Joy Tanaka-Castro was born on September 21 ^st , 1948 at the Japanese Hospital in Los Angeles.

She was the 3 ^rd child and the oldest daughter of Earl and Violet Tanaka.  She had 2 older brothers, Steven and Paul, both deceased and a younger sister Phyllis.

She is survived by her husband Daniel Castro, their son Jesse, his wife Daisy and grandson Aiden.

She is also survived by her sister Phyllis Reysen and nephew Loren Miyake and by her sister-in-law Dorothy Tanaka and her family.

Joy was an administrator for the City of Los Angeles, Department of Housing for almost 30 years.  She had previously worked as a rehabilitation counselor.

Her college education included a year at "Ole Miss" in Hattiesburg, Mississippi where she lived with her uncle Herb Sasaki, Aunt Arness and their 3 children.

Her father Earl Tanaka was born in Hawaii into a family of 11 children, 9 boys and 2 girls.  He and his brother Ray were the only children to come to the mainland.  Their parents owned a small Japanese confectionary country store and the children were known collectively as SUGAR TANAKAS. Hear father and uncle were successful wholesale food distributors.  They also helped many small Japanese "truck farmers" in the Central Valley.

Joy and Daniel were married for 37 years and she made a loving home in Downey for many years.  Their home was always welcoming to their large extended families and friends.

Despite Joy losing her mother when she was 4 years old and Phyllis was 2 years old Joy had a protective and "bossy" relationship.  Joy lost her father in her teens and she maintained a very close and supportive relationship with her sister Phyllis for her whole life.

Joy made a lasting impact on her extended family and friends.  She truly lived up to her name despite dealing with multiple medical problems simultaneously for years.

She influenced all of us to fight against seemingly insurmountable odds.  She was always supported in her fierce will to live by her husband, her family and her sister Phyllis.

There will be a special time for sharing your memories of Joy and we hope you will share in writing or speaking how Joy impacted and influenced your life.