Sumiko “Sue” Oshita was born Sumiko Okubo in Seattle, Washington, on December 3, 1927, the youngest of five children. She was a young girl filled with hope and possibility until December 1941 and the advent of the United States’ involvement in World War II. This proud American citizen of Japanese ancestry was forcibly interned in concentration camps at the Minidoka Relocation Center in Idaho, one of ten camps that held 120,000 Japanese American citizens from 1942 to 1945.
At 15 years of age, Sue was forced to leave her ailing mother behind in Seattle when she and her brother were transported to the camp in Minidoka. Her mother eventually joined other family members but sadly passed away in the camps. Always a dedicated and disciplined hard worker, she picked Idaho potatoes while in camp amidst the severe weather conditions of dust and heat. Post wartime years, Sue and her brother, Howard Okubo, moved to Chicago, Illinois, and with the grace of religious groups, including the Fourth Presbyterian Church in Chicago, in addition to the Quakers, our mother found employment and a home in Evanston, Illinois. She had various jobs, such as housekeeping and babysitting, while she completed her high school education at Evanston High School.
While supporting herself and her brother’s college education in Chicago, she worked multiple jobs, where she soon met her husband, Hosen “Ho” Oshita. They were married on June 14, 1952. Our mother’s spirit of hope returned, and through perseverance, dedicated hard work, and desire to succeed in life, Sue and Hosen raised three girls in Chicago and built her ‘dream home’ in Northbrook, Illinois. She worked at Neiman Marcus in Northbrook Court for many years and enjoyed reading, gardening, artwork, cooking, and volunteering. She truly enjoyed traveling around the world and loved playing golf with our dad, always insisting on driving from the men’s tees.
She always looked to the future and the unlimited possibilities. As a young girl, she dreamed of being a pilot. Though life held other plans, her love of flying grew into a fascination with outer space. We grew up watching every space rocket launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida, glued to the television set, in the 1960’s and early 1970’s. When America landed on the moon, it was a great cause for celebration in our home. When our mother learned of the possibility to send her ashes into space, she knew it would be the fulfillment of her dreams. For years, that dream never wavered. The limitlessness and awe of outer space was such a thrilling idea, and now we have the opportunity to honor her final wishes.
After living a full life, Sue Oshita passed away on October 19, 2018. This Celestis Enterprise launch is the culmination of a beautiful woman’s life and service to her family, friends, and co-workers.
To our dear Mom . . . We are eternally grateful for your love and guidance . . . and will hold you in our hearts and minds forever . . . Godspeed,
With much love, your daughters,
Susan, Jody, and Tracy
