Shizuka’s humble beginnings began in Aomori, Japan on January 16, 1948, born to Kametoshi and Tomi Sato. While attending Aomori Central High School, she was baptized into a Protestant Church. Upon graduating from high school, she attended Akenohoshi Junior College, a Catholic institution, where she graduated valedictorian and was granted a full scholarship to attend post graduate courses for one year. Upon completion of graduate courses she was offered employment as an assistant instructor in English at that Junior College. While teaching at the Junior College, she was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints December 14, 1969. Wanting to improve her English language skills, she applied to Brigham Young University in Provo where she was not only accepted, but also received a scholarship to attend for one year.

While attending BYU, she met Theodore Hisao Okawa and married in the Manti Utah Temple on December 21, 1973. Shizuka completed her Bachelors of Arts in