IMAI, Yachiyo Grace  - October 29, 1920 - October 16, 2017

A long life, well lived, cherished and treasured by her loving family and community in Canada, Japan and around the world.

Yachiyo Grace Tobimatsu Imai, born in Tokyo, Japan, October 29, 1920, was a lifelong Christian, attending St. Margaret's Anglican School and the Tokyo Woman's Christian University.

She was a talented English teacher, prior to marrying Canon Paul Ken Imai in 1947. Her husband's ministry brought them to Toronto in 1953 to minister to displaced Anglican Japanese Canadians following the internment in British Columbia, during World War II. Together, she and her husband built St. Andrew's Japanese Anglican Congregation into a thriving spiritual community. She continued teaching in Toronto but now it was teaching Japanese to English students instead of the other way around. They shared a passion for travel to countries with relationships to early Christianity. She loved history and encouraged life-long learning.

After retirement, Grace and Ken served for many years with Shoei College in Winchester, England, where Ken took up the position of Dean of College and Grace became den mother to the students, continuing relationships with them long after graduation. Yachiyo Grace is survived by her three children Shin (Kathy), Margaret and Rei (Anne) and seven adoring grandchildren, as well as two sisters and an extended family in Tokyo, Japan.

Her family is grateful for the compassionate care provided by Momiji Health Centre, Rekai Wellesley Place and her loving PSWs from Bayshore. God be with you, till we meet again… Cremation has taken place.

A Memorial Service will take place on Saturday, December 9th at 11 a.m. at the R.S. Kane Funeral Home, 6150 Yonge Street.

TorontoObituaries.com