Yoko Abbott, aged 41, passed away at her home in Oakville on Aug. 11, 2024, surrounded by family. She was born on Feb. 13, 1983, in Naha, Okinawa, Japan, to parents Jun (John) Taba and Keiko (Kay) Taba.
She graduated from Konan High School in Okinawa in 2002 and earned a bachelor's degree in education from Okinawa International University in 2006. From 2008 to 2010, she worked part-time at the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry in Tokyo and as an English instructor at St. Dominic’s Junior High and High School. Following that, she taught English to students at Konan High School in Okinawa.
In the summer of 2014, Yoko led a group of Japanese students in a home-stay/exchange program through Centralia College, where they lived with local families in the surrounding communities. During this time, she met her future husband, Marvin. After multiple trips and adventures to each other’s countries, Yoko moved to Oakville in April 2016. On May 13 of that same year, she married the love of her life, Marvin Abbott, at the United Methodist Church in Oakville. Together, they shared many more adventures and had a daughter, Hanako Norva Abbott. Yoko was a devoted wife, mother and caretaker for her family. In her spare time, she enjoyed traveling, shopping, singing and being a generous hostess. She was also a cast member at the Evergreen Playhouse. Passionate about teaching, she tutored students and assisted local high schools with Japanese instruction. In 2022, she taught Japanese continuing education at Centralia College and continued to work there in the career and technical education department until her passing.
Yoko is survived by her husband, Marvin; her daughter, Hanako; her parents, Jun and Keiko Taba, of Okinawa, Japan; and her sister, Mariko Kondo, also of Okinawa. A celebration of life will be held at Oakville United Methodist Church on Oct. 13, 2024, at 3 p.m.
For those who wish to share memories and celebrate Yoko's life, please visit her memory book at the following link: https://
