It is with great sadness that the family of Akio Araki announces his passing on May 22, 2011 at the age of 93 years at the Royal Columbian Hospital in New Westminster, BC.

He is survived and missed by his wife Setsuko; two stepdaughters Leigh Ann (Carlos Lee) of Surrey, BC and Donna (Andy Elliott) of Whitby, Ontario; one brother Kumakichi of Kumamoto, Japan; his grandchildren Sarah, Carolyn, Daniel and Eric.

He is predeceased by his first wife, Ayako in 1979 and three brothers and one sister in Japan.

Akio was born in Kumamoto, Japan on September 15, 1917. He moved to Canada in 1937 and arrived in Port Lehman where he was a farmer's helper. In 1941 he worked at the sawmill in Port Hammond and in December of that year, he was relocated to internment camps during the war. In 1944 he was living in Vernon and married Ayako. He moved to Kamloops in 1956 and worked in the sawmill for Weyerhaeuser before retiring in 1983. Unfortunately, his wife Ayako fell ill and died in 1979. From his home in Kamloops Akio was able to thoroughly enjoy gardening and fishing. By 1985, he met and married Setsuko. In 2005, he and Setsuko moved to Vancouver to take up residence at the Nikkei Home.

The Funeral Service will take place at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 28, 2011 in the Kamloops Buddhist Temple, 361 Poplar Street, Kamloops.

Following the service, Akio will be laid to rest at Hillside Cemetery.

At Akio's request no koden will be received. The family requests that Akio's wishes be respected. Thank you.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Schoening Funeral Service, Kamloops.