Terry Teruye Yemoto Kadani

Terry Teruye Yemoto Kadani passed away peacefully on Feb. 25, 2008 in Modesto, Calif. five weeks before her 93rd birthday. She lived a long, full life of many happy events and achievements, including a career of sewing and design, teaching for City College of San Francisco for 30 years from age 60 to age 90, retiring as the oldest staff member, and she took much pride in that honor. Terry’s sewing class of 30 years was like family to her and she treasured the time she spent with her students. She enjoyed countless family activities, travels, and pursued her lifetime passion of sewing and fashion design with high energy and ambition. A mother, grandmother, teacher and creative artist, she will be missed by many she touched in her family and in the community.

After two years at Fresno State College, Terry received a degree in fashion design from the Charette School of Costume Design in Los Angeles and returned to Fresno, her birthplace (April 4, 1915) and hometown. In 1937, she opened her first sewing school, which she called the Mademoiselle School of Costume Design, in Fresno and her extensive sewing and teaching career began. Her sewing career took many turns as the war broke out and her family was interned in Arkansas, but upon release, she married Gary Kadani and had a daughter Susan and a son Stan.

After living in Japan while her husband was with the U.S. Occupation forces at the end of the war, the family returned to Fresno after a short time in L.A., and there Terry continued teaching sewing and then opened the Ginza Shoppe in downtown Fresno, where she did custom sewing using special silks and brocades. She was an active member of the Fresno Japanese Congregational Church.

Terry was preceded in death by her sisters Helen Ishikawa and Velma Yemoto. She leaves her family, which includes her daughter Susan Kiyoi, husband Mike, son Stan Kadani, wife Barbara Noguchi, granddaughters Kristi Drier of Merced, husband Chris, Kari Cantwell of Sunnyvale, husband Dermot, and grandson Erik Kiyoi of Hawaii, wife Emi and great-granddaughter Kelsi of Hawaii.

A memorial service will be conducted at Pine United Methodist Church, 426 33rd Ave., San Francisco 94121, on Saturday, Sept. 13, at 1 p.m. Donations may be made in Terry Kadani’s memory to Pine UMC; to Kimochi, 1715 Buchanan St., San Francisco 94115; or to United Japanese Christian Church, 136 N. Villa Ave., Clovis, CA 93612