phone: 908.859.4500 NJinfo@fineganfh.com

Etsuko (Kobayashi) Di Vittorio

Etsuko (Kobayashi) Di Vittorio, 93 years old, moved onto the next adventure in her life on April 13, 2021. 

     Etsuko (Etsi, Mom, Ma, Nanny, Bubba, Mrs. D.) was born in Sakata, Japan (Yamagata Prefecture) on November 21, 1927, to her beautiful mother, Toyona Kobayashi and her devoted Step-Father, Naoji Kobayashi. 

    She was preceded in death by: her sister Sumiko and her husband, Tadashi Goto. Her sister, Yoko Kobayashi, her brother, Tadashi, his wife, Cherico and their son, Masatsengu. 

    She is survived by her niece, Mariko, husband Masao-son and their sons- Shinobu and Shinichi Yokoyama. Her other niece, Mamiko, husband Kazuo and their children: Kaedon, Takuya and Natsu Ishigaki. She is also survived by her niece, Maki. They all reside in Japan. 

     Etsuko was a loving mother to Toni Maria, Robert Dean, Lynn Re (Joe), Wayne Kent (Beth), and Vicki Etsuko (Kalee). 

    Nanny/Bubba was the Salt of the Earth to her 11 Grandchildren:  Harvey (Zink) Clymer, Blaze (Lea) Clymer and Kristy Clymer,  Jai Di Vittorio, Zeb (Kelsey) Di Vittorio, Chelsea (Luke) Busch and Shea (Andrew) Wester,  Vanessa (Jose) Trimmer, and Austin Trimmer, Benjamin Di Vittorio and Tacey Di Vittorio. 

  She was so very proud of her six (6) GREAT Grandchildren:  Kylee Clymer, Ezra Di Vittorio, Weston Busch, Karter Busch, Kai Canales and Charlotte Etsuko Busch (making her arrival June, 2021). 

    She adored and spoiled ALL of her Grand Pets:  Jaxson and Wynston (Chincho), Gizmo, Luna, Nala (Lala), Zander and Ruger, Buddy, Macy, Charley, Ryder and Little Gray. 

     Every one of us WORSHIPPED HER endlessly. 

     Etsuko met the very charming Georgie-san (Vito James- Victor J), in her home town in 1948. She was working a second job in a noodle shop. He lingered around night after night.  They married at the American Embassy in Tokyo, Japan in 1953.   

     She PERSERVERED through 55 years of ventures with him.  In Japan, Etsi was also a hairdresser by trade and she enjoyed cutting everyone’s hair as they grew up! She was the most SELF-LESS and GIVING person you could ever meet.      

     She was first introduced to the wonderful and very welcoming Di Vittorio family in 1955. They all met Toni Maria for the first time. Toni and Robert had their first adventure together via passenger ship to America with her in 1957.   She returned to Japan for a few years and during this time; Lynn and Wayne joined the family.

     Etsi returned to America in 1962 when Wayne was only three (3) months old.  She settled into life in New Jersey for the next 64 years! She was always so very proud of how quickly she learned to speak English! While living with her in-laws during these initial visits (Nunu and Pop), she learned to make the BEST Gnocchi EVER! 

     Vicki came along (surprise!) in 1967 to complete her already perfect family. Etsuko made a wonderful home in Phillipsburg, while raising her children (“I raised 5 good kids” is what she would tell every new friend she would meet).  She was always both GENUINE and KIND to everyone she met. Etsi was incredibly BRAVE and CHARISMATIC.   

     She was also a very DETERMINED woman. She studied and worked hard to earn her American Citizenship in 1978.  She was very PROUD of this AMAZING accomplishment; as are all of us! 

  Etsuko was the most GENEROUS, LOYAL and LOVING person you would ever want to meet. She had a SUNSHINE SMILE that was followed immediately by an UNCONDITIONAL LOVE for everyone.  She lived a RESILIENT, 93 years of life.  She was an AMAZING STORYTELLER, always sharing the BEAUTIFUL journey of her life, from Japan to the United States of America.  Etsuko lived with a PASSION and sense of ENLIGHTENMENT we all admired and did our best to emulate every day.  It was not always an easy journey for her, but she was STRONG, INDESTRUCTIBLE and PROUD – as we all hope to be every day. 

     A MILLION WORDS could never fully describe her: Mom, Ma, Nanny, Bubba to everyone she met. PERFECT- forever. 

Viewing hours will be held on Sunday, April 25, 2021 from 12 noon to 3 pm at The Finegan Funeral Home, 302 Heckman St., Phillipsburg, NJ.

Family will gather after at Flynn’s.