Florence Mina Rishi
July 16, 1930 - March 02, 2020
Monarch Beach CA
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Florence Mina Rishi
July 16, 1930 - March 02, 2020
Monarch Beach CA
Obituary
Florence Mina Rishi
July 16, 1930 – March 2, 2020
Dana Point, California
Florence Mina Rishi, beloved mother and grandmother, family matriarch, accomplished careerwoman, avid green thumb, exceptional cook and tireless giver, left us on March 2, 2020.
Florence was born on July 16, 1930 in Wailuku, Maui, Hawaii to William and Emily Ayers. She was the third youngest among six sisters and two brothers. She graduated from Saint Anthony High School, Wailuku, in 1949, and then graduated from the Saint Francis Hospital School of Nursing, Honolulu, in 1952, becoming a Registered Nurse” her lifelong profession. As an RN, she rose quickly into positions of responsibility, from charge nurse to shift supervisor to head nurse, Director of Nursing and, ultimately, was promoted to Assistant Administrator of Nursing at Saint Francis Hospital in Honolulu. Later in her career she was the Director of Risk Management at FHP Hospital, Fountain Valley, California. The “secret” to her success was simple hard work, being organized and always being prepared. She took pride in her career accomplishments and, in retirement, would not hesitate to remind anyone of it if she ever felt slighted.
Florence was a dedicated, selfless mother who raised a son and daughter as a single mother throughout most of their lives. She worked tirelessly to provide for them and to be sure that they never wanted for anything. She was also a dedicated, hands-on grandmother to her three grandchildren, helping her daughter and son-in-law to raise them from birth through to adulthood. She moved with them to Dana Point, California and always lived nearby, sharing holiday celebrations and joining them on family travels everywhere over the years.
Florence, our mother, was the hardest working person we have ever known. Even in retirement, she always rose before the sun to set about the day’s chores, which tended to center around work in her garden, her pride and joy and singular passion. She would often keep working in her garden until well after sunset in order to complete a task. “I just came in from working in my garden,” she would confess over the phone, with impish pride, well after dark. Her mother was similarly a passionate green thumb and this shared interest undoubtedly connected them. Florence loved to browse through books on landscaping in order to gain ideas for her own garden, then set about to change things up and buy new plants in the never-ending evolution of her garden. And she always maintained a small slice of Hawaii by planting lush tropical Hawaiian plants like giant hapu’u tree ferns, colorful ti leaves and fragrant ginger. She was also a talented cook, known for her Hawaiian-style macaroni and potato salads, fried rice and many tasty signature local Hawaiian dishes. She also loved music, especially Hawaiian melodies from the 1950s and 1960s, and loved to play and sing along to her favorite tunes. Later we would find out she was quite an accomplished yodeler back in high school.
In her later years, she constantly spoke of “moving back to Hawaii,” which she considered her true home. More recently, she would say “I miss Mama,” her mother, and wanted to visit her. She wanted to return home in her death to rejoin her mother, father and departed siblings and we will honor her wishes. Florence leaves behind a son, Jon Rishi, and daughter, Sabrina Linnemann, son-in-law Gary Linnemann, and three grandchildren: Rachael, Ian and Claire Linnemann. She is also survived by two sisters, Geraldine Moriki of Kaneohe, Hawaii and Loretta Nagamine of Kahului, Hawaii.
10 responses to Florence Mina Rishi
Ian says:
March 7, 2020
I love and miss you grandma, thank you for always being there and taking care of me Rachael and Claire we will never forget you, rest in peace
Sabrina Shad Linnemann says:
March 7, 2020
To my dearest and cherished Mom,
Your passing has created a deep and vast hole in my heart. You were with me, nearly by my side, my entire lifetime. Although you lived a long and full life, you left us too soon. It should not have happened this way. My heart will be forever broken by you leaving this mortal life, until I see you again. I try to find comfort in knowing that you are in Heaven with Grandma, Grandpa, Uncle Frances, Uncle Gene, Uncle Larry, Aunty Muriel, Aunty Mickey, Aunty Vivian, and with God.
Love you always from your one and only daughter, Sabrina.
Sabrina Shad Linnemann says:
March 7, 2020
And how could I forget to say how much I appreciate that you took care of Jon and I, all alone, with no help from anyone. After growing up and getting married, you ensured you stayed close and were a loving grandma to my children, at every birth, every holiday and special event, and picking up and dropping off to activities and school. Thank you, Mom, for always putting our needs ahead of your own.
Eternal love and gratitude to you, Mom.
Claire Linnemann says:
March 8, 2020
Dear Grandma,
You have been one of the most important people in my life for as long as I can remember. I am so grateful to have been loved by someone as special as you. Thank you for raising and taking care of me throughout my twenty-one years of life. Growing up, I could always count on you to pick me up from school, drop me off at all of my after school activities, and have one of my favorite dishes on the table when we got home. You always thought of me and did everything you could to make me happy. Words cannot express how much I miss you and wish that I could hear your voice again. You are so special to me and I am heartbroken by this loss. I wish that we had more time together but I know that you are in a better place. Thank you for being the most loving and caring grandmother that I could ever hope for. I will always love you.
Love,
Claire
Claire Linnemann says:
March 8, 2020
Dear Grandma,
You have been one of the most important people in my life for as long as I can remember. I am so grateful to have been loved by someone as special as you. Thank you for raising and taking care of me throughout my twenty-one years of life. Growing up, I could always count on you to pick me up from school, take me to all of my after school activities, and have one of my favorite dishes on the table when we got home. You always thought of me and did everything you could to make me happy. Words cannot express how much I miss you and wish that I could hear your voice again. You are so special to me and I am heartbroken by this loss. I wish that we had more time together but I know that you are in a better place. Thank you for being the most loving and caring grandmother that I could ever hope for. I will always love you.
Love,
Claire