Toshie Sawaide O’Brien, 91, of Irvington, Va., formerly of Alexandria, Va. passed away December 21, 2014. She was born November 15, 1923 in Tochigi-Ken, Japan.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Donald John Michael O’Brien and her sons, David Akira O’Brien and Jeffrey Utaca O’Brien and her parents, Yosuke and Kisa Sawaide.
She is survived by her son, Thomas Yoiche O’Brien and his wife, Phyllis Davis O’Brien of Irvington, Va.; granddaughters, Kisa O’Brien Sebren and her husband, William of Kinsale, Va., Danielle Jillian O’Brien of Richmond, Va.; Katherine O’Brien Rose and her husband, Devin, of Washington, Va., and Caitlin Kiyoko O’Brien of Columbia, S.C.; two great-grandsons, River O’Brien Rose and Gilliam Randolph Sebren and numerous nieces and nephews in Japan.
As a young woman Mrs. O’Brien enjoyed volleyball and hiking in the mountains near her family home in Japan. She studied midwifery before having to leave her schooling to take care of the little ones in her family during World War II. In the years following she worked as a nanny for an American family, a dressmaker, and later a waitress at an Officer’s Club at Camp Drew in Koizumi, Japan where she met her husband, Donald O’Brien. Here Mr. and Mrs. O’Brien embark on the beginning of their journey together. Leaving Japan with their young son, Thomas, they set up residence in Chicago where Donald completes his degree in Geography at the University of Chicago. Toshie is kept busy taking excellent care of their growing family which now also includes her second and third sons, David and Jeffrey. When Donald is stationed as a cartographer in Central America the family heads south where Toshie runs the household and flourishes, learning a third language and culture. The O’Brien’s returned to the Unites States in 1968 where they set up residence in Alexandria, Va. Toshie lives in her Northern Virginia home for nearly 40 years; taking care of her family and home, working in her garden, and enjoying time with friends from her Women’s Club. The final years of Mrs. O’Brien’s life were spent at her eldest son’s home in Irvington, Va. She was surrounded by her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and granddogs. She was deeply loved and will be sorely missed.
A memorial service will be held in January, 2015. Date and time are to be announced. Mrs. O’Brien will be laid to rest with her husband and son, David, at Ivy Hill Cemetery in Alexandria, Va.
In Mrs. O’Brien’s memory, memorial donations may be made to the O-en Network.
O-en Network: A non-profit organization, which supports those people who are Japanese, Japanese heritage, or simply interested in Japan, but live away from Japan (mainly Washington DC metropolitan area). Its main activities are a summer camp for young children, cultural events, and individual support. Donations can be made through the O-en Networks website at http://o-en.net/donation/.