Peacefully at 101 years, Daisy passed on Tuesday January 7 2025 at The Village of Erin Meadows LTC Mississauga. Daisy was born October 23, 1923 as the second child to Katsuji Ushijima and Kiyoko Ida in Vancouver, BC. She met Dr. Paul Kanao Asada in Toronto, was married March 27 1954 and is survived by children Vicki (John). Wayne (Margarida), Rennie (Michelle) and Tina (Rob) and grandchildren Christina (Alex), Alexandra, Jonathan, Warren (Kristopher) and Ryan (Amie), and great-granddaughter Asami.

In a time of scarce nutrition, Daisy’s mom died of tuberculosis in 1936, and her father later returned to Japan. Daisy was then fostered by Dr. and Mrs. Uchida and by Chitose Uchida in Vancouver until WWII.

WWII Internment in 1942 prevented Daisy from attending her Fairview Commerce high school graduation celebration at Stanley Park, Vancouver, and post secondary dreams like cake decorating nurtured through years in CJIT (Canadian Girls in Training) were never realized. Her guardian through the internment camps (Christina Lake and Greenwood) was Mrs. Kuni Takahashi, until moving to Toronto in 1945 to live with Kuni and brothers George and Roy.

Daisy was soon hired into the financial secretarial pool at Manufacturer’s Life and she began a delayed urban life of commuting 9-5, and weekend picnics and parties with the young JC Nisei social clubs. Later as an empty nester, Daisy leveraged her office experience and began temping for fun as the preferred statistical typist at Etobicoke Manpower Temporary Services’ top clients like the Etobicoke Board of Education, and as a price comparison data collector for Dole.

Daisy loved to bake, and liked trying fancy recipes. She once said that she was happy when the fridge was full. She loved popular piano music, ice dance and dancing and wanted lessons but as there were no opportunities at the time, she lived vicariously through her children. Dancing was realized later, as Daisy and Paul started dancing lessons, and began fun outings at the JCCC (Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre) and vacation cruises with a group of regular friends. Daisy and Paul achieved gold medals in Ballroom and in Disco dancing, which designated they were both skilled enough for performances and competitions in each, but they just had fun recognizing music styles and being able to apply the complex partner steps. At son Rennie’s wedding, guests were thrilled to a surprise impromptu disco performance by Daisy and Paul. The DJ had just put on the right music, and they were ready!

Daisy’s 5-pin bowling handicap was 169, and she participated weekly on competitive teams until she could no longer drive herself to the lanes. After Paul passed in 1998, Daisy sought out new solo activities and tried TaiChi. Too slow, she’d said. Line dancing became the replacement, and Daisy kept that up also until she could no longer drive herself or her friends started to pass away. Being active until almost 90 years and running up and down 22 household stairs daily kept Daisy strong before moving to the Village of Erin Meadows LTC which was her final home for 2 years.

A short public Visitation is Sunday Jan 12th 2025 from 10 - 11am at The Simple Alternative - Mississauga, 1535 South Gateway Road, Mississauga, ON, CANADA, L4W 5J1. A private family service will be scheduled at a later date.

The family thanks you for taking the time to read this. If you prefer, in lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to the Cancer Society.
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