Obituary of Betty Hatanaka

Betty Miyeko Hatanaka (nee Hayakawa)With heavy hearts, Betty’s family are sad to announce her peaceful passing on Sunday, April 19, 2020 at the age of 94. Predeceased by her husbands, Mickey Hatanaka and Ted Aida, and her beloved older sister, Sumiye Matsuyama and her younger brother, Harry Hayakawa. She was the proud, loving and much loved mother of Lynda Silk and Sandra, and deeply beloved grandmother of Robert, Elizabeth and her partner, Jayde. Betty was born in Tofino, B.C. and then moved to Vancouver with her family. During the Second World War, the Hayakawa family was sent to the internment camp in Sandon, a deserted mining town. Not allowed to return to the west coast, Betty moved to Toronto in 1943. She married Mickey Hatanaka in July 1949. They moved to their home in Scarborough, and raised their family and lived there for many years. Betty had a long and successful career working at the Independent Order of Foresters insurance company as a Supervisor, where she was very well respected and loved by all her coworkers and friends there. After her retirement, she and her second husband, Ted Aida, moved to the Momiji residence where they spent many happy years. Betty was a very caring and loving person with a generous and warm heart. Many people will remember her lovely smile and her many thoughtful gestures, from making dresses and nightgowns for her nieces, sewing costumes and clothes for her children and grandchildren, driving her daughter from Scarborough to Mississauga so she could continue baton lessons with the same coach, and to always being there for all her daughters’ dance recitals and competitions. Betty always gave of herself and was supportive, encouraging and positive.Betty was incredibly good at math, able to add numbers faster than if she used a calculator. In addition to being an expert sewer, she was a wonderful cook as well. She also enjoyed quilting, Japanese odori dancing, crocheting afghans, Japanese Bunka, and sewing many beautiful clothes for her daughters and grandchildren. Betty also enjoyed travelling to many places with her family, and experiencing many wonderful holidays, especially in Florida and Hawaii. A private family service has taken place at McDougall & Brown Funeral Home in Scarborough. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.We wish to thank the team at Extendicare Brampton for their kindness and thoughtfulness while taking care of our beloved mother and grandmother. Memorial donations in Betty’s memory can be made to Momiji Health Care Centre.