Mitzie Mitsuko Tanizawa, age 90, passed away peacefully with her family beside her on May 15, 2021, after suffering a stroke. She will be remembered as a strong, sweet, and generous person who always had a smile on her face.

Born the 2nd child in El Centro, CA, to Kinuko and Yoshito Taniguchi, she had three brothers and two sisters. In her younger years, she helped her parents where her father was a ranch foreman. At the age of 11, she and her family were forced to relocate to internment Camp #1 in Poston, Arizona, due to the war, until they were released in 1945. When asked about her experience there, her mom would tell her, "shikata ga nai" meaning "it can't be helped." She rarely spoke about her time in camp until later in life. They moved to Encinitas, where after school she worked on her father's sharecropping farm. Showing her stubbornness at an early age, her father told her to quit school to help on the farm, but Mitzie was adamant, and said " no I'm going to finish school!" She graduated from San Dieguito High School and wished to become a nurse, but was not allowed to, due to finances. Instead she attended beauty school to become a hairdresser. She started as a shampoo girl in Beverly Hills, shampooing the hair of Joan Bennett and Nancy Reagan, among other celebrities, until she landed a job as a real "beautician," as she called it.

In 1950, she met the love of her life, Kazuo, eloped a year later in Vegas, and started their family in Los Angeles. Richard Takeo was first, then Nancy Kimiko, Barbara Naomi, and lastly Laurie Akiko. They suffered a devastating loss in 1956 when their second daughter Nancy died in her arms from a heart condition (age 26 days). During this time in her life, she enjoyed going with the family to the horse race tracks to watch brother George Taniguchi race, and was so proud that he became a very accomplished horse jockey, racing with the famed Johnny Longden and Willie Shoemaker.

She supported her husband so he could attend college, moved to Gardena in 1965, then in 1972 to Cypress. While still raising the kids, she attended UCLA to earn her credentials to become a cosmetology instructor.

She taught at various colleges, but ended up retiring from Golden West College. She traveled extensively with Kaz, visiting Japan, Europe, and Hawaii, but her most memorable trip was a month-long trip traveling across the U.S. in a camper.  She kept busy after retirement - she tended to her garden, and was an avid reader. She babysat the grandchildren, taught them how to play Poker and Blackjack, and was highly competitive with them at cards, board games, and ping pong. She also took classes to learn how to massage, complete with a massage table, oils and even a crock pot to heat up the rocks for hot stone massages. In her later years, she was very active at Orange County Buddhist Church where she attended services, was a tireless worker when she volunteered at church activities, and enjoyed going to craft class which helped her with the many crafts she regularly worked on.

Mitzie sometimes voiced her disappointment of being unable to fulfill her dreams of becoming a nurse. However, she in essence was a nurse "at heart" since she genuinely enjoyed caring for people throughout her life. Mitzie's persistence and determination to attend college while a working mother of three, her fierce competitiveness, her never ending volunteer work, her courageousness in dealing with family challenges growing up, and mostly her compassion, empathy and sincere care and concern for others will never be forgotten.

Mitzie will be forever missed and loved by her children Richard (Carol) Tanizawa, Barbara (Rick) Konishi, and Laurie Fujitani, grandchildren Shari (Brian) Hunter, Randy Tanizawa, Yukimi "Kimi"/Alex Konishi, Caitlin/Kyle/Jared Fujitani, and great granddaughter Caliyah Hunter. We cherish and honor her amazing caregivers during the last 3 months of her life, her grandson Kyle Fujitani and niece Donna Johnson. She is also survived by sisters Chieko Whittemore and Sachi (Jun) Oyama, sister-in-law Joanne (Ron) Nakamura, and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband Kazuo, and brothers Masato/Kenso/George Taniguchi.

Funeral services will be held on October 23, 2021 at 10:00 am at the Orange County Buddhist Church, however attendance is still limited due to Covid restrictions, so live streaming is available on the following link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81112283656?pwd=Y0NzcVR0WXRycTAyc1B4OFhjSVNKUT09

Meeting ID: 811 1228 3656
Passcode: 942554
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