Memories of Hatsy Yasukochi

In memory of

Hatsy Yasukochi

San Francisco, CA, USA

March 7, 1940 - March 27, 2020

Mar 7, 1940 - Mar 27, 2020

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Chris Lee

Thinking of you and your family today. You used to greet me when I'd come by to pick up a cake or some treats, and were just all around wonderful to chat with. Thank you for being you, and I sure do miss your smile.

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Yasukochi Family

Emily Murase

So sorry for this loss to the family and the community. Mrs. Yasukochi was the nicest person ever. So glad I had the chance to know her are Stacey, Wendy, and Erin’s dedicated mom. Hugs to the family.

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Emily Murase

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Teresa Ono

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Tara DelloIacono Thies

We think of you often and our wonderful time as your tenants at 221 17th ave. Happy Birthday Hatsy!

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Stacey Nolan

Yasukochi Family

Comments:

Stacey Nolan

Thank you, Tara! So sweet of you to hold mom in your thoughts. Hope you and your family are well! Thank you, Tara! So sweet of you to hold mom in your thoughts. Hope you and your family are well! Thank you, Tara! So sweet of you to hold mom in your... Read more

Lois Eiko Kaya

When I was born, I am her sister Lois Eiko!

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In response to "How did you first meet Hatsy?"

Lois Eiko Kaya

She always said "thank you"

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In response to "What act of kindness did you witness from Hatsy?"

Amanda Nolan

2009

Happy 81st Birthday Grandma! As I think about you everyday I know you are always with me and looking over me. Love you and looking forward to seeing you again.

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Tara DelloIacono Thies

Gina Morimoto

Our deepest condolences to the Yasukochi family. Hatsy was the kindest and sweetest person. She will be missed.

Glenn, Ayako, and Gina Morimoto

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Yasukochi Family

Tara DelloIacono Thies

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Tara DelloIacono Thies

Dear Moses and Family,

We just learned of Hatsy's passing and are so saddened. You were both such and important part of our lives living at 221. Her kindness and smile will always be how I remember her. Eric and Noah remember her from our last visit to the bakery and all the cookies she gave them. What an incredible woman, mother, wife and grandmother.

Love,
Tara and Aaron Delloiacono Thies

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Yasukochi Family

Suzy Jones

Dear Moses, Erin, Wendy and Stacy,
I was so sorry to get this news. I loved Hatsy's warmth. She was one of my mom's best friends. I loved hearing mom's stories when she came home from gossip hour at Benkyodo's on Saturday mornings and we enjoyed getting updates on all of your lives and achievements over the years - marriages, babies, graduations, etc... What I remember most is the my annual white cake with strawberry filling every year of my life for as long as I can remember. I hope our mom's are gossiping now in heaven :) Sending you all lots of love.
Suzy, Mary Ann and Cloey Jones (Helen's daughters)

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Yasukochi Family

Benson Wong

2016

Hatsy Yasukochi and my Mom were good friends. Hatsy was always cheerful and kind. The Coffee Crunch Cake from Sweet Stop was Mom's favorite. I surprised Mom with her favorite cake for her 90th birthday in 2016. Sending our deepest condolences to Hatsy's family.

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Benson Wong

Dennis Taniguchi

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Liz Shipman

Hatsy had one of the most beautiful smiles in the world, which we will certainly miss. The holiday photo each year always made us smile, and we feel as if we know you all because of that.

What we will not miss is Hatsy climbing over the divider between our two front doors!

Liz Shipman & Ray Zbyszynski
next door neighbors

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Yasukochi Family

Stacey Nolan

Hatsy & sister, Lois in formal photo provided by Lois.

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Yasukochi Family

Stacey Nolan

1943, Rowher, AR

Hatsy & sister, Lois in concentration camp during WW II. Photo provided by Lois.

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Yasukochi Family

Stacey Nolan

Stockton, CA

Hatsy on Daddy's (Ji-chan to us) and Aunt Yoshiko carrying sister, Lois. Grandfather Yoshitaro also pictured. Taken before going to the assembly center. Photo provided by Lois.

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Yasukochi Family

Kimiyo Dowell

Yasukochi Family

Comments:

Kimiyo Dowell

In sympathy and deep sorrow for the loss of Hatsy and our friendship that spanned 77 years from our days ... Read more In sympathy and deep sorrow for the loss of Hatsy and our friendship that spanned 77 years from our days in camp. My condolences... Read more In sympathy and deep sorrow for the loss of Hatsy and... Read more

Betsey Zbyszynski

Our thoughts and prayers are with Moses and the family. As a neighbor of Hatsy, we were blessed with getting to know her and her generosity. My son, George, was always so thankful for her cookie treats! With love and sympathy, Betsey (daughter of neighbors, Ray and Liz)

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Yasukochi Family

Jane Zbyszynski

My sisters and I met Hatsy and Moses because they lived next to our parents Ray and Liz. She was so wonderful to us when we visited always bringing treats and greeting us with that beautiful smile. We know she will be missed- what a wonderful woman she was. We are so sorry for your loss.

