Kazumi Nakajima

Kazumi Nakajima, 94, of Hendersonville, NC, passed away Wednesday, August 30, 2023 at her home with her family by her side. Born on April 1, 1929 in Owase, Mie, Japan, she was daughter of the late Jirosuke and Chie Sakai. In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband, Atsushi Nakajima, and her son, Atsuhiko Nakajima. Kazumi was a teacher, an entrepreneur, and a homemaker who devoted her life to caring for her husband, children, and grandchildren. Also affectionately known as "Obachan" to her grandchildren, Kazumi was a talented seamstress who made many beautiful articles of clothing for her family. She also enjoyed cooking (especially traditional Japanese cuisine), Ikebana flower arrangements, origami, calligraphy, writing Haiku poetry (she wrote a book!), knitting, quilting, and crafting other unique handmade items for her loved ones. Kazumi leaves behind her wicked sense of humor, her daughter, Kay (Katsuko) Helwig, and her spouse, Kent, of Candler, NC; grandchildren, Nika Briggs and her spouse, Scott, of Asheville, NC, Nina Alexander and her spouse, Scott Reffitt, of Hendersonville, NC, Kana Burton of New Castle, VA, Nicholas Nakajima, R.B. Terry and his spouse, Rachel, of Roanoke, VA, Daniel Helwig and his spouse, Natalie, of Long Beach, CA, and Derek Helwig of Frisco, TX; and great-grandchildren, Olivia, Tyler, and Maliah Briggs, Mia and Mei Reffitt, Benjamin and Kiernan Terry, Logan and Leah Nakajima, Dylan Lugar, Kiera and Chloe Burton, and Cyrus Owen. No local services will be held at this time because Obachan said "too expensive." In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to a charity of your choice in Kazumi's honor.

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