Sanai Lisa Nelson

Sanai Lisa Nelson was born in Hiroshima Japan on September 1, 1939. She was born to Wataru Minami and his wife, Masami Minami.  She was the younger sibling of her brother Makoto (deceased).

She was educated through her high school graduation in Hiroshima.  She excelled in Zen archery and mathematics.  She could work her abacus faster than a computer!  She also helped her uncle who was a doctor with his surgeries by acting as his nurse assistant.

She was married in 1960 to Kenneth Kirby.  They had one son Daniel (Danny). The marriage lasted six years but ended. She lost custody of her son, as was customary in those days and never saw him again.

She met John Nelson in San Francisco in September 1968. Through a whirlwind romance, they were married on January 7, 1969. The daughter Kathleen was born subsequently.

Sanai was employed as a waitress for several different Japanese restaurants, notably, Benihana, where she served celebrities such as conductor Seiji Ozawa, comedian Robin Williams, SF 49ers Joe Montana, and Dwight Williams to name a few.  She was looked up to by her coworkers.

After she retired, she enjoyed being the wife of an attorney, with the dinner parties and functions she attended and enjoyed.  Upon marrying, some people said that this marriage wouldn’t last, but they proved them wrong.  She helped John by supporting him through the first few years of struggle, and he in turn supported her for the rest of her life.

She loved gardening – her abundant garden (9-10 different fruit trees and lots of flowers) was famous!  She loved to share everything, much to the delight of all who received them.  She loved her cats, especially her last cat, Socks, who followed her everywhere.

She loved hanging out with Kathleen and their friends.  They would go for rides, day excursions, etc.  She went to choir practice (never singing in choir), and having a blast, and regularly went out with friends such as: Kazuko, Namie, Lynnelle and her ‘high tea’ buddies, Hedy, Alma, Julia, Dorothy, Ellen, Pinky, Charity, Vivian, Maripaz, Helen, Eleanor, Minda, Amy J., and so many others.  As much as she loved her Buddhist buddies – Mihoko, Abe and Gabrielle- she also loved talking with Monsignor John Talesfore and Fr. Dominic Lee and looked forward to them.

Last year she had the great pleasure of meeting for the first time her son Danny’s daughter Alison.  She was so overjoyed at the thought of having a granddaughter!  She looked forward to their regular Zoom and FaceTime calls – always making sure that she was totally made up and hair perfect whenever Alison would call.

She is predeceased by her parents, her brother, her son, aunts, uncles and cousins, and countless friends too many to list.  She leaves behind her husband of 55 years John, her daughter Kathleen (“Kathy”), her granddaughter Alison, and friends who were like family to her, too many to list, and her favorite cat, Socks.

We are particularly indebted to those who took care of her during the last year of her life, particularly Edith Estrella who was a kind and wonderful caretaker extraordinaire, and to her last and very dear friend, May Foster, who she met in her stay at Devonshire Oaks, who became her vigilant watchdog, protector and friend.  

We will miss her smile, her sense of style and grace, her laughter, her generosity, her sweetness and her beautiful heart.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Sanai’s memory to the Peninsula Humane Society.  Donations can be made online https://phs-spca.org/donate/ or in person at the Lantos Center. If you would like her name to appear on the memorial wall, a minimum donation of $150 is required.