Edward Eiji Kawakami
Edward Eiji passed away peacefully on February 4, 2025 at the age of 94 at St. Joseph’s Hospital. He is survived by his loving wife Amy Emiko (nee Yanagawa), son Jeffrey, daughter Karen, and two sisters in Japan, sister-in-law Mary Hashimoto (Ken deceased), brother-in-law George Yanagawa (Florence). Predeceased by his older siblings Jack Kawakami, Susie Kondo, Miyo Hori.
Ed was born in Kelowna, B.C. and spent his early years in Port Alberni, B.C. With the outbreak of WWII, he was interned to Lemon Creek, B.C. and after the war, moved with his family to Japan. Returning to Canada, he eventually moved to Ontario, settled in Hamilton where he met Amy and was married in 1965. Ed believed in the value of education and while working and raising a young family, enrolled as a mature student at McMaster University where he achieved a life-long dream, graduating in 1975 with a B.A. in political science.
His family was always his priority and for years he could often be found in hockey/ringette arenas and at baseball diamonds watching and supporting Jeff and Karen’s activities. Ed and Amy travelled extensively, to see and learn about places they read about or saw in the news. Closer to home, they could often be found together grocery shopping, buying lottery tickets or on excursions to local casinos.
Family would like to thank the physicians, nurses and health care professionals at St. Joseph’s Hospital for the excellent and compassionate care Ed received in his final days.
Keeping with Ed’s wishes, a private, family service and interment will be held