Kikuno “Kay” Goi

Kikuno “Kay” Goi

On March 19th, 2025 at 10:30am CT, Kikuno Watanabe Goi (better known as “Kay” to her friends), passed away peacefully in her sleep at her Chicago apartment with daughter Frances by her side. Born on September 25th, 1928 in Colusa, California, Kay was preceded in passing by her husband of 66 years Mitsuo “Mike” Goi, brothers Minoru Watanabe and Shinichi “George” Watanabe, and youngest daughter Nancy Tomoko Goi.

Kikuno’s eventful life included moving to Japan in the 1930’s with her family after her father and mother passed away. Her uncle sent Kikuno and her brother Shinichi back to the United States in 1941, where they were raised in foster care in northern California. At the height of the anti-Japanese hysteria of the 1940’s during World War II, Kikuno was sent to the Tule Lake internment camp and then with missionaries to the Minidoka internment camp in Idaho.

Kay is survived by daughter Frances Shizuka Goi, son Michael Kazuo Goi, daughter-in-law Gina Café Goi and grandchildren Michael Shinichi Goi, Ryan Mitsuo Goi and Kalissa Kikuno Goi. Per Kay’s request, there will be a family viewing and no funeral service. Interment will be at Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to a charity of your choice in Kay's memory.