Shigeko Julia Ando

Shigeko Julia Ando completed her mortal journey just after 12:00 noon on August 26, 2025. 

Born July 18, 1929, she was healthy and lively for the most part for her entire span of 96 years.  She was a gentle and happy soul and despite the unique challenges that life brought her, lived with kindness and care for all around her. 

Her life began in Kemmerer, Wyoming, born to Japanese immigrants as the second to the youngest of six children – Tomiko, Koji, Mitsuko, Kazuko, Shigeko (known to many of her friends as “Julia”), and Kaoru (Carol).  Her brother Koji passed away in his childhood.  After Koji’s passing, the harsh economic conditions of the great depression compelled their mother, Ayame, to take all her daughters, except Carol, to Japan to live with relatives there.  Her hopes were that they would have the benefit of better living standards.  Shigeko was 5 years old at the time.  The girls had to matriculate into Japanese schools with little prior exposure to the Japanese language.  They lived over the mountains from the city of Hiroshima and were fortunate to survive the atomic bomb that fell on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945.   Two years after that event at the age of 18, Shigeko moved back to the United States.  During her years in Japan she was a successful student and active leader in her school activities.  She lived in Salt Lake City, Utah with her mother who ran a magazine shop downtown in a section known as “Japan Town”.  She met and married Francis T. Ando and, likely at his urging, attended West High School to enhance her English capacity and be immersed in the U.S. culture.   Notes from friends and associates in her high school yearbooks suggest that she was a kind, beloved and admired personality.   Subsequently, employment took Francis and Shigeko to New York City, much to the chagrin of her family – particularly her niece, Michi Hiranishi (Tomiko’s daughter).  She and Francis hosted Michi in their coop home in downtown Manhattan for two years while she completed her 8^th and 9^th grade elementary education. 

After Francis retired, he and Shigeko moved back to Utah 1 or 2 years before he passed away at the age of 57.  Shigeko continued to live as a widow in Utah in proximity to 3 of her sisters, Tomi, Mitsuko, and Carol until she moved to California.  She remarried in California and after her second husband passed away, she again returned to Utah and has lived here ever since particularly enjoying a close association with her niece, Michi’s family, including her grand-niece, Misa.  She was active in the Japanese American community participating in the Japanese American Citizens League and enjoying a bowling league – adding many friends.  She continued to be an active and devoted member of the Catholic Church making many good and wonderful friends there and volunteering for many years to work in the office and count donations. 

One of those friends was Ken Woods who continued until her death to be a devoted and supportive friend, helping her with all her needs and assuring that she was able to attend daily mass and otherwise function.  Thanks to Ken for that unparalleled and selfless service.   Thanks to the staff and management of Auberge who were so diligent and kind to Shigeko in her last days.  Thanks also to the very helpful, kind, and sensitive personnel of the Starks Funeral Parlor for easing the challenges of final arrangements for Shigeko.

Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Thursday, September 4, 2025 at 12:00 Noon at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, 1375 E. Spring Lane, Salt Lake City, Utah.  Inurnment will follow at Elysian Burial Gardens, 1075 E. 4580 South, Salt Lake City