OBITUARY: Fumie Jane Hara Wong

Fumie Jane Hara Wong

Oct. 15, 1925 – Feb. 4, 2021

HARA WONG, FUMIE JANE, 95, entered into the spiritual world peacefully on Feb. 4, 2021 in San Francisco, Calif. She was born on Oct. 15, 1925 in Lincoln, Calif. She had seven brothers and one older sister. Her parents Tonakichi and Toyo Hara came to America from Okayama, Japan. Jane grew up on a farm in Lodi, Calif. When she was 16, WWII broke out and she and her family were incarcerated at Tule Lake for 4 years.

Following the end of the war, she and her family went to Japan. This was her first time in Japan and she witnessed the ravages of war. There, she worked for the US government as a translator and also taught English to business people.

She returned to California with the help of one of her brothers who lived in the U.S. She worked as a housekeeper and went to school where she was able to receive her dental assisting certificate.

She met and married Alvin Wong who was a cook at a local Chinese/American restaurant located on Fillmore Street. They raised their 5 children in the Richmond District where she was active in the PTA.

Jane became a widow at age 43. With her children aged 6 to 12, she enrolled in Heald Business College and received her degree in bookkeeping. Her children remember her studying side by side with them as she worked hard to complete the program. She worked as a bookkeeper at Macy’s department store. Later, she worked for the San Francisco chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League. She was honored to work along side the many Nisei and young Sansei leaders who tirelessly spoke out for the injustice of the incarceration of Japanese and Japanese Americans, and vowed to suspend her retirement until the important and historic reparations from the government were confirmed.

Jane always had a wonderful sense of humor that made people smile and laugh. Her bright smile and positive attitude to overcome difficulty and challenging times will carry on to her future generations. Jane was an active member at Pine United Methodist Church and a longtime volunteer of the Kimochi senior lunch program. She enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and family and loved celebrating birthdays and holidays, going to movies and shows, traveling to Reno, Hawaii, Japan and Europe. She loved church bazaars, the Cherry Blossom Festivals and Parade and attending church and community activities. Her hobbies included crochet, embroidery, sewing, reading, gardening and walking.

Jane is survived by her brothers Ben (Helen) Hara, Kalvin (Lona) Hara, John (Nikki) Hara, her children Al (Dani) Wong, Hideki Hara, Manuel Wong, Alice (Masato) Kawahatsu, and Bambi Chung. She also leaves behind her loving grandchildren, Jeremy Wong, Jeddie and Grant Masashi Kawahatsu, Kenton and Chenery Chung and many nieces and nephews.

A private transitional service was held on Feb. 5. A private Celebration of Life service will be held on March 27. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in honor of Jane Hara Wong to Kimochi, San Francisco JACL, JCCCNC, or your favorite charity. The family would like to express their sincere gratitude for your warm condolences and prayers.