In Memory of Reiko Watanabe(1994 - 2016)
- Name
- Reiko Watanabe
- Birth Date
- April 5, 1994
- Ascension Date
- November 19, 2016
- Local Church
- Ocean Community Church
Reiko Watanabe was born on April 5th, 1994 in Yonkers, New York. She was the youngest of two siblings, born to Shinichi and Kazuyo Watanabe. She lost her life to a year-long battle with colon cancer but her memories remain strong in the lives of the many people she has touched.
Reiko lived in New Jersey for the first eleven years of her life and moved down to Newport, North Carolina through her father’s job at True World Marine in 2005. In North Carolina, she began her journey through middle school and beyond.
Ever since she was little, Reiko had a special gift in the realm of art. She was artistically driven and dreamed of becoming an animator, working for film giants like Disney, Pixar, Dreamworks, and Studio Ghibli. She won several art show contests locally throughout her middle school and high school career. To pursue her goal, Reiko has striven for excellence both academically and spiritually. She graduated from West Carteret High School in Morehead City, NC in 2012 at the top 10% of her class and was accepted into Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) in Atlanta, Georgia on a scholarship. During her time in college, she attended church regularly at Atlanta Family Church. There, she became an older sister figure and mentor to many of the younger blessed children in the Atlanta community. Through her deep heart of understanding and strong will in serving others, she was able to connect with the younger brothers and sisters on a very personal level and lead them to a life of love. In 2013, she took a gap year from college to take part in Generation Peace Academy (GPA) to grow internally and find her place with God. Through GPA, Reiko was able to gain lifelong friendships that helped her overcome some of the most challenging obstacles in her life and together with her peers, she developed a strong sense of faith and devotion to our Heavenly Parent.
Reiko was a cheerful and affectionate sister who held an optimistic view on life. Her intrinsic humor and enthusiasm had the power to turn any frown upside down and she attracted people with her sincere and honest personality. Despite losing her life to cancer, Reiko has won at life. A loving, passionate, and inspiring person, she has proven time and time again, that she is truly a daughter of God who has impacted the lives of so many people with hope and happiness.
Reiko is survived by her parents, Shinichi and Kazuyo Watanabe, and her older brother Takayasu Watanabe. Please keep her family in your thoughts and prayers. God bless.
- Time
- 10:00 AM
- Date
- Wednesday, November 23
- Location
- Munden Funeral Home & Crematory, Inc: 2112 Arendell St. Morehead City, NC 28557
Klaus Schick
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So sorry for your Loss. When such a young Person leaves us so early we are all touched by it.
The only consolation is that she will go on to an other exiting wonderful life on the other side we call heaven or Spirit World….
We have been told that it will be a World of Love with lots of creativity and Arts.
She will be received by the best over there, including True Father and all of His Clan and Saints of our Unification Movement.
We are sending her our Love, Prayers and best Wishes and our Empathy to the Family…..
Blessings, Klaus Schick
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Tim & Gail Davis
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We are so sorry to hear about the loss of Reiko. We hope that your heart will heal and know that our Heavenly Parent has a special place for her. May our True Parents love be with you.
With Love, Tim & Gail Davis
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laura Taylor Hayashi
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our prayers for your family. I am sure she will be with many in Heaven; but I am sure you will miss her. Who knows why such a vibrant young lady should leave us? I hope you have many experiences with her and Heavenly Parents that will ease your hearts. All our love The Y R Hayashi family in Miami
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Apostle Glenda Phillips Lee YUK (172 Clergy)
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As we pray for your family we as God for his Peace. We send our love and condolences..
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The Ochoa's
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We send Our love in your new journey Reiko ✨??
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Sydelle Enyeart
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I too am sorry for your loss. I am a colon cancer survivor. Your daughter seemed like a lovely girl. Prayers for your whole family. IMON, Sydelle V. Enyeart
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Galvan family
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We are very sorry to hear of Reiko’s passing. May she be safe and happy in her new home with Heavenly Parent and True Father. May God and True Parents comfort Mr and Mrs Watanabe and your family. ITN, Esteban and Lorna Galvan, Bronx Unification Church
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Curtis & Sanae martin
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We are sorry for your loss. Rieko sounds like a truly wonderful sister. She must be missed by so many people. Our prayers are with Rieko & your family at this difficult time.
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Roger Alan Wise
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Dear Mr. and Mrs. Watanabe,
I write this to you with great respect and admiration. I can only imagine what it must be like losing your daughter.
I can see that Reiko is externally very beautiful. But, I can also see that her spirit is very bright.
I was very pleased to hear about how much she helped her younger brothers and sisters while on GPA.
I was born and raised in North Carolina so I know Morehead City very well.
My youngest daughter Tarina was born on November 19, 1989.
I pledge to you, as parents of such a wonderful daughter, that I shall remember Reiko every time that I celebrate my daughter’s birthday from this day forward.
With the heart of a parent, I can only imagine the grief that you are experiencing now.
I do not believe that I c0uld bear it, if my daughter passed away at such a young age.
It is with deep admiration for you for Takayasu, that I end my sincere and heartfelt aknowlegement of your courage and optimism, in knowing, with great certainty, that Reiko is very near True Father and our Heavenly Parent!
May the Love of God and True Parents always surround you and work through you, as you set the example of Great Hope in Reiko, so that others can
follow your display of faith when faced with such a potentially devastating loss.
With great love and affection,
Roger
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Danny Covone
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sorry for your lost so lost I Will pray for you and your Reiko-son
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Frank Button
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My thoughts and prayers are with you and with Reiko san
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Liz Brooker
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I’m so sorry for your dear daughter, Reiko passing on. May good memories of Reiko bring you comfort at this difficult time. I can’t imagine how painful this is to loose a beautiful daughter at such a young age. God Bless your Family now and always. You are in my prayers.
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John Hitchler
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few words come when receiving news at hand. God Bless Reiko and God Bless You Shinichi and Kazuyo and Takayasu. My heart is with yours, side by side!
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Marta Maria de Carvalho Rodrigues
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Dear Shinichi, Kazuyo and Takayasu,
I imagine your pain but I also imagine how deep you must understand the DP and TP words in this moment… I believe you did everything you could to save your beautiful daughter in youth ages…
But as our TP would say, it is the higher standard of offering something to HP, because it is the most painful moment… But if you do center your hear, soul and mind to HP and TP hope, I may believe that Reiko will be received in very high and special place in SW… We are all moved because we still think as human beings and we do not know so much about SW, but we may have hope that one day you are going to meet your adorable daughter, and in the meantime, she will accompany and console you in everything from the spiritual world.
For now, she needs your acceptance and prayer for her ascension. May HP and TP’s blessing comfort you and that They may receive Reiko at the highest level of the Spiritual World, next to our lovely TF .
With much love,
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Lowell Mitchem
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My heart goes out to your family for the loss of your beautiful daughter. May God comfort you during this time and may we keep faith that she will be with you again for a greater fellowship on the other side.
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Elise Tape'
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Dear Watanabe Family,
Praying that God can comfort you and reveal His care and love for the eternal life of your precious, beautiful daughter, Reiko.
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Ozden Topaloglu-from Turkey
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There was a Reiko I could not never forget. She died in the Hiroshima.Everybody’s had very loved and never forget.
Now,she has been second person being same name.They will not be forgotten, forever.
My heart is wounded and I’m very so sad.
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