Tonami Hanna
July 13, 1935 ~ January 10, 2025
Resided in:
Waterboro, Maine
Tonami Hanna, 89, of Waterboro, passed away at her home on Friday, January 10, 2025. She was born on July 3, 1935, to Kyutaro and Mitsu Okada, in Yokohama, Japan. She was one of seven children (a sister Hana, and brothers Sadao, Shoshite, Toyosaku, Yasoji, Tokuhito).
After graduating from high school, Tonami worked at a pub in Yokosuka, Japan, which was located near an American military base. She had aspirations to attend school and become a singer. It was there that she met Paul Hanna, a young American soldier. The two married in November of 1958 in Yokohama, Japan and soon moved to Waterboro to be closer to Paul’s family.
Adjusting to life in the U.S. after World War II presented challenges, but Tonami approached them with strength and resilience. She taught herself to speak English and devoted herself to raising her children while Paul continued to serve in the military.
Tonami moved into her current home with her late husband, Paul and their 3 children and was known for having one of the most beautiful yards in the neighborhood. She enjoyed staying active, especially caring for her yard. She devoted a lot of time to planting flowers, shrubs, trees, and, in later years, vegetables. She even built a fire pit to enjoy time outdoors and to help keep her yard clean of debris.
Over the years, Tonami worked at Amy’s Sub Shop in Old Orchard Beach with her dear friend, Amy Cooper, and later at Shape Video in Sanford, ME where she worked for many years before retiring.
Tonami adored her grandchildren and great grandchildren and cherished every moment with them. A survivor and an adaptive spirit, she built long-lasting friendships and maintained a life of caring and practicality.
She also enjoyed playing games with her family and friends and is known for turning any game into a friendly betting game. She enjoyed gambling at home, often playing “Chute 5” (a game similar to Yahtzee) and more recently, poker with family members, including her grandsons, Nate and Dominic, and their friends.
Tonami will be remembered as a loving mother, grandmother, great grandmother, Aunt and friend. Many of her neighbors knew her as “Tommy”. She was known by her grandchildren as “Obaachan” which means “grandmother” in Japanese.
She is predeceased by her husband of 36 years, Paul D. Hanna, and brothers Sadao and Shoshiste, and her sister, Hana.
Survivors include two daughters, Valinda Botting of Saco, Janet DiBiase and her husband Dom of Casco, a son Andy Hanna and his wife Susie Cole of Poland, ME, grandchildren Katlin Botting of Portland, Jenica Botting of Virginia, Dominic DiBiase and his wife Jessica of Westbrook, and Nate DiBiase of Casco. Great grandchildren Charlotte, Giovanni and Rocco, and numerous nieces and nephews who reside in both Japan and the US.
A graveside service will be held at Pine Grove Cemetery in Waterboro in the spring.
In lieu of flowers, our family is asking to please send donations to PSL Services Strive, located in the greater Portland, ME area. Strive works at with people with emotional and intellectual disabilities to live with dignity and respect as active members of our community. Online donations can be made at this address https://pslstrive.org/donate. Checks can also be sent to this address:
PSL Services / Strive Central Office
39 Darling Rd
South Portland, ME 04106
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日本語で失礼します。
本日、突然の訃報を受け、誠に残念でなりません。
心よりお悔やみ申し上げます。
また、ご挨拶が遅くなってしまった事、申し訳ありません。
日本の家族は、トナミさんが亡くなったと聞き、みんな悲しんでいます。
私はトナミさんが40年前に日本に来てくれた時の事を思い出しています。
サダオの妻、ヤスコは94歳になりましたが、元気です。
私たちに知らせてくれて、ありがとうございます。
日本の家族を代表してお礼申し上げます。