Born in Los Angeles September 16 ^th 1932, the fourth child to Mr. and Mrs. Senkichi Sugiura. The family lived in Boyle Heights, CA until they were relocated to Heart Mountain Internment Camp.  She always looked up to her older sisters, Setsuko and Yukiko, as well as her older brother Seichi.  She had a younger Shoji brother who was born in camp.

When the family returned to Los Angeles after camp, and she graduated from Belmont high school.  She was fortunate to be employed as a typist by telephone company Pacific Bell (now AT&T), her hard work paid off as her career included many promotions.  She was a well respected Supervisor and Manager with the Communications departments.  She was a consulted to help set up the phone lines for the 1984 Los Angeles Summer Olympics Games and again in the 1988 Seoul, Korea Summer Olympics Games.  She retired after 37 years of employment with the same company she started her career with Pacific Bel.

Milestones- On Oct. 4, 1959 she became happily married to her long time husband, Sho Tanaka.  Together they would enjoy long car rides together and even drove across the US from West Coast to East Coast together.  They traveled throughout the country often taking her nieces Kathie & Naomi and nephew Alan with them on their long joy rides.  Sumi enjoyed traveling and experiencing different cultures and events.  Sometimes she invited her niece Kathie and her friend Helen to travel with them.  Sumi truly enjoyed reading all romance novels written by her favorite author Debbie Macomber.

During her later years a group of family and friends came along side her as dedicated caregivers- niece Naomi, nephews John and Michael, neighbor Nick and friend Helen.

Sumi will be missed, but forever in our hearts, minds and memories.

She is survived by her brother, Shoji Sugiura and niece Naomi Ikeda Hackett (Ted), bother in law, Sam Tanaka (Carol).

Services by Fukui Mortuary and was laid to rest on May 17 ^th at Rose Hills, Whittier, CA