Obituary of Itsuko "Iddy" Asada

Itsuko “Iddy” Asada was born on June 6, 1928 in Salinas, California and passed away on Friday, February 26, 2016 in Cherry Hill, New Jersey at the age of 87. She had been an active member of the Seabrook Buddhist Temple and the local Japanese American community since arriving in Upper Deerfield Township in 1945. She attended Santa Rita Grammar School (Principal – Mr. Frye) and one year at Alisal Union Grammar School (Principal – Mr. Lowe) in Salinas, California. She remembered Mr. Lowe insisting that a picture of the Japanese American kids be taken for the 1942 year book, as he worried that they might not be allowed to stay after Japan’s bombing of Pearl Harbor. She and her family, along with 120,000 other Japanese Americans, were interned during World War II per Executive Order 9066. From August 1942 to August 1945 she was incarcerated in Poston, Arizona (Camp II). [Her future husband Mark Asada was interned in Poston Camp III.] During this time her brother, Kazuto Taniguchi, volunteered and served with the U.S. Army in the all-Japanese 442nd Regimental Combat Team, which collectively was presented with the Congressional Gold Medal in 2011. Upon release from the internment camp, her family resettled to Seabrook, New Jersey, where she completed her final year of high school graduating in 1946 from Bridgeton High School. [She had gone to three years of high school at Poston Relocation Center and could not wait until she got into a REAL high school!] She completed a certificate course from the School of D’Balez/Fleishman, School of Fashion Design in Philadelphia in 1947. She worked at Seabrook Farms Company and later transferred to Seabrook Brother’s and Sons, from which she retired as a payroll clerk after 44 years of combined employment. She enjoyed sports and as a young adult was a member of the Suburban Women’s Bowling League; and softball and baseball teams of Seabrook Farms Company. She was a life-long member of the Seabrook Buddhist Temple, serving as a Board Member and Treasurer for many years, as well as on the Board of the Seabrook Buddhist Women’s Association. She was recognized as one of its “Outstanding Sunday School Teachers” and helped establish the Temple’s traditional Minyo dance group and Hoh Daiko drumming ensemble. She was a member of the Seabrook Chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) and the Edgar Joyce Senior Center. She volunteered with the Bridgeton Hospital and along with her late sister Suzie was one of the first full-time volunteers at the Seabrook Educational and Cultural Center (SECC), established to tell the story of the region’s Japanese American and other diverse communities. She is survived by her siblings Hatsumi Ogata, Kazuto Taniguchi (Gardena, CA), Natsuko “Nattie” Ciferri (San Clemente, CA), and Yasuye “Babe” Kato; husband Mark Asada, son Michael Asada and his wife Kim Asada, and grandchildren Matthew and Mikki. She is preceded in death by her sister, Tsutako “Suzie” Takata, and brother, Torao “Jim” Taniguchi. The family will receive visitors at the PADGETT FUNERAL HOME on Friday, March 4, 2016 from 10:30 am – 12:00 pm. Her memorial service will begin there at noon followed by a reception at the Seabrook Buddhist Temple immediately thereafter. The family requests that in lieu of any flowers, donations be made to the Seabrook Buddhist Temple, Inc., 9 Northville Road, Bridgeton, NJ 08302; or the Seabrook JACL chapter, c/o Sharon Yoshida, 4 Mallard Lane, Bridgeton, NJ 08302.