Haruko Helen Shintani

March 29, 1928 - November 4, 2024

It is with very sad hearts that we announce the passing of Haruko Helen Shintani (née Kitamura), who passed away peacefully on November 4, 2024, at the age of 96, surrounded by family. Early in the morning, Helen was called to her eternal home by her Heavenly Father.

Born in Port Alberni, B.C., Helen grew up in Great Central and was forcibly relocated to Hastings Park and Slocan City during WWII. She later moved to Toronto, Ontario, after the war. She was a devoted mother to Matthew Shintani (Sharon) and Marni Shintani (Martin) and is fondly remembered by her extended Kitamura and Shintani families. Predeceased by her beloved husband Sakaye “Soc” Richard Shintani, her parents Shotaro and Hatsu Kitamura, her siblings, and many dear in-laws, she is survived by Soc’s sister Yukiko Joan Kajiura (Sam).

Helen met Soc at a JC Young People’s dance in Toronto. They married and later moved to Hamilton in 1958. Helen was a dedicated mother and later worked in food services at Henderson Hospital, retiring in 1993. She was known for her vegetable and fruit garden, her delicious Japanese meals, and her frugality and generosity, sharing her home-grown produce with neighbors and family. Helen loved animals and cared for several dogs and cats over her lifetime, many of them rescues.

She was active in the Japanese-Canadian community in Hamilton and volunteered at the Canadian Japanese Cultural Centre of Hamilton and the Hamilton Japanese United Church. Helen had a passion for ceramics, quilting, and knitting, and she enjoyed practicing yoga and tai chi, as well as spending time watching sports and cooking shows. She valued simplicity, health, and family, passing these virtues on to her children and loved ones.

A few weeks before her passing, Helen shared her faith in Jesus Christ, expressing her belief in eternal life and peace in Heaven. Her family finds comfort in her final profession of faith and the peaceful, full life she led.

The cremation has already taken place, and a private family memorial service will be held. Interment at Mount Lawn Cemetery will take place in spring 2025, honoring Helen’s name, “Haru,” which means spring in Japanese—a season of beauty, new beginnings, and sakura blossoms, symbolizing the brief and precious nature of life.

Memorial donations in Helen’s memory are gratefully accepted to the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centres in Hamilton and Toronto.

Memories and notes of condolence may be shared at Mount Lawn Funeral Home & Cemetery.