May 28, 2015
May 28, 2015
Everyday is a tribute to you!!
This Memorial website is dedicated in memory of our loved one, Patty Yamashita, born on December 16, 1959 and passed away on July 5, 2014. We will remember her forever.
If you have a favorite story about Patty, please click on the "Stories" tab above and share it with us.
The Funeral Service will be on July 17 at 11:00 AM at St. Monica Catholic Church on Mercer Island. Please dress approriately.
The Memorial Service/Reception will be on July 27 from 1:00 - 5:00 PM at The Golf Club at Newcastle. Business casual attire is requested.
Tributes
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May 26, 2015
May 26, 2015
Psalm 19
7 The law of the Lord is perfect,
reviving the soul;
the testimony of the Lord is sure,
making wise the simple;
8 the precepts of the Lord are right,
rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the Lord is pure,
enlightening the eyes;
9 the fear of the Lord is clean,
enduring forever;
the rules[d] of the Lord are true,
and righteous altogether.
7 The law of the Lord is perfect,
reviving the soul;
the testimony of the Lord is sure,
making wise the simple;
8 the precepts of the Lord are right,
rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the Lord is pure,
enlightening the eyes;
9 the fear of the Lord is clean,
enduring forever;
the rules[d] of the Lord are true,
and righteous altogether.
May 23, 2015
May 23, 2015
Goodnight
May 21, 2015
May 21, 2015
Picture a place that they exist, together.
There has to be a place better than this, in heaven.
So right before I sleep, dear God, what I'm askin,
Remember this face, save me a place, in thug's mansion.
Tupac
I miss you.
There has to be a place better than this, in heaven.
So right before I sleep, dear God, what I'm askin,
Remember this face, save me a place, in thug's mansion.
Tupac
I miss you.
May 20, 2015
May 20, 2015
I didn't get down to Fed Way last weekend. Sorry for that. I will see you this weekend.
May 18, 2015
May 18, 2015
Happy Monday. Say hi to Grandpa.
May 13, 2015
May 13, 2015
I'm going to get out to Greenlake for a walk soon.
May 12, 2015
May 12, 2015
Thinking of you on this day.
May 11, 2015
May 11, 2015
Happy Belated Mother's Day. It was nice to visit you yesterday. I forgot the cleaning materials for your headstone, it was a bit dirty but I'll clean it next time.
May 7, 2015
May 7, 2015
To every thing there is a season.
Miss You
Miss You
May 6, 2015
May 6, 2015
Missing you all the time despite others forgetting you and your legacy
April 20, 2015
April 20, 2015
Prayers to you on this beautiful spring day.
March 18, 2015
March 18, 2015
I had a dream last night that you were still here. You were scolding me for doing something wrong. All was right in the world.
March 16, 2015
March 16, 2015
It was a busy weekend, I'm just grinding out down here, trying to do it as big as you did...Glory be to God all the time...I miss you!!
March 15, 2015
March 15, 2015
Thinking of you tonight. Goodnight.
March 12, 2015
March 12, 2015
I'm driving down there to visit you today. Spring is starting and you need a fresh spread of flowers.
March 11, 2015
March 11, 2015
it's a busy day at work and I want to take time to say Thank You for being my mother.
March 10, 2015
March 10, 2015
As I get ready to fall asleep, I wish you goodnight and I want to say I miss you.
February 27, 2015
February 27, 2015
Work is crazy busy. Life is crazy busy. Still I find time to reminisce over you. Be well.
February 26, 2015
February 26, 2015
Trying to keep it together at work, thinking about seeing you in a dream last night...be proud of your son...ask God to send guidance and strength my way...and to protect your family who miss you dearly.
February 25, 2015
February 25, 2015
Hey Mom, it's a busy day at work but I hope you're proud of what you see. We all miss you down here, me especially. Please ask God to send strength and guidance to your son. David
January 22, 2015
January 22, 2015
Thinking of you lots lately. Please ask God to send me guidance and strength.
December 16, 2014
December 16, 2014
Wow. Your spread at your final resting place for your birthday is absolutely stunning. You had some amazing friends and family. Happy almost Birthday to you. You would have been 55 today. I will see you tomorrow after work. I love you. I just added some new pictures of you.
December 16, 2014
December 16, 2014
HAPPY BIRTHDAY PATTY
December 16, 2014
December 16, 2014
Happy birthday to you. We miss you!
December 16, 2014
December 16, 2014
Happy birthday, Mom!
