Shizuko Daniel died peacefully in her sleep after a long battle with dementia on August 15, 2023, holding the hand of her beloved husband of over 63 years, Jerry V. Daniel.
The youngest of five children, Shizuko was born in Urawa, Saitama-ken, Japan, on January 3, 1936. After attending school to learn English, she became a tour guide for one of Japan’s largest tour bus companies, Hato Bus Company. During the mid 1950’s, it wasn’t common for women in Japan to have careers, but Shizuko was always one to flout the rules of conventionality. Because she was fluent in English, she was often called on to take famous visitors from the United States to tour sites around Tokyo. She met her lifelong love, Jerry, on one of these tours while he was stationed in Tokyo. They soon got married, and she moved to the United States with him.
Together, they lived in Maine, Missouri, Japan, and Texas as Jerry was transferred around with the Air Force. They had three children who followed them from place to place. After Jerry retired, they settled in Fayetteville, Tennessee.
Shizuko will be remembered for her incredible capacity for kindness. She was the rare kind of person who could hold strong opinions while always seeing the best in everyone she encountered. She loved meeting new people and she loved to be helpful. She loved to bake, sew, and crochet. She loved all animals. She could never turn down any stray who ended up at her doorstep. She and Jerry loved to volunteer at the Lincoln County Humane Society, driving animals to their forever homes.
She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and friend. She was always there for the people she loved when they needed her, baking chocolate chip cookies, sewing wedding dresses, tending to grandchildren, offering comfort, a hug or a lighthearted joke.
Shizuko is survived by her loving husband, her three children, Donald (Joanie) Daniel, of Huntsville, Alabama, Patricia (Rob) Friedman, of Decatur, Georgia, and Stanley (Patty) Daniel, of Huntsville, Alabama, and her grandchildren, Madeline Friedman and Jack Friedman. Shizuko also is survived by four step grandsons that she acquired later in life, Kelsey Kurzeja, Kenneth Kurzeja, Kyle Kurzeja and Keaton Kurzeja, her brother, Yujiro Ishii, of Urawa, Saitama-ken, Japan, and her sister, Koharu Ishii Villazor, of Parry Sound, Ontario, Canada.
Shizuko was preceded in death by her parents, Ryu and Katsuichi Ishii, her sister, Yoko Taguchi, and her brother, Kyohei Ishii, all of Urawa, Saitama-ken, Japan.
There will be a graveside service to celebrate Shizuko’s beautiful life at 2 pm on Friday, August 18 at Cedar Hills Memorial Gardens in Fayetteville, Tennessee. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Shizuko’s memory to the Lincoln County Humane Society or your favorite charity.
She was such a sweet lady, always ready and quick with her smile! God bless her family during this difficult time!
Mr and Ms Daniel lived at the end of our street. That I grew up on. She was always so kind to us kids when we were going door to door selling school stuff or taking up for anyone in the neighborhood that had passed away. Sending hugs to Mr Jerry and the rest of the family.
This is sad news. I worked with her at Tennessee Fan. She was such a sweet and kind person.
Prayers for her family.
I met Mr Jerry & Mrs Sue back in the 70’s and have known them 50 plus years. Wow where did time go. I also remember Patrica & Stanley from school and riding the bus. I believe Stanley and I worked together at Red Food, but Jerry and Sue were not only my friends but also my bowling partners. Mrs Sue was a very sweet, polite and kind lady She was always smiling and cared about everyone she had contact with. My deepest condolences to all her family and friends. My heart and prayers mourn for this sweet family! I’m so sorry I was unable to attend her services yesterday! May God be with this family during this difficult time. Fly High Mrs Sue. I will always remember you and your sweet smile. My mother Mary Ann Lewter sends her thoughts and prayers also. We bowled together in Fayetteville and at Pin Palace in Huntsville Alabama.
Being the brother of Jerry and brother in law of Shizuko, I have many fond memories. I have always admired Shizuko. She gave up so much to be with Jerry. She left her family, her native land, her culture, and her way of life. I remember the first time she came to the States with Jerry. And the time Jerry was attending a training school with the Air Force and was stationed in Montgomery, Alabama. Shizuko stayed with us (my Mother and Daddy, Linda and me). She always wanted to help with things. We lived on a farm and she wanted to help with the cotton. She asked if these were Father’s lines; not cotton rows mind you, but lines. Even though I was very young, I got a big laugh about that. I said Sue (we called her Sue). these are not lines, they are rows. She laughed. She loved to laugh! At that time, Shizuko spoke proper English, not Southern slang. I remember the first time she said the word ain’t. She quickly put her hand to her mouth and said “Oh!”, and had a big laugh. I tried to get her to teach me the words to the song Sukiyaki in Japanese. She tried, but I was a poor student. I couldn’t get the pronunciations right. She finally said give it up and just listen to the song! She quickly became a loving member of the Daniel Family. She was a joy to be around. I will surely miss Shizuko Ishii Daniel and her smile.
Harry Daniel
Stanley,
So sorry for the loss of your Mom. She was always so sweet with a smile on her face when she would come to Red Food.
Jerry and family so sorry for ya’ll loss. The family is in our thoughs and prayers. May god blessed you.
I worked with her at tennessee fan co. She was always so sweet.
Stanley, your Mom was a beautiful lady inside and out. You and yours have my sympathy…
Brenda Coble
So sorry to hear about Sue. I worked with her at the Fan company. She was the sweetest woman. She told me about having Royalty in Japan. She was excited about the wedding of Prince Charles and Princess Diana. I always enjoyed listening to her stories.
THIS BEAUTIFUL LADY ALWAYS HAD A SMILE ON HER FACE AND ALWAYS HAD SOMETHING POSITIVE AND KIND TO SAY TO EVERYONE. SHE HAD A JOYFUL LAUGH AND WAS UPLIFTING TO BE AROUND. I HAVEN’T SEEN SHE AND JERRY IN QUITE A WHILE, BUT WHENEVER I WOULD RUN INTO THEM, IT WAS LIKE WE LAST SAW EACH OTHER LAST WEEK. THEY ARE BOTH SUPER PEOPLE. REST IN PEACE, SUE, YOUR LIGHT IS SHINING FROM HEAVEN.
TAKE CARE, JERRY.
BETTY CAROL POOLE
Shizuko was a lovely, sweet lady. Shizuko was a loving wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, friend, and my machatenesta. I remember fondly trips, holidays, birthdays, and family celebrations that we spent together. She handmade the wedding dress for her future daughter-in-law Joanie and baked many birthday cakes for our grandchildren. Some of my best memories were of how she helped make latkes for our Chanukah celebrations and our trip to Japan with our family. Ira and I were the first to arrive in Tokyo. We waited in the airport for Shizuko to arrive so should could ask for directions to the New Sanno Hotel as Japanese was her native language. When she arrived in Tokyo she went to the desk where they give information, politely bowed and said in ENGLISH “How do we go to the New Sanno Hotel”.
You are at peace now. May Shizuko’s memory be a blessing.