Joann Barbara Naruko

I was given the gift of life, and now have to give it back.  This is a difficult thing to do.  But I want to be remembered as someone who lived in the present, someone that had no regrets.  I was first diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in March, 2013.  Lucky for me, it was diagnosed early as far as pancreatic cancer goes and after surgery and chemotherapy, I was given the gift of five more years.  I returned to life as I knew it and lived it to the max with no regrets!  – dinners with family and friends, trips with my daughters and their families, working out at the gym, trips with friends, birthday and Christmas celebrations.  I was able to watch my Grandchildren grow.  The cancer almost became a thing of the past.  Unfortunately, it returned and was found to be metastatic in 2018.  More chemo – but this time it was more difficult.  I soldiered through though, determined to buy myself just a little more time.  Although I can say without hesitation that I lived a full and happy life with no regrets, cancer is powerful and it became a battle I could no longer win.  I fought long and hard, but now the suffering is over and I am at peace.  I have rejoined my soulmate and husband, Kenji, my sister Wanda, my mother, Dorothy, along with many other loved ones. 

I am Joann Barbara Naruko, age 71 and I peacefully left this world on Saturday March 30, 2019 in Moorpark, CA while on vacation surrounded by family and friends.  I was born on August 17, 1947 in Culver City, CA and spent the last decade living with my daughter and her family in Maple Grove, MN.  I am survived by my daughters, Kim Naruko-Stewart (husband, Matt) and Kristin Naruko (husband, Michel), seven grandchildren (Jakob 16, Emma 14, Piper 12, Eliana 10, Aiden 8, Luca 7 and Max 4), father, Robert and step-mother, Joyce. 

 A Celebration of Life Memorial service will be held at 2pm on Friday April 19 at David Lee Funeral Home 1220 Wayzata Blvd East, Wayzata, MN 55391. There will be a visiting hour before the service with snacks served after the service. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the American Cancer Society.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Joann Barbara Naruko, please visit our floral store.