November 30, 2014
November 30, 2014
I'm uploading some photos of you today. This is a little bit late, but Happy Thanksgiving. It was the first one without you. It wasn't easy. This first holiday season will actually be pretty tough. We will pull through. I think about you constantly. Ask God to send us some strength down here, and to send guidance to your son. I love you.
David
Enter His gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name.
Psalm 100:4
David
Enter His gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name.
Psalm 100:4
November 10, 2014
November 10, 2014
I visited you yesterday. Your spread was all full of flowers. I am not sure who brought those but they are beautiful and I thank you, whoever you are, for thinking of my mother. I love you Mom.
October 31, 2014
October 31, 2014
Happy Halloween to you. I remember you getting me dressed up in my costumes over the years and taking me trick or treating. As the years went on, you would send me out the door with a big pillow case to fill with candy and I'd go off with my friends. I'd come home and show you all of the candy I got. I hope you are doing well at Gethsemane. I didn't get a chance to visit you this week. I will be there tomorrow. I've got a nice verse for you...
"For God so loved the world, that he gave His only begotten son, that whoever believes in Him should not parish, but have everlasting life"
John 3:16
I love you Mom.
"For God so loved the world, that he gave His only begotten son, that whoever believes in Him should not parish, but have everlasting life"
John 3:16
I love you Mom.
October 26, 2014
October 26, 2014
Visited you today. I hope your flowers didn't blow away in the windstorm. It's your first fall out there. Keep warm. See you later this week.
Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord. Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, who seek Him with their whole heart, who also do no wrong, but walk in his ways.
Psalm 119:1-3
Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord. Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, who seek Him with their whole heart, who also do no wrong, but walk in his ways.
Psalm 119:1-3
October 22, 2014
October 22, 2014
Another quiet night around the house before I turn out the lights. Thinking of you now and always. Rest well up there--in freedom from the worldly shackles that hindered you. Keep your father company and ask God to protect your family on earth. I love you forever.
David
Ephesians 4:2
Conduct yourselves with all humility, gentleness, and patience. Accept each other with love.
David
Ephesians 4:2
Conduct yourselves with all humility, gentleness, and patience. Accept each other with love.
October 22, 2014
October 22, 2014
I'll be visiting you today after work. It's a bit rainy today but it's my only open night this week. I hope your flowers will hold up ok in the rain. We might need to look into getting you some artificial flowers for the winter ahead.
October 21, 2014
October 21, 2014
Romans 14:8
If we live, we are living for the Lord. And if we die, we are dying for the Lord. So living or dying, we belong to the Lord.
Hi Mom. I know you are in great hands up there. Spending time with your dad in the Kingdom of Heaven. Been feeling the weight of your absence lately more and more. Just wondering if you could ask God for some guidance and some emotional stability for your son. We all miss you like crazy down here. I love you.
David
If we live, we are living for the Lord. And if we die, we are dying for the Lord. So living or dying, we belong to the Lord.
Hi Mom. I know you are in great hands up there. Spending time with your dad in the Kingdom of Heaven. Been feeling the weight of your absence lately more and more. Just wondering if you could ask God for some guidance and some emotional stability for your son. We all miss you like crazy down here. I love you.
David
October 8, 2014
October 8, 2014
You can go to him for protection.
He will cover you like a bird spreading its wings over its babies.
You can trust him to surround and protect you like a shield.
Psalm 91:4
I had dinner with Patty T last night. We were talking about you the whole time. You are still alive among us. Please ask God to protect your family and guide your son.
I love you Mom.
He will cover you like a bird spreading its wings over its babies.
You can trust him to surround and protect you like a shield.
Psalm 91:4
I had dinner with Patty T last night. We were talking about you the whole time. You are still alive among us. Please ask God to protect your family and guide your son.
I love you Mom.
September 26, 2014
September 26, 2014
Hi Mom. Happy Friday to you. I'm just here on my lunch break at work. Going to have a nice, relaxing weekend. I miss you like crazy. I'm going to visit you this weekend.
God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all. 1 John 1:5
God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all. 1 John 1:5
September 23, 2014
September 23, 2014
Hi Mom. I'm here at work on my lunch break just thinking about you as always. I ask God every day to keep you company up there and make sure you don't argue with Grandpa too much. Ask Him to send me some strength and protect the family. I love you and miss you. David
September 15, 2014
September 15, 2014
Thinking of you today and every day. The Nisei Vets Luau was this past weekend and it was different without you being there. Phillip Lomax dedicated a song to you and it almost brought a tear to my eye. Everywhere I go, people want to come up to me and tell me about you and how much you meant to them. That's an honor. I'm doing my best down here. Please ask God to keep sending me that strength I need. I love you Mom.
