Mary Cruz Mizuno

Mary Cruz Mizuno April 13, 1935 – June 23, 2015 It is with great sadness we announce our beloved mother Mary Cruz Mizuno has passed into the loving arms of our Lord on June 23, 2015. Mom was born on April 13, 1935 to Andres Herrera and Cruz Chaigres Herrera at her family home in Oxnard. Mom was a lifelong Oxnard resident and attended local schools. Upon leaving Oxnard High School she went to work for her brother Frank at The Colonia Market, modeled clothes at a local boutique, ending her working career at Point Mugu Base shortly after the birth of her first grandson. While working at The Colonia Market she met her first husband, Arturo Contreras. They were married only eleven months when tragically he died due to injuries from a car accident. Their daughter Betty Jane was born one week later. Later Mom met the man who would become her second husband, Kenichi Mizuno. They had two sons Kenneth Hidetaro and Mark Matsusabro. The five of us enjoyed many family trips to Little Tokyo, Busch Gardens, Disneyland, Las Vegas, Stecco Park in Santa Paula, and it was just as much fun to take a Sunday drive after church eating French bread cold cut sandwiches. At 40 years of age, she would face another tragic loss when she lost Kenichi to lung cancer. Mom enjoyed family celebrations with her loved ones, plenty of good food and music. She was a stunning beauty yet a quiet woman with a strong character and instilled in her children by example to honor our faith, love and support each other, our family traditions and celebrations, be responsible, practice strong work ethics, and be strong when facing the challenges in life. In our Moms heart the sun and moon rose and set and the stars shined brightly in the sky for her children, and later her grandsons, daughter-in-laws, son-in-law, and grand-daughter-in-law. She was a doting grandmother spending almost every day with her grandsons, showering them with love, trips to the Target toy department, and cooking their favorite meals. Mom was preceded in death by her parents Andres Herrera and Cruz Chaigres Herrera, husbands Arturo Contreras and Kenichi Mizuno. She was pre-deceased by all her 10 siblings; brothers Manuel (Francisca) Herrera, Frank (Emily) Herrera, Paul (Grace) Herrera, Guadalupe (Pilar) Herrera, Joe (Lupe) Herrera, and Andres Herrera. Sisters Lucy (Lawrence) Valdivieso, Carmen Vasquez, Nellie Herrera and infant baby girl Herrera. Mom is survived to honor and celebrate her life, her daughter Betty Contreras-Salinas (Samuel) Salinas, son Kenneth (Kimberly Ann) Mizuno, their sons Ken Andrew (Lyzette) Mizuno, and Kane Adam Mizuno. Son Mark Mizuno, his son Mark Matthew Mizuno, and Mark’s mother Yvonne Garcia. Brother in-laws Oscar Vasquez, Fred Contreras, sister in-law Nellie Sierra, and many nieces and nephews. Mom lived vicariously through her children’s successes; she truly was and will forever be the wind beneath our wings. Mom you held our hands and guided us into adulthood as we now and forever will always hold you in our hearts. We would like to thank Dr. Miguel Cervantes, for her care and treating her with dignity, especially the Hospice staff, Dr. Dial, her nurse Julie Nishida, Social Worker Michele Clisby and Home Health Aid, Aracely Ochoa. We would also like to thank Robert Perez and family for their compassionate and respectful care of our Mother. A visitation for Mary will will be held on Tuesday, June 30, 2015 from 5-9pm with the Rosary beginning at 7pm located at the Perez Family Funeral Home Chapel in Camarillo. Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday, July 1, 2015 at 10:00am located at Santa Clara Parish, 323 South E Street in Oxnard. Burial will follow at Santa Clara Cemetery in Oxnard.