Grace Kenmotsu of Foster City, California passed away at the age of 69 on December 7, 2016 after a courageous five-year battle with cancer. She departed peacefully at home with her two loving sons by her side. Grace, born on March 24, 1947 in Sacramento, California to Takeshi and Ruby Kawahara, grew up alongside siblings Ed and Linda in Walnut Grove, California. She graduated from Courtland High School and CSU Sacramento on a path to become a lifelong educator. Over the course of her career, she taught junior high home economics and 3rd grade for a total of 36 years, and tutored for several years concurrently and during retirement. Grace was a proud and loving mother above all. She always provided unconditional love, encouragement, positivity and humor for her sons, Curtis and Derek, and daughter-in-law, Emi. Dinners together were always filled with stories of her adventures for the day. She visited Derek four times while he was stationed overseas, drove across the US twice with him, and wrote him countless letters while he was deployed. She was instantly loved by everyone whom she encountered and was known to make friends everywhere she went: at school, the gym, coffee shops, the grocery store, on tours, and the list goes on. Knowing no strangers, she would spark up conversations with anyone. Her small stature could not hide the presence and force of life that Grace radiated. Her appetite for adventure, enduring optimism, and fighting spirit provided everyone who knew her with a lesson on living a meaningful and fulfilling life regardless of circumstance. She will be profoundly missed but will live on through her family, friends, and students. Grace's memorial service will be held at 2pm on December 17 at Skylawn Memorial Park in San Mateo, CA.