Chizu I. (Iwashige) Smith

Chizu I. Smith, 88, of Hutchinson, Kansas, passed away March 20, 2022, at Hospice House of Hutchinson. She was born March 20, 1934, in Kagoshima, Japan, the daughter of Ayami and Kimiko Matsusawa Iwashige. Chizu has resided in Hutchinson since December of 2018, formerly of Sterling, Kansas. She worked at Locke Stove Foundry in Lyons, Sterling Grade School Cafeteria, Cessna in Hutchinson, and was a bus monitor for special needs children for USD 376. Chizu enjoyed playing bingo, knitting, cross-stitching, shopping, camping, and watching TV. On January 13, 1953, Chizu was united in marriage with Vernon L. Smith in Fukuoka, Japan. He preceded her in death on December 12, 2018. She is also preceded in death by her son, Kenny Smith; sibling, Sadao Iwashige; and a great-granddaughter, Kassius Savage. Chizu is survived by her two daughters, Beverly Exposito and husband Parker of Hutchinson, KS, and Debbie Savage of Ark City, KS; two brothers, Saiji Iwashige and wife Ikuko of Japan and Hiromi Iwashige and wife Miriam of Partridge, KS; five grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and two great-great grandchildren. Funeral service will be at 2:00 P.M., Tuesday, March 29, 2022, at Birzer Funeral Home, Sterling, with Pastor Amy Foster officiating. Burial will follow at Sterling Community Cemetery, Sterling. Visitation will be from 5:00 until 7:00 P.M., Monday, March 28, 2022, at Birzer Funeral Home, Sterling with family present. Memorials may be given to Hospice & Homecare of Reno County in care of Birzer Funeral Home, Sterling.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.