Patricia J Yamashita of Bellevue, WA passed away at Overlake Hospital in Bellevue on July 5, 2014 with her husband and two children at her side.
Patricia, who preferred to be called Patty, was born on December 16, 1959 to Augustine F and Yasuko Aratani in Seattle, WA. Patty was preceded in death (2011) by her father, known to all as "Augie," whom she adored. Patty held a special place in her heart for him.
Patty had five brothers and one sister. She developed a strong bond with her mother and sister Denise as they supported each other in a house with six males. Patty was very proud of the fact that her mother, with seven children, "eight if you count Augie" she would joke, had the resolve to attend the University of Washington. Yasuko graduated and began her teaching career in the Seattle School District. Patty reflected often on the time both were at the same high school.
Patty was very proud of being an Aratani, her Japanese heritage, and most of all, her two children David and Lauren.
Patty grew up in Seattle, first living in the Central District and then moving to the Rainier Beach area. She attended Emerson Elementary School, South Shore Middle School, Rainier Beach High School, and Highline Community College. At Highline Community College she studied computer programming.
Patty met her closest friends growing up in Rainier Beach. They continued their friendship into adulthood. Patty and her friends started having a Christmas Party early on, and they continue the tradition to this day. Patty always had a humorous side that she dovetailed perfectly with her kindness. Patty's humor often tip-toed across the line of a G rating, especially when she was with her lifelong friends. Patty and her friend Jill Morisaki Paderes had similarly saucy humor. Patty Tanagi would laugh but at the same time be the voice of reason and attempt to bring decorum to the conversation. Meryl Tsukiji was the reluctant enforcer who would tell them to simply stop.
For this year's Father's Day, Patty gave Hiro money with a note attached that read, "If you don't accept this and spend it on yourself, I will be so mad at you I might kick you in the you know where. This is 30 minutes of my escort services, chump change."
After graduating from Highline CC, Patty's first job was as a computer programmer at the Puget Sound Blood Center in Seattle. She also continued to work part time at Uwajimaya at the South Center Mall with her brother Michael. Patty had fond memories of working with Michael, and they each jokingly accused each of being a "slacker.”
Patty loved animals, a trait she attained from her father “Augie.” In her childhood she had a toy poodle named “Toby,” and early in her married life had a cocker spaniel named “Angel.” Both dogs were devoted to only Patty and would always be at her side. Patty loved to go to the Puyallup Fair and spent many hours looking at the baby farm animals. A stop for lunch at Dixie’s Barbeque would satisfy her cravings for chicken and corn on the cob. These annual trips to the fair would culminate with the purchase of two-dozen scones—some to be eaten immediately, and the rest to be brought home for later enjoyment.
Patty met her husband Hiro Yamashita through her brother Kevin in 1982. Hiro and Kevin were both young Seattle Police Officers and Kevin thought Hiro would be a good match for his sister. Patty and Hiro married in 1983 and settled in their first house in Shoreline. In 1986, Patty became pregnant with her their first child.
Patty was an excellent cook and baker, a talent she learned from her mother Yasuko and sister Denise. Everyone looked forward to her baked goods, especially her youngest brother Roger.
In September of 1987 Patty and Hiro moved to the Newport Hills area of Bellevue. She always insisted that her family move into a nicer house in a better neighborhood, and to save money she toted the family's belongings despite being four months pregnant. The young, expectant Patty wanted the best life for her impending family, and believed her soon to be born child needed a safe place to grow up and attend a quality school district. Patty was the catalyst for her family's move to Bellevue.
In January 1987 David Michael Yamashita was born. Patty was an adoring Mother and received lots of parenting advice from her sister Denise, who already had two children. Patty told Hiro that she was happy to have a son, but that she "would fill the house with boys" until she got a daughter. Patty pushed herself to better and better jobs. She moved from the Blood Bank to John F Sullivan, then to Inter Checks. Each move meant she could provide more for her family.
