Frances Yamaoka

Frances Yamaoka, 82 of Surprise, AZ passed away Oct. 31, 2016. Frances was born Fumiyo Kobayashi on January 18, 1934 in Gardena, California. She was the youngest of four daughters born to Hatsujiro and Sada Kobayashi. At the age of 7, she went to Japan and lived in Hakone near Kyoto, where she lived until the end of WW II. She returned to the United States in 1950. She first lived in Tacoma, Washington and later moved to Chicago in 1951, where she married George Yamaoka in 1954. They had two children, Michael and Pamela, and eventually a granddaughter Kristy. She lived in Chicago nearly 50 years before retiring and moving to Sun City Grand in 2000. Frances has really enjoyed living in Arizona. She has made new friends while staying in touch with old ones. Her favorite things to do were traveling, arts & crafts, cooking and playing various card games, especially Shanghai. Memorial services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 3, 2016 at Menke Funeral & Cremation Center Chapel, 12420 N. 103rd Ave., Sun City, AZ.