San Jose

On Saturday, May 31st, 2025, Edith Akiko Yamasaki Kitajima, a beloved wife, devoted mother, and cherished grandmother, passed away peacefully at the age of 92.

Born on November 17th, 1932, in San Jose, California, Edie was the fifth of eight children to Thomas and Kiyo Yamasaki.

She held dear her childhood memories such as making paper dolls.

One of her favorite childhood memories was working on the farm; she'd beam with joy recounting the memory of shouting "cotts" every time she completed filling a tray.

She also often recounted with laughter, post war, her summer trips to Santa Cruz, filled with beach fun and singing car tunes all the way there with her siblings.

On August 31st, 1957, Edie married the love of her life, Kenneth Shigeo Kitajima. Together, they raised two sons, John and Doug. She adored her daughters-in-law, Deana and Melanie, and her four grandchildren: Steven, Derek, Kennedi, and Luke. Edie treasured every moment with them, from special sleepovers and family dinners to cheering them on at school performances and celebrating holidays.

Edie began her career in her early 20s at the Crippled Children's Foundation. In 1963, she embraced her calling as a full-time mother, dedicating herself to raising her sons. After they were grown, she returned to work as a Instructional Aide for special needs children at Allen Elementary School, where she continued to make a difference until her retirement in 1997.

One of her favorite traditions when she was raising John and Doug was the Sunday tradition of attending Wesley United Methodist Church, where she sang in the choir. Afterwards, the family would gather at her parents’ home, enjoying food, stories, and laughter with her siblings and all of their children too. Additionally, Edie often fondly spoke about taking her momma to buy fresh flowers and then visiting the cemetery every Saturday to pay respects to her Daddy and many others.

Throughout her life, Edie maintained deep connections, keeping in touch with her career friends and loving neighbors, with some friendships spanning her entire life. She especially loved the annual Academy Awards party her girlfriends hosted, always making sure to see every nominated movie before the big night.

A profound lover of nature, Edie traveled with Ken to every U.S. state, exploring every National Park and countless State Parks. Their adventures also took them abroad to Asia and Europe, where Edie loved capturing memories through her lens. Though Ken was a professional photographer, Edie proudly won an award and monetary prize for her stunning photograph of New England's fall colors along a river. Beyond travel, she found joy in needlework, jigsaw puzzles, challenging crosswords, and she was a prolific reader. When her sons discovered Nintendo, Edie delightedly took to Tetris, her impressive high scores a testament to her skill and a source of jovial pride.

Edie was a true fan of games and sports. Family poker nights were a favorite, and she never missed an episode of Jeopardy, with family often quipping she could have been a winning contestant. As a huge fan of the San Francisco 49ers and the Golden State Warriors, she never missed a game, remaining a devoted follower to the end.

Edie was preceded in death by her husband, Ken Kitajima, on September 5th, 2022; her father, Thomas; her mother, Kiyo; and her siblings, Tom, Kenji, Margie, Irene, and Alice. She is survived by her two children, John and Doug, and her sisters, Joyce and Linda.

The family will hold a private service. To honor Edie's memory, in lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to the College of Adaptive Arts (https://www.collegeofadaptivearts.org/), an organization dedicated to lifelong learning for adults who historically have not had access to a college education.