<Begin Segment 38>

KL: We wondered, too, if you would mind telling us about your father's funeral or memorial.

AO: Oh, after he died, yes. There was a funeral, we had a funeral. I said November, but I remember now, he died in December. It was like the 28th. And so it had to be done quickly and not go into the new year. So we had the funeral. Most of the people in Gilroy were old friends who were there.

KL: Where was it held?

AO: In Gilroy.

KL: In a church?

AO: No, at the Habing Mortuary.

KL: Was there a service?

AO: Yes. The priest from San Jose came, and I think it was the Buddhist priest there who my mother was friends with. But it was just kind of devastating losing my father.

KL: How did it affect your mother?

AO: Pardon?

KL: How did it affect your mother?

AO: Well, she felt the loss greatly. But she was a strong woman. I didn't realize how strong, now that I look back on it. And my father was aware of this, and because early on, he had talked to my mother and said that, "I hope you outlive me because in order to take care of the family," because my mother had the wisdom and the strength to do that.

KL: So it's like high praise.

AO: Yeah. But he knew my mother, and she did that. My sisters and I, to this day, keep marveling that we didn't appreciate her when she was alive.

KL: When did you start to realize her strength?

AO: When we had our own children. So all I do, I keep looking back and thinking, "How would my mother handle this situation?" and try to emulate.

<End Segment 38> - Copyright © 2013 Manzanar National Historic Site and Densho. All Rights Reserved.