Jane Hiroko Rice

Jane Hiroko Rice passed away peacefully with her children by her side, holding her hands at 12:10am on December 31, 2023. Jane was born to Herbert and Ann Taketa on May 24, 1935, in Hilo, Hawaii. She was the youngest of three, with an older brother and sister. She left Hawaii in September 1953 to pursue her education, starting in Colorado and then transferring to Eastern Michigan University, where she studied Education. She did not return to Hawaii for four years, as not only were flights expensive, but propellor planes made it a very long trip. After graduation, she moved to Hayward, CA, earning her teaching credential and teaching 1^st and 2^nd grade. She was introduced to Glenn Rice by their mutual landlady and married on December 22, 1962. They were married for 43 years, before my Glenn passed away in 2006.

They purchased a home and settled in Fremont in 1963. Mrs. Rice’s students were blessed to have her as their teacher. She was kind and caring but also firm. She was creative and fun with her teaching style, even bringing her Hawaiian culture into the classroom. Here students all learned the Humuhumunukunukuapua’a song and the Hukilau hula dance. She even spent time in retirement tutoring students.

She took a break from teaching to become a full-time mom to Julie and Darin, returning to full-time teaching in 1980. As a mom, she always looked for ways to make her children’s lives easier and more fun. She supported their endeavors and always allowed enough leash for them to succeed, and sometime fail, on their own. She threw the best birthday parties and was always present at swim meets and soccer games. She was also a loyal friend, always willing to go to a show, lunch or even join a tap-dancing class. She enjoyed baking pies & desserts, canning jam & tomatoes, and making delicious Chex mix and cookies over the holidays.  She was also a devoted sister, aunty, and cousin. For the past 21 years, she was a proud and involved Grandma. She embraced any opportunity to help in their classrooms, rarely missed a baseball, soccer, or softball game, and was always cooking for her family. She will be greatly missed, but her energetic, kind and giving spirit will live on through her family and friends.

Jane lived with dementia for 5 years, yet she never lost her positive attitude, her kindness, or her ability to recognize her family. She is preceded in death by her husband Glenn and her brother Desmond, and survived by her sister Eleanor, her children Julie and Darin, her son-in-law and daughter-in-law, Rick, and Cheryl, and her 4 grandchildren, Benjamin (21), Noelle (18), Quinn (15) and Charlie (10).

A memorial service will be held on January 19, 2024, at 11:00am at Southern Alameda County Buddhist Church, 32975 Alvarado-Niles Rd, Union City, CA 94587. A reception will follow.