Miyako Hawkins

MIYAKO KOINUMA HAWKINS

AUGUST 20, 1934-AUGUST 2, 2019

Miyako Koinuma Hawkins, much-loved Mother, Grandmother and Great-Grandmother, passed away on August 2, 2019 at Schneidmiller Hospice House in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.

Miyako Koinuma was born in Tokyo, Japan, August 20, 1934 to parents Shigeru and Ryo Koinuma (Kato).  She was the only girl of their four children, with three brothers, Ichiro, Jiro, and Saburo, all of whom have pre-deceased their sister. She met her husband, Joseph Hawkins, in Tokyo while he was in the US Air Force stationed nearby, and she was a student at Aoyama Gakuin.   They were married on October 20, 1954.  After Joseph Hawkins was discharged from the US Air Force in 1955, they returned to the United States to California where they lived in Sacramento, East Palo Alto and then settled in Los Altos to raise their family over the next 30 years.  Miyako moved to Coeur d’Alene Idaho in 2015 to be closer to her two daughters who had relocated, or were in the process of relocating, from California.

Miyako Koinuma Hawkins enjoyed Baroque classical music, the arts, reading, playing the piano and harpsichord, gardening, cooking, and interior design.  She was admired by family and friends for her sense of fashion and style, her impeccable English language skills which led to several language teaching positions for both English and Japanese.  Her family and friends remember her amazing international repertoire of delicious dishes and desserts which she prepared for dinner parties, holidays and family celebrations, all of which were beautifully presented, reminiscent of Japanese custom.  Miyako played a large role in caring for her grandchildren, many of whom cherish the memories of those special times they each shared with their Grandmother.

Miyako is survived by her former husband Joseph, her seven children:  John Hiroshi Hawkins (Lisa), Robert Ken Hawkins (Rita), Claudia Ryo Gough (Nicholas), Geoffrey Tomo Hawkins (Pamela), Christopher Jun Hawkins (former wife and mother of their children, Leah), Thomas Yutaka Hawkins, and Anne Miyako Hayes (Kent), her 13 grandchildren:  Arianna (Aden Scott), Simone, and Helena Hawkins, Christopher, Colin, and Anne (Daniel Gaines) Gough, Mia, Joseph, and Luke Hawkins, Catherine, Nolan, Sean, and Gregory Hayes, and three great-grandchildren: Harry Scott, David and Miyako Gaines, residing in the United States.  She is also survived by cousins, nieces, and nephews residing in Japan.

A Rosary will be held at the English Funeral Chapel, 1700 N. Spokane St., Post Falls, ID 83854 on Monday evening, August 26, 2019 at 5:00 PM.  A Funeral Mass will be held the following morning, Tuesday, August 27, 2019 at St. Joan of Arc Church, 773 N 11th St, Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814 at 10:00.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Schneidmiller Hospice House, 2290 W. Prairie Ave., Coeur d’Alene, ID  83815.  https://www.hospiceofnorthidaho.org/donate/