Muriel "Peachy" Michie Ogata Aizawa's Obituary
MURIEL (OGATA) AIZAWA, Muriel, “Peachy” as her family called her was born in Paia, Maui passed away peacefully with her family by her side. She was 73 and survived by her husband, Dr. Herman Aizawa; siblings, Melvin Ogata (Torrance, CA), Edna Crawford (Los Angeles, CA) and Earl Ogata (Lexington, KY); three daughters, Lisa (George) Chan, Lori Aizawa and Linda (Todd) Uegawachi ; 5 grandchildren, Kelsey and Bryson Chan, Michiko and Kelee Aizawa-Smith and Emi Uegawachi.
Muriel was raised in Pukalani and Kahului Maui. She graduated from Maui High School in 1960 and beauty school in 1963. She met her true love in high school at a S.C.O.O.P. picnic, for students working on their school newspapers and annuals. Muriel worked as a beautician and also at Fort Shafter, as a clerk in the Judge Advocate General’s office.
Herman and Muriel were married in 1964 at the St. Anthony Church in Wailuku, Maui. Soon after, they started their family and had three daughters, Lisa, Lori and Linda and she became a full time mom, supporting Herman as he worked and finished his doctorate in Ohio. She was a dedicated volunteer and worked many hours at Kaneohe Elementary School, where she met her dear friends the “Tanomoshi” gang. She was a leader of Girl Scout Troop 300 in Kaneohe and taught classes at the Kaneohe District Park. The volunteer moms all became lifelong friends and continued to love and support each other through children and grandchildren.
Her love for children and helping people led her to a career as a health aide with the Department of Health at Aikahi Elementary and then transferred to Castle High School where she added another extension to the family with the “lunch bunch”. These teachers, counselors, and administrators all became lifelong friends and golf buddies. Muriel was an avid golfer and started two golf clubs called the “Na Hoa Pono” and “Tomodachi” golf clubs so they could get tee times. She later transferred to Puohala Elementary School and was there for over 10 years. Here she made yet, another group of lifelong friends to add to the family, the “Puohala Gang”.
She also loved sports and supported the UH Rainbow Warriors with her “football gang” for over 30 years. She later reconnected with her “High School gang” and planned their reunion get-togethers. All the while, as she made more friends she never stopped loving and keeping in touch with those she had created such special relationships. Her extended Ohana was blessed by her outstretched arms as she welcomed people into her life.
Her passion for helping others, accepting others as they are and just understanding that everyone deserved to be loved was what she lived by. Many have shared that she touched their hearts and added joy in their life. “No regrets”, “treat others with respect and how you would want to be treated” and “love on others” is what she taught. Everyone who met her felt like they knew her for a long time. She was that wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunty, and friend who always had a smile, hug and shoulder for you……we will miss her dearly.
Heaven gained another beautiful angel of love in Mom. She will forever be our Hero.
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