Etsuko Colby

July 7, 1929 - October 15, 2020

Etsuko Colby, age 91, of Saginaw, passed away on Thursday, October 15, 2020, in Traverse City, Michigan. The daughter of Shika and Mataroko Imabayashi, Etsuko was born on July 7, 1929, in Fukuoka, Japan. She married Robert Colby. He preceded her in death on December 11, 2008. Etsuko was a very passionate wife and mother who shared her love through cooking. She was a natural gardener and master flower arranger. She loved talking about the many travels she and her late husband took. Etsuko and her daughter were big fans of watching professional figure skating together. In her final years, Etsuko experienced dementia and it was never a seen as a setback. She will be remembered as a spunky person who provided those in her life with many heartfelt, loving and memorable moments. Her bright smile will be deeply missed. Etsuko is survived by her beloved daughter, Arlene Maul; brother Yusaku Imabayashi and his wife, Ichiko, of Japan; sisters, Shigeko Fujimura (the late Masakatsu) and Hisako (the late Kenneth) Hardman; many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Colby; her son-in-law, Robert Maul; her parents, Shika and Mataroko Imabayashi; her brother, Takeo Imabayashi; father and mother-in-law, Zenus and Margaret Colby; brothers and sisters-in-law, Archie Roy (Norma) Colby, George Colby, and Arthur (Patricia) Colby. A special thanks goes out to the Doctors and Nurses at Munson Medical, especially Dr. Roman Barraza and Nicole of Munson Palliative Care, Social Worker Holly Kazim, and the many caring people at Grand Traverse Pavilions who added value to her last few days of life. And a very dear thank you to Dr. Loiudmila Kinachtchouk, Dr. Waheed Akbar, Dr. Taha and Dr. WintonLi. They gave Etsuko and her daughter, Arlene, many more enjoyable years and journeys that were shared and will be treasured forever. Gratitude to her close friends, especially Judy Thomas, Eriko Ryan, and Sylvia Herrera. Your support and kindness is not forgotten. Memorials in honor of Etsuko can be made to The Japanese Cultural Center and Tea House, 527 Ezra Rust Drive, Saginaw, Michigan 48601. Cremation has taken place. Etsuko will be laid to rest next to her husband at Roselawn Memorial Gardens in Saginaw. Due to the ongoing pandemic, a memorial service will be held at a later date. For information, please call Fischer Family Funeral Services at (989) 755-8277. To express your condolences, please visit www.fischerfuneral.com.