Midori Katayama.

Grace is survived by her children Sam Oda and his wife Allene, Carolyn Soto and her husband Gary, granddaughter Mariko Soto and her husband Trevor Lofthouse who will miss her smiling presence in their lives. She is also survived by her siblings George Kiyomoto, Marty Suyama and June Kitagawa, who remember her as their honored "nesan" (older sister) who kept house and helped raise them when they were left motherless at an early age. As "nesan," Grace welcomed into the world her many beloved nieces and nephews as they were born.

A lifelong resident of Fresno, except the years she spent interned at Poston, AZ during WWII, Grace possessed a generous and loving nature. Until recent years she was active in her church where she taught Sunday school, participated in the United Methodist Women and stitched with the church quilters. She loved gardening, ikebana and cooking. She will be missed by her friends at Del's Drapery and the Biola Community Club.

Visitation will be held at Lisle Funeral Home on Friday, March 22, 2013 from 10:00 am until 7:00 pm.

Funeral service will be held at the United Japanese Christian Church on Saturday, March 23, 2013 at 2:00 pm.

Committal Service at Fresno Memorial Gardens on Monday, March 25, 2013 at 10:00 am.