Maria Victoria "Vicky" Kamihara
November 27, 1963 - September 30, 2024
Obituary
Vicky was born in Iloilo City, Philippines, and moved to the Seattle area at the age of 5. She attended Chief Sealth High School and the University of Washington, where she earned a BA in Architecture and met her husband, David. After marrying in 1989, she moved to Southern California. In 1995, her first son, Derek, was born, and the family moved back to Washington in 1996, settling in Snohomish. Her second son, Deven, was born in 1999. Vicky worked for architectural firms in Kirkland, WA, and Los Angeles, CA, but later transitioned to a career as a real estate appraiser (due to the California real estate market crash in the 1990s) for Los Angeles County and later Snohomish County. She took a break from work to raise her children and returned to work when Deven was in high school. Vicky was actively involved in her sons’ activities, volunteering as a cub scout den mother and supporting their school and sporting events. In her spare time, she enjoyed scrapbooking family memories and these will be cherished forever. She worked very hard and made many sacrifices preparing to retire early and travel, but was diagnosed with breast cancer on the day she was to submit her retirement notice. Despite her illness, she stayed active and traveled extensively during her 3 year and 2 month battle with cancer, always having to come home to more chemotherapy. She went on 3 cruises including the Panama Canal (21 days), Alaska and Asia (Hong Kong, Thailand, Vietnam & Singapore) and trips to Maui, Las Vegas Sphere to see U2 and Chicago for Derek and Cori’s wedding shower. She also attended University of Washington Husky football games (including the National Championship in Houston, TX) and Seattle Mariner games. Her biggest trip was going back to the Philippines to visit 30+ uncles, aunts, cousins and their children. It had been over 8 years since her last visit to the Philippines. She also enjoyed over 30 concerts, which included Paul McCartney, Rolling Stones, Billy Joel, Elton John, EWF and several Kpop groups. Her ultimate goal was to attend Derek and Cori’s wedding, which she achieved despite the tremendous pain she endured.
Vicky is survived by her devoted husband of 35 years, David; their sons, Derek (Cori) and Deven; her brother, Vincent Teruel (Warlinda), and their sons, Darren (Anita) and Dallen (Heather). She also leaves behind her mother-in-law, Fusako Kamihara; brother-in-law, Duane (Sharyl), and their sons, Drew and Deren; and sister-in-law, Janice Kamihara. Vicky was preceded in death by her parents, Vincente Teruel Jr. and Lillian Green Teruel.
A celebration of Vicky’s life will be held on Saturday, October 26, 2024, at 1:00 PM at Washington Memorial Cemetery, located at 16445 International Blvd, SeaTac, WA 98188.
Our hearts break and we send our deepest sympathies to Manang Vicky’s family and friends. We mourn for you, Manang. We love you and we will miss the trips and memories we would have made with you. You were our Manang through and through. We looked up to you. We cherished you. I will treasure all the photos and cards you’ve sent us across the oceans every Christmas. I’ve kept them all with me.
“As long as there is love, there will be grief. The grief of time passing, of life moving on half-finished, of empty spaces that were once bursting with the laughter and energy of people we loved.
As long as there is love there will be grief because grief is love’s natural continuation.
Grief is a giant neon sign, protruding through everything, pointing everywhere, broadcasting loudly, “Love was here.” In the finer print, quietly, “Love still is.”
– Heidi Priebe
Eternal rest grant unto Manang Vicky, O Lord. And let perpetual light shine upon her. May her soul and the souls of the faithful departed, rest in peace. Amen.
Love always, Sandra