Tadako Fukumura Cruz

Tadako peacefully died at home on Tuesday, May 9, 2023, at 85 years old.

Born in Okinawa, Japan on the island of Ishigaki, Tadako was the daughter of Masaaki “Seimei” and Nobuko Ishimine Fukumura and was the eldest sibling of Sadako (Joseph) Reinholz, Miyoko Fukumura, Yuko Fukumura, Masatoshi (Mari) Fukumura, Tsuyoshi (Michiyo) Fukumura, and Junko (Hisayoshi) Oshiro. 

Tadako met and married Eulogio “George” Cruz while he was stationed with the United States Airforce in Okinawa, Japan. Together they had five children. Tadako discovered her love of travel as a military wife and her sense of adventure always had her on the go.

As a fashion designer and accomplished seamstress, Tadako had a special talent with a sewing machine and continued to crochet until her passing. She liked to dance, listen to music, and experience the performing arts. Throughout life, Tadako performed as a traditional Okinawan and Japanese dancer and enjoyed dancing with her daughters when they were young. Later in life she learned to play the sanshin, an Okinawan musical instrument similar to the shamisen (Japanese banjo). 

In addition to judo and kendo, Tadako was a strong and avid swimmer with a love for fishing and diving for anything the ocean had to offer (shrimp, crayfish, abalone, clams, etc.). She was a good photographer and had an appreciation for ikebana (Japanese flower arrangements), always content when flowers were in the home. Religion was important to Tadako, and she valued being an active member of her Soka Gakkai International community. 

Her mother was one of the few women left in Okinawa who taught how to sew traditional kimonos by hand. Tadako was dressed and wrapped in the warm, loving hands of her mother’s kimono when she was cremated on Friday, May 12, 2023.

Tadako is remembered by her children and their families: Silvana Cruz Watanabe (Jeff), daughters Kayla and Monet; Juan Eduardo “Eddie” Cruz (Susan), children Jenafer “Jena,” Ryan, Andrew, Erika, Nicolas, and Emilie “Emi;” Naoko Rosana Corral, children Kelsey, Katrina (Aaron), and Joseph; John Daisaku Cruz (Jodi), children Kierstyn (Anthony), Sydnney, and Thomas “Tommy;” and Linda Haruko Davis (Brandon), son Braxton. She leaves behind nine great-grandchildren.

In the United States, she leaves behind nephews Donald (Aileen) Reinholz and Joseph Reinholz, niece Linda (Dave) Streifel, and their children and grandchildren. In Okinawa and Japan, she leaves behind five nieces, four nephews, and many grandnieces and grandnephews. 

She was preceded in death by her parents Masaaki and Nobuko; sisters Miyoko and Yuko; and daughter Naoko.

A Celebration of Life service will be held on Saturday, July 1, 2023, beginning at 11 a.m. The service will be held at: 

Starks' Funeral Parlor, 3651 South 900 East, Salt Lake City, Utah 84106.

Following the memorial service, a lunch will be served at:

American Legion Post #112 Garden, 320 East 3900 South, Salt Lake City, Utah 84107.

Tadako will be placed to rest in two locations. Interments will be held at the Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier, California and in the Fukumura family crypt in Ishigaki, Okinawa.