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Yasukochi Family

Stacey Nolan

2020

My Tribute to Hatsy by Sean B. Tongson
Posted April 18, 2020 Oakley, CA

On the early morning of Friday March 27, 2020, I was saddened to learn of the passing of Hatsy Yasukochi, my father's mother in law, only 20 days after celebrating her 80th birthday.

Hatsy and her husband of 55 years, Moses, had three daughters, Stacey, Erin, and Wendy, and five grandchildren, ranged from ages 28 to 14 (including my sister Amanda). However, her warmth and kindness towards me genuinely made me feel like I was her sixth grandchild. I'll never forget her customary greeting whenever she saw me; always beaming with her trademark smile and always asking how I was doing and taking a genuine interest as to what I was up to in life. Usually, during family get-togethers, they almost always involved (a lot of) food, and she always wanted to make sure I was taken care of and had enough food. Over the years, dating back to when I was a teenager, I would receive surprise gifts during birthdays, holidays, and other big moments in my life from her. She didn't have to do anything for me, but the fact that she did spoke volumes about her kindness, generosity, and character.

And I would be completely remiss if I didn't mention her AMAZING baked goods. She, along with Moses, opened Yasukochi's Sweet Stop in San Francisco's Japantown. Opening in 1974 and operating out of the Super Mira Market, Yasukochi's Sweet Stop offers a variety of delicious and unique baked goods that I have yet to enjoy or find at any other bake shop. Their products are so tantalizing, they probably deserve their own, separate tribute (which I may do). But needless to say, everything from their cookies (hands down the best peanut butter cookies I've ever had) pastry rings (including a unique custard-filled cinnamon pastry ring that I've never seen before anywhere else), pastries (one of the best bear claws I've ever had), pies (love the strawberry custard, Boston cream, and chocolate cream pies) and their variety of cakes, including their famous coffee crunch cake, were all out of this world and breathtakingly delicious. I will admit to one time, in my very early 20's, sneaking off all the way to San Francisco specifically to stop at her bakery to fetch some peanut butter cookies. Yes, they were that good!

I was saddened to learn in recent years that Hatsy had suffered from health issues. Unfortunately, these health issues had taken their toll, and with the global pandemic that is the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), individuals with compromised immune systems are unfortunately more susceptible to the disease. When she passed away as a result of complications from the disease, Hatsy was the first person I knew directly to have contacted it and passed away due to complications from it. It was a bit harrowing for me because Hatsy's passing hit too close to home for me; this disease is very real and the scare and threat is very real. It also got me to thinking about how this could have been prevented, and the steps that could have and should have been taken to ensure Hatsy's and everyone else's well-being at the rehab facility that she was staying where she came into contact with this horrible disease.

When the smoke clears, dust settles, and we finally have a better view on how this disease formed and how it is transmitted, hopefully we'll have more answers than questions for the sake of preventing this from happening again. I would hope that a silver lining to this (if there is one) would be for us as a society to become stronger, better, smarter, and to be more mindful and sensitive to our needs going forward.. We have no choice but to. People who are ignorant about this (and unfortunately, there are a lot of individuals who are), shouldn't have to wait until this affects THEM before making the necessary adjustments and changes. Think about who this affects or who this could potentially affect, and not wait until it is too late or think, "this won't affect ME." It might not, but think of who it COULD affect.

My thoughts and most sincere well wishes are currently with all of Hatsy's family, and the people she touched. She certainly touched me and had an effect on my life. I wished I could have seen her one more time, to say thank you, to be able to give back some of that kindness she always showed me, and also to remind her how awesome her bakery products were (yes, they were that good!).

Rest in peace, Hatsy. Thank you for your endless kindness, love, and support over the years. You will never be forgotten.

Sean

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Stacey Nolan

Yasukochi Family

Liz Kong

My deepest Sympathy. May she rest in heaven now in peace. Her shop was rhe best and will missed as well.

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Yasukochi Family

Ofelia Ambriz

2013, Richmond District YMCA

Friday nights at the YMCA

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Yasukochi Family

Comments:

ESTELLE AKAMINE

A highlight on Wednesday and Friday was to see Hatsy at Michelle's exercise class at the YMCA, she was so... Read more A highlight on Wednesday and Friday was to see Hatsy at Michelle's exercise class at the YMCA, she was so committed to exercise... Read more A highlight on Wednesday and Friday was to see Hatsy... Read more