September 12, 2014
September 12, 2014
Hi Mom. Today (or yesterday now I guess) was the anniversary of 9/11. You know, I was sitting around thinking about how sad I am that you're gone. And then I came across this link that showed 30 stunning pictures from the day of that attack...horrified New Yorkers, breathless first responders, office workers jumping out of 70th floor windows, people covered in dust, people searching for their loved ones. I guess it just made me realize that we're all in this together...we all experience loss from time to time...and to just have faith in God above. I don't really know what I'm saying but I hope you understand. I miss you. I love you. Goodnight. David
September 11, 2014
September 11, 2014
Hi Mom. I was in the area so I stopped by Greenlake today. First time I've been there since we walked there a few months ago. I'm not going to lie, it was tough to go back there. I remember all the spots along the trail where you would take a break, drink some water, tell a joke, etc. It's almost like you were there today, yet you still felt so far away from me. Anyway, I hope you are looking down on me and feeling proud. Goodnight, I love you.
David
David
September 10, 2014
September 10, 2014
Hi Mom. I'm sorry I haven't been down to visit you this week. I'm going to try to get down there on Saturday. It's just been a super busy week. I know that sounds like a bad excuse, sorry. I will see you Saturday for sure. Grandpa too. I hope you two are keeping each other company. I still think of you almost every minute of every day. Please keep sending me your little messages. I love you. David
September 9, 2014
September 9, 2014
Hi Mom. I've been seeing the messages you're sending to me. I appreciate them. You've presented yourself in my life through acts of God and I know. I get it. I'm trying to make good on my promise to achieve in your memory. It's going to take some time but I'm going in the right direction. I miss you. Goodnight. David
September 8, 2014
September 8, 2014
Hi Mom. It's been 9 weeks and a day. I still think about you is much as I ever have. My thoughts are a little different than they were right after you passed, though. In the immediate aftermath, I was full of hopelessness, despair, sadness. But I've come to associate your passing with the desire to accomplish, to be better, to be the best version of myself that I can become. It took me a while to get there but here I am. I hope you're looking down on my and feeling proud. I love you. David
September 7, 2014
September 7, 2014
Hi Mom. It's been 3 weeks at my new job and I love it. I feel like how you must have felt when you began your career. I want to do the best I can to live up to the legacy that you left. It won't be easy but it's worth a shot.
I know I can do all things through Christ. I know that you are in constant communication with Him up there to send me those little signs here and there, those little messages. I see those and I take them seriously. I no longer want to fulfill my own desires as much as I want to fulfill those that you channel through God.
Anyway, I love you so much Mom and I miss you like crazy. Please continue to watch over me. David
I know I can do all things through Christ. I know that you are in constant communication with Him up there to send me those little signs here and there, those little messages. I see those and I take them seriously. I no longer want to fulfill my own desires as much as I want to fulfill those that you channel through God.
Anyway, I love you so much Mom and I miss you like crazy. Please continue to watch over me. David
August 29, 2014
August 29, 2014
Good afternoon, Mom. I've been thinking about you a lot today. Your headstone goes in tomorrow and I'll be there. I can't wait to have you represented the way you should be. I love you. Talk to you later.
David
David
August 27, 2014
August 27, 2014
Hi Mom. Good evening to you. Another quiet night here around the house. I'm sitting at the kitchen table, looking over to the sink/stove area where you always used to be plugging away at all hours of the night, creating your next amazing meal or dessert. I swear I am looking over there right now and seeing you. Anyway, it was a cool day today because my new employer got me some business cards. Yeah I know it's not that big of a deal but it makes me feel special. I'm going to try to work as hard as you did in your career. I miss you Mom. I love you. Goodnight.
August 26, 2014
August 26, 2014
Good evening, Mom. My new job is going well. I know you lead me to that job listing and into that office to hand in my resume. I appreciate that. I am working hard to do what I can to make you proud of me. I'm not always perfect but that's what I strive for nonetheless. I miss you like crazy down here. I love you. David
Exodus 20:12
"Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.
Exodus 20:12
"Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.
August 21, 2014
August 21, 2014
I would first like to thank Cecile Beltran-Cruz for her kind words.
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Hi Mom, good evening to you. I'm getting ready for bed. It's been a challenging first week of work but I'm pulling through. Keep sending me that strength from above. Watch over me and the family...keep us safe. We all miss you down here. I love you Mom. Goodnight.
David
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Hi Mom, good evening to you. I'm getting ready for bed. It's been a challenging first week of work but I'm pulling through. Keep sending me that strength from above. Watch over me and the family...keep us safe. We all miss you down here. I love you Mom. Goodnight.
