Sachi "Mary" Tashima Ochiai, aged 101, passed away peacefully July 25, 2020 after a brief illness.

She was born July 21, 1919 on East Eighth Street in Los Angeles, just south of Little Tokyo. Her father drove a truck for the bustling produce market there. Sachi remarked later that there were "only bean fields" in the area at the time.

By 1930, her family moved to San Jacinto in Riverside County and joined a co-op of Spanish onion growers. With other local families, the Tashimas successfully grew Spanish onions "the size of grapefruits." Sachi shared many tales of life on the farm where she was proud to carry large sacks of onions and work in the fields. Fun for Sachi meant enjoying the life of a tomboy or joining the "whole valley" who would climb into an old truck to go see the latest Shirley Temple film. Sachi was valedictorian of her senior class. She enjoyed her physics and math classes. She wanted to be a pharmacist but was told that "women don't do that." She attended beauty school.

Sachi's Issei parents sent her to Japan in the late 1930's to learn the arts, culture and language of Japan. She returned back to the United States in 1941.

In 1942, the United States government ordered Sachi and her family to be detained at Manzanar War Relocation Center. Many internees of the "camps" spoke of the woes of interment, and rightfully so; but, Sachi always said, "If you don't have a good time, it's your own fault." Sachi learned how to play the guitar and ukulele in "camp" and to play with the band. She was a beauty operator at Manzanar's beauty parlor and her co-workers became lifelong friends. Incredibly, she never seemed bitter over her years there, just accepting.

After being released from Manzanar with the end of World War II, Sachi came back to the Los Angeles area. One night after bowling, she saw a "little guy" eating a "big banana split." His name was Richard. After a few months, he would ask Sachi to marry him. They were married in the Buddhist Church.

At the core of Sachi's being was her respect for her Buddhist religion. Buddhism suggests people find a purpose, let go of anger, take action, be resilient, share happiness, look within, be compassionate, have no fear, help someone and do not judge. Sachi acted as a role model for her faith.

Sachi and Richard had a daughter, Sheryl, and a son, Alan. Sheryl died of a childhood disease as a toddler. Sachi and Richard's faith and strength kept them going.

Sachi's husband had big ideas and he told her, in so many words, "Let's start a nursery. We're of Japanese ancestry so people will think we know about plants. Go to business school and take botany classes." In her later years, Sachi would laugh saying she knew nothing about plants at the time, but went along with Richard's plan. She attended college classes and became an expert in small business and botany.

In 1961, Richard and Sachi opened Kyoto Nursery in Tustin, California. Sachi worked the register, answered people's questions and created gorgeous landscape plans. She made many, many more lifelong friends at the business. A local showplace, the Japanese koi pond and garden at the nursery attracted customers from far and wide and operated successfully for 15 years.

Sachi and Richard razed the nursery and built Tustin Lanes Bowling Alley which opened in 1977. They were partners in the bowling alley for a decade. Then it was time to "retire" and sell out their portion of the establishment.

"Retirement" to Richard meant leading a full-time gardening team until he was 83. Sachi helped with that business as well.

During the next few years, Richard and Sachi found more time for their interests. They traveled the world. They continued to be very active members of the Orange County Buddhist Church in Anaheim. They attended Toastmasters. Sachi created floral arrangements for numerous special events and weddings. She participated in Japanese dancing at and cooked food for OCBC's festivals. She took family members to doctors. She lent people her time and changed people's lives by sharing her outlook on her own life. She attended numerous classes to learn more about Buddhism, but also taught others through living by example. She presented her family with extraordinary Thanksgiving dinners and New Year's Day Feasts.

Her son Alan got married to Kathy Miller of Tustin. In a few years, Sachi became a Grandma! Her grandsons Tyler and Ted provided her with more joy than she could ever imagine. Her energy with them never faded.

In 1993, her husband Richard suffered a debilitating stroke. Rather than complain, Sachi worked with him side by side for five years. The doctors said Richard would not be able to talk, eat or sit upright in a chair. Sachi disagreed and, indeed, within a couple of years, she was able to communicate with Richard and eat with him while he sat in his wheelchair. Richard passed away in 1998.

Sachi began to travel to Buddhist seminars. She enjoyed living close to her grandsons and watching them grow. She helped old friends by drawing landscaping plans for them. She continued to "do for others." She prided herself on driving until she was 95 years old.

Several years ago, she had a fall. She moved to a nursing home then a senior community.  One year, she won an award at her community for being the most inspirational resident. She greeted everyone with a smile and usually cracked a joke.

"Sachi" means happiness in Japanese. Anyone who knew Sachi would agree her name exemplified her personality. She always had a smile on her face along with a suggestion for living a better life.

In great spirits, Sachi celebrated her 101st birthday on July 21, 2020.

Sachi is survived by her son Alan, daughter-in-law Kathy, grandson Tyler, grandson Ted, her niece and 5 nephews.

Due to Covid-19, plans for her memorial service will be announced in the future.