Also in 1987 Patty landed a great job at Nintendo of America in Redmond. She wanted to work on the Eastside so her commute to work wouldn't interfere with raising David. Patty's hard work was recognized and she was promoted first to Information Technology Project Manager, then to IT Manager. Patty's motivation was always to provide a better life for her family. Nintendo offered Patty many training opportunities in cities across the country. Patty and Hiro attended training conferences in San Diego, Palm Springs, San Antonio, and New Orleans. Patty never complained that while she was attending class Hiro was playing golf, sightseeing, and hanging out at the pool. Hiro was very appreciative that Patty took him along. He got to explore cities that he had never seen.
In March of 1990 Patty got the daughter she yearned for when Lauren Michelle Yamashita was born. Patty loved having a daughter to nurture, and felt it solidified the bond with her mother and sister Denise, who also had a daughter.
In 1994 Patty discovered a new house in the Cougar Ridge area of Bellevue, near her brother Kevin and sister-in-law Annette. Patty wanted her children to attend the Issaquah School District. Again the move was precipitated by Patty's hard work, sacrifice of material possessions, and devotion to her family. Eventually Patty’s sister Denise and husband Les, and brother Mark and wife Lauren moved to the area. Patty was very comforted to have her family close by.
Patty, known as “Yama Mama” to her children’s friends, enjoyed vacations with Hiro, David, and Lauren. They took trips to Hawaii, Disneyland, New York, and Las Vegas. She wanted her children to experience family vacations and have lasting memories of them. Patty, Hiro and the children also took annual vacations with the rest of the Aratani Family to Hawaii, and sometimes to Lake Chelan and Leavenworth. There were also annual trips to Las Vegas which were reserved for the adults including father Augie and mother Yasuko. Patty loved Las Vegas, but she never had much luck at the craps table. She never gave up and was the center of attention with her feigned disgust of the game. Patty always laughed at herself when Denise, her husband Les, and her brothers Kevin and Timmy would pull their bet from the table when she had the dice.
One of Patty's most memorable vacations was in 1996 when she, Hiro, and the entire Aratani family, went to South Bend Indiana to attend a Notre Dame Football game against the University of Washington. "Augie" was a lifelong Notre Dame fan and Denise organized a trip. The family stayed in Chicago and one night Patty's brothers ruled the pool table in the hotel bar. Her brothers regaled the family with tales of how they learned to play pool, much to the shock of mother Yasuko. The two-hour train trip from Chicago to South Bend was a party on rails. One of her brothers (who will not be named) enjoyed himself a little too much and had to sleep on the grass before the game while everyone else enjoyed the beautiful campus and pageantry of Notre Dame Football.
The Aratani family recently began to take a yearly trip to Cannon Beach in Oregon. Patty's son David recalled a particular funny time when Denise, Kevin and Mark, who are usually the voices you hear when the family gathers, were upstaged by Patty's humor, all night long.
Patty left Nintendo in 1997 and began working at Eddie Bauer in Redmond. Patty loved Nintendo, but Eddie Bauer brought new opportunities for her to provide for her family. Patty was adamant that her children attend college, and she saved money early to accomplish that objective. Patty was very proud of the fact that her children were college graduates, a Husky and a Cougar.
Unfortunately in 2001 Eddie Bauer moved their IT department to Chicago. For the first time in her life she was out of a job. Patty quickly got a job offer from an insurance company in Redmond. While she mulled it over she got an offer from Voice Stream, now known as T-Mobile. Working at T-Mobile meant a ten minute commute, which translated to more time with her family.
Patty worked at T-Mobile until 2009. She was respected as an excellent and fair leader, and at one time was responsible for over 25 programmers. News of Patty's management style and personality spread throughout T-Mobile, and she was bombarded with requests from programmers to join her team. Like at Nintendo, Patty had many opportunities to attend conferences at luxury resorts across the United States. She turned them down, instead sending her employees. Patty reasoned that many of her employees would otherwise not be able to afford to take their families to lavish locations.
During David’s high school football years, Patty started a tradition of making popcorn on Friday night after the game. Hiro enjoyed the popcorn so much that Patty continued to make it for him every Friday night. Whenever the topic of youth sports was brought up, Patty always weaved into the conversation that she was the point guard on her 6th grade basketball team, which won the city championship. Patty loved to play golf at the Sakamoto Golf Tournament. The tournament honored her Uncle Roy and Aunt Jo Sakamoto. Auntie Jo was a classy, kind, and smart woman. She was so kind to Patty and Patty never forgot. Patty wasn't great at golf, but she would remind everyone that she had two first place trophies by asking "how many you got?"
