Yoshi Leding

Our mother, Yoshi Leding, passed away without regaining consciousness October 5, 2021 at the Sentara Hospital, Woodbridge, Virginia.  She departed this world to meet with beloved family and friends that preceded her in death while surrounded by family that remained to remember and honor her.  She is now in a place without pain or sorrow, filled with love and happiness.  Yoshi was 86 years young.

She was born in Kagoshima, Japan on June 12, 1935 to Yasumori Sakai (father) and Haruye Takemoto (mother). Sadly, Yoshi never knew her parents.  Her mother passed away at childbirth and her father, a soldier during World War II, saw his only child for two days before he had to return to service.  Yasumori was listed as missing in action in China and presumed dead.  She was raised by her maternal grandparents.  She was the only child of the oldest daughter.

Our mom had many talents and she gladly shared them with family and friends.  She was a really great cook.  Nothing fancy but the food was always delicious.  She never measured anything.  Yoshi’s cooking was always done by feel.  Family and friends had their favorites, like gyoza or fried fish, and she made them for you when you asked.

Yoshi enjoyed gardening, especially vegetables, and as a student in Japan, she did learn and enjoyed Ikebana, the classical Japanese art of flower arrangement.  Our mom also enjoyed crocheting, knitting, and sewing.  She crocheted hundreds of lace doilies and table runners and when her children were young, she knitted tons of scarfs and caps. Even an occasional sweater or two.

Yoshi was a soft-spoken woman.  She hardly ever raised her voice and she tried her best not to rock the boat.  She was friendly with everybody but her main focus was always family first; her family here and in Japan.  Yoshi always said “my children are my life” and she lived it.

She is survived by her son Shingo Provencio and his wife Tina (Virginia), daughter Angelina Parkhurst (Virginia), granddaughter Jasmin and her husband Cameron (Delaware), grandson Branden and his wife Pepper (Texas), grandsons Zackery (Texas) and Kiel (Iowa), great granddaughter Odette (Delaware), and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins (Japan).

Yoshi is preceded in death by her father, mother, paternal and maternal grandparents, and her beloved husband Edward Leding, Jr.   Visitation will be from 4:00 to 6:00 PM, Saturday, November 20, 2021 at Smith North Little Rock Funeral Home.  Burial will be 11 AM Monday, November 22, 2021 at the Leding Family plot located in St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery at Paris, Arkansas.

“I love you more. You know that, right, honey?” – Yoshi Leding

Arrangements by Smith North Little Rock Funeral Home , 1921 Main St, North Little Rock, AR 72114, 501-758-1170.--