David
August 19, 2014
August 19, 2014
Hi Mom. I'm on my lunch break. Just thinking about you and how you worked so hard to provide for your family all those years. Hopefully I'm working towards being that person myself. I really idolize you in so many ways. If I could achieve half of the success that you did in your career, I will be happy. I pray for you every day. I miss you so much. I'm doing the best I can to carry on down here. Just watch over me please. Love, David
August 19, 2014
August 19, 2014
Shocked and saddened about this new about Patty. Even though I had not seen her in many years it is as though a little sister has been lost. It is evident how much love and happiness she brought to all of you and no doubt how much she will be missed. May she rest in peace. My heartfelt sympathies go out to the Aratani-Yamashita families.
August 15, 2014
August 15, 2014
Hi Mom. Good evening to you. As you know, we had two of our cars broken in to last night. Although Dad got his favorite pair of sunglasses stolen, I know that it could have been worse. As you saw, I was the one who scared them off by making noise in the garage. That was at around 3:30am. Why was I even awake at that hour? Why was I out in the garage, where I was able to hear them? There is really no explanation except the divine intervention of you and God. You two put me in that place at that time to protect my family, your family. I want you to know that I see your blessing, this among many others, and I am so grateful.
"The Lord watches over the alien, and sustains the fatherless and the widow, but he frustrates the ways of the wicked." Psalm 146:9
I love you Mom. Goodnight
"The Lord watches over the alien, and sustains the fatherless and the widow, but he frustrates the ways of the wicked." Psalm 146:9
I love you Mom. Goodnight
Leave a Tribute
Recent Tributes
December 16, 2023
December 16, 2023
❤️HAPPY BIRTHDAY PATTY❤️I love you sis and I sure miss you
July 5, 2023
July 5, 2023
Another year without you, Mom.
Dad, David, and I will be at Vince's tonight eating your favorite bacon and garlic pizza. I know you'll be there with us.
I miss you so much.
Take good care of yourself and Malcolm in Heaven.
Love you always.
Dad, David, and I will be at Vince's tonight eating your favorite bacon and garlic pizza. I know you'll be there with us.
I miss you so much.
Take good care of yourself and Malcolm in Heaven.
Love you always.
July 5, 2023
July 5, 2023
I miss you, Patty. So many fun times and laughter. I got a new Rivian pickup which is electric and fun to drive. You would have loved it.
Gallery
I love you forever ❤️
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Recent stories
Patty's 'formality' with her attire
July 25, 2014
Patty gave me one of my favorite lines ever...
We worked together both at Sullivan-Payne and Nintendo. Patty always dressed nicely, regardless of the dress code. I dressed nicely at Sullivan-Payne as it was required, Nintendo was a bit more relaxed so I dressed appropriately, which is to say I migrated to jeans and t-shirts. I always wore t-shirts from vacations and various places I had been.
One day I came in with one of my shirts and probably it was a bit obnoxious looking and Patty said...
"Do you own any shirts that you can't read?" I probably was ticked at the time but I have shared that story so many times when someone comments on a shirt of mine. It was classic as was she!!
Patty's Kindness and Generosity
July 11, 2014
Patty married into our family and we have all been blessed as a result. She made sure to include us at family gatherings - birthday parties, Christmas eve. It was important to her to keep the kids connected to us.
Once I admired a scarf Patty wore. Without my knowing, she went out to buy me one (because she was worried it would sell out before I had a chance to shop). A simple act of kindness and genorsity.
A more selfless act occured when my mother (Obachan) was sick a couple years ago, Patty would take the time to vist and cheer her up with stories of what she was doing, what the kids were doing and just having conversations that did not focus on health issues. A great distraction for my mother. And, Patty would bring or cook tasty dinners (she was a wonderful cook) to encourage my mom to eat. When she found out mom liked her chex mix... she would make and deliver multiple ziplock bags full. Same with cookies. Patty brushed off any thanks saying it was nothing. It was not and is not nothing - I will never forget her care and kindness.
Miss you Patty...
Because a $500 Gift Card Solves Everything
July 7, 2014
This May, my boyfriend and I took a trip to Las Vegas and I had spent more money than I had originally planned. When I got home, I seeked my mom's advice about finances. After crying to my mom about the stress of money, my mom thought she could remedy my financial stress by offering me her $500 gift card to Nordstrom.
"Lauren, it's OK. I have a $500 gift card to Nordstrom that you can have!"
"Thanks, mom, but a $500 gift card won't pay off my car payment and my credit card bill for the month."
This is just testament to my mom's selflessness, big heart, and sometimes hilarious ways of solving life's problems.