Chicago resident Karen Kayko Ishibashi, 73, died November 17, 2021 in Stevensville MI after a long illness.
At her request, no service will be held.
Karen was born June 5, 1948 to Thomas and Florence Ishibashi. She was a lifelong resident of Chicago. Her interests included gardening, making blankets, writing poetry and cheering for her Cubs.
For many years, Karen and her mother owned The Natural Selection, a charming gift shop and several customers became lifelong friends. Her beloved brother, Dennis Ishibashi, preceded her in death. She is survived by numerous cousins and her longtime companion Michael Niec.
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Pearl Melchor
Karen was a dear friend loved by many. She had a strong constitution and withstood a great deal of pain, especially after the death of her brother, Dennis. Karen was particularly passionate towards folks who suffered the same illness and she gave them light and love and hope. She warmed them with gifts of fleece blankets she hand tied herself. Oh we had great fun shopping for the blanket kits and fabrics of unusual prints and colors! She also had an eye for antiques and designer fashion and we’d spend hours and hours shopping till we dropped and then go for a good burger…..oh she loved burgers!
Her biggest weakness was mochi and senbei …..we’d gocery shop at Mitsuwa or HMart and her cart would be full of senbei and kaki mochi…savory, sweet, crunchy and chewy…..she got Michael hooked on them, too.
In the spring and summer she would plant tomatoes, onions, cucumbers and herbs! I planted some this year, for her, and added flowers. But oh the garden and the back yard and I, we missed her!
Rest in peace, dear friend, in the garden of Heaven.
To Michael, I pray for strength and peace; know that Karen suffers no more. May the memories and life you made together always warm your heart and put a smile on your face.
To Kim and Bill Hayashi and everyone in the Hayashi family, please accept my sincerest and deepest condolences. Your cousin was a loving and dear lady and firned, and I will miss her always.
Pearl
Lisa DeLeonardis
Karen was my next door neighbor for over 25 years. She was kind, helpful, and sweet. I will miss her humor and friendship. She was a very down to earth person with wonderful values who always reached out a helping hand. She would visit with us from her own yard during the summer and we even shared a few meals. You couldn’t ask for a better neighbor or friend. We moved last Fall and I truly missed her as did my mom. Karen and my mom got along greatly. If more people were like Karen this world would be a better place. The world has lost a truly wonderful person. I will never forget her. Rest In Peace my friend
Bob DeLeonardis
Karen was my dear next door neighbor who not only welcomed us to the neighborhood back in 1994 but always looked out for our kids and their safety. She always listened and shared family experiences and life challenges and offered advice whenever we communicated. I will always remember her and hope that I made a difference in her life as she has done to me over past several years. Her kindness can’t be matched as well as her gardening skills and knowledge, which I take with me forever. She was a kind, generous person who always asked about our families and how they were doing. I missed her when we moved and always had her health concerns with all of us. Rest In Peace my friend you are missed and I’m blessed to have known you and your family.