Emily Kadota R

My Hero -- Eugulogy delivered 8.22.08
She was an American of Japanese descent; a teenager at the time of Pearl Harbor

Good morning. I want to thank you for being here to honor our mother, my hero and often, my inspiration. In today’s world, it is hard to imagine or fathom the challenges she faced throughout her life.

She had scarlet fever as a child; her family was imprisoned; her race was despised at the time; she ventured off to school more than 1,710 miles from her family without money, without knowing anyone.

She went to Japan to work in a suspect environment for the very government that imprisoned her – and a government for which she was fiercely patriotic throughout my life.

She married and moved, and moved, and moved, eventually being the only one in her family this far east (Indianapolis), in a culture not overly accepting of her race.

She became a key management person in an industry (medical)and at a time when few women were in such positions.

Throughout it all, she quietly excelled. Leading by example. Tending to others. Serving others.

As I wrote in an email to some of you, although slight in size, Mom’s kindness and loving ways cast a larger-than life shadow...ever gentle. It is a shadow I will ever endeavor to emulate, although I am not of the same caliber as Mom.

Throughout my father’s extended illness (bed bound the last six years of his life), then with Mom living with us for the past six years, I became much closer to Mom. Yet, I still did not appreciate and understand her fully, and that is my shortcoming.

Mom’s faith was rock solid. I am supremely confident – and I use that adjective rarely – that Mom is with God and all is well with her soul.

To borrow and amend a quote I saw in Mom’s May issue of Guideposts,
“The truth is there is only one most wonderful Mom in the whole world. The miracle is every child has that Mother.”

I know I did.

God bless you.
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Submitted by Anonymous

Courage