Fumiko Greenaway

GREENAWAY, Fumiko (née Endo) slipped quietly out of this world on Wednesday, December 21, the shortest day of the year, in Nelson, BC. Fumiko was born in Moosejaw, Saskatchewan on April 16, 1929, daughter of George and Tomie Endo. She attended art school before meeting her future husband Tod through mutual friends. The newly-weds ran a fishing camp in La Ronge for a year then travelled to Europe where they lived in several countries before settling in London, where Fumiko gave birth to John and then Rachel. The family moved back to Canada in 1962, first to Montreal–where Rafael was born–then Toronto, and finally Vancouver, where they put down deep roots. They helped form Strathcona’s first housing co-op on Union Street and took part in the fight to stop the destruction of the neighborhood by a proposed freeway. It was here that Fumiko reconnected with her Japanese roots, becoming involved in the Japanese Canadian Centennial Project, the first Powell Street Festival and then the Redress movement. During the fight for Redress, Fumiko was part of a group that took over The Bulletin, a local community publication, eventually becoming managing editor. She is perhaps best remembered for her cooking column, Community Kitchen, and her recipes are enjoyed to this day.

Following health issues in the late nineties, Tod and Fumiko moved to Nelson, where they settled into a quieter way of life. When Tod passed away In 2008, Fumiko moved in with Rachel, where she lived until deteriorating health required more extended care. We would like to thank the staff at first Kootenay Lake Hospital and then Mountain Lake Seniors Community for their remarkably compassionate and loving care of Fumiko in the last years of her life.

Fumiko is survived by her sisters Marian and Joyce and brother George; children John (Amy), Rachel (Daniel) and Rafael; and grandchildren Charles, Taiyo, Emiko and Kaya.

Fumiko loved to cook but her most enduring legacy is the connection she formed with people. Over the course of her life she touched so many with her spirit and we are all the better for having known her. Her many friends will be happy to know that she left this world peacfully and pain-free. As the days grow longer and our memories deeper, we ask that her friends not grieve, but rather remember her for the quietly remarkable woman she was. In lieu of flowers or koden, a donation to The Bulletin through the Japanese Canadian Citizens’ Association in her honour would be appreciated – #200, 6688 Southoaks Crescent, Burnaby BC, V5E 4M7, jccabulletin-geppo.ca.

A celebration of Fumiko’s life will be held in Vancouver at a later date.

With love, John, Rachel and Rafael.

Arrangemrnts are under the direction of Thompson Funeral Service Ltd.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.thompsonfs.ca