Sumiko T. Carvalho

Sumiko Takitani Carvalho, 79, born in Okayama Prefecture, Japan, passed away on July 27, 2014. She resided in Rancho Cucamonga, California at the time of her passing. Arrangements are under the direction of Forest Lawn, Covina Hills, Covina, California.

Sumiko grew up in a traditional buddhist home and survived the blast at Hiroshima when she was in the 6th grade. In the 50's she met a smart GI stationed in Japan during the Korean War. Albert (AL) Carvalho who fell insantly in love with a true beauty. He pursued her till she finally relented, and despite social and cultural obstacles they were married in 1956. After Albert finished serving his country, they returned to the states and began to build their life together. Sumiko spiritually supported her husband while he completed his college degree and worked for General Electric & General Dynamics and together they raised their five children.

Sumiko was a dedicated and loving wife and mother. She had a sweet spirit, never fostered discord and always maintained a positive happy attitude despite circumstances. While she may have appeared to be submissive to strangers, Sumiko and Albert were true partners. She was the bedrock of their marriage and their children's lives.

Her main value was family, and she dedicated herself to her husband, children and grandchildren. She was always respecting, always supporting and always encouraging the best out of those she loved. She called Al her hero, even though she didn't need rescuing and he loved to hear it. She was like a second mother to all her grandchildren, whom she took care of since they were small babies while her daughters worked.

She also valued hard work. Her amazing work ethic set the model for the success of her children. She waitressed for 37 years at the New China Restaurant in Upland. As she grew older, she worked just to keep up with friends that she made while serving at the Chinese restaurant.

Her spiritual journey is a beautiful as she is. At an early age she knew that there was something void in her traditional religion. When she became a naturalized citizen, she traded one traditional religion for another, adopting a form of American Christianity. But it was not until 1975 in Syracuse N.Y. that SUMIKO put her faith in Jesus and began a personal relationship with God. Being a spirit-filled Christian, she was transformed as she tapped into the power of the Holy Spirit. Her absolute faith and trust in the Lord led to her healing of adult Athsma in 1976, overcoming Bell's Palsy (a form of stroke) in 1986 and her mother's cancer remission in 1988.

Sumiko is with her son Albert in heaven, and is survived by her Husband of 58 years, Albert, her loving children, William, Elaine, Susan, and Catherine, her daughter-in-law, Cynthia, her son-in-laws Robert and Randy, and her beloved grandchildren, Michael, Aaron, Carina, Tyler and Kyle.