Patty was always generous with gifts, especially to her family. Patty was proud that she held the family Christmas Eve party, which was followed by Christmas Dinner at Denise's home. Patty and Denise were both honored to host Christmas, but more importantly, they were thankful that they could relieve their mother of the task. Patty and Denise always had an honored place in their homes for their father “Augie.”
For Christmas, Patty would give David and Lauren everything on their Christmas lists, and she secretly wrapped their presents after the Christmas Eve party. Her generosity was extended to everyone in her life. Patty always insisted that Hiro get the car he wanted, or buy the toys he desired, all the while she was content to live modestly. Patty believed that after her children finished college her time would come. Even in death Patty demonstrated her generosity and graciousness to help others. Through her generous donation of organs, two blind people will be blessed with the gift of sight.
Patty fulfilled her goal of her children growing up to be courteous responsible adults. She taught them early to be respectful to others, especially their grandparents, aunts, and uncles. Patty insisted that they always greet their grandparents first, then the rest of the adults in the room. Patty received many compliments from strangers about her children's behavior. Patty loved her nephews, nieces, and their children. Patty would always greet them on the telephone with "Hello, this is your favorite Auntie."
Patty left T-Mobile in 2009 and soon became ill. She was fatigued most of the time and couldn't perform at the level she once did. This coupled with the loss of her beloved father in 2011 saddened her. Her relief came from the loving support of her husband and children, as well as her mother, brothers and sister, and their spouses and children. Patty's sister Denise and her husband Les were blessed with four grandchildren whom Patty loved dearly.
Patty was larger than life in everything she did, even sneezing, which caused David and Lauren to laugh uncontrollably. David described her sneezing as a baseball pitcher winding up, followed by a loud and prolonged sneeze, then a ceremonial and satisfying wipe of the nose. Lauren would plead with her when they were in public to sneeze quietly. David attempted to reason with her by asking, "Mom if you where in front of the Queen of England, would you be able to sneeze quietly? Patty's answer would be "Of course." David would then look at his mom with shrugged shoulders, tilted head, and palms up as if to ask "How about it then?"
Patty enjoyed getting her toes manicured, which for her served a dual purpose. She didn't like to cut her toenails. Usually the night before a manicure, she would show Lauren her feet and they would both laugh at the length of her nails.
Patty passed away in the presence of her husband and two children after 31 years of marriage. The entire Aratani family arrived at the hospital moments after, and showed monumental support for Hiro, David, and Lauren.
Patty is survived by: husband Hiro Yamashita, son David Yamashita and daughter Lauren Yamashita; mother Yasuko Aratani; sister Denise Inaba (Les); brother John Kevin Aratani (Annette); brother Timothy Aratani (Patricia Charleston); brother Mark Aratani (Lauren Asaba); brother Michael Aratani; brother Roger Aratani; nieces Leslie Inaba Nash (Jeff Nash), Alexa Aratani, Kristen Aratani, Lindsay Aratani; nephews Christopher Inaba (Venus Phengphachan), and Ryan Aratani; mother-in-law Lillian Yamashita; sister-in-law Michi Yamashita; brother-in-law Gene Yamashita (Linda); and four great nieces and nephews.
The Yamashita and Aratani families invite you to attend Patty’s funeral service at Saint Monica Catholic Church on Mercer Island on June 17 at 11:00 AM. Viewing will commence at 10:00 AM.
Patty will also be honored at a Memorial Service/Reception on July 27 at the Newcastle Golf Club in Newcastle at 1:00 PM. Business casual attire is requested.
Patty will keep her father “Augie” company at Gethsemane Cemetery in Federal Way until Hiro can be with her. They will find a place together.
Family is like a mobile, it hangs in balance. When the balance is disrupted, the remaining family members will adjust to regain the balance. Patty was a big part of the mobile and it will take a long time to regain our balance, but we will. Patty would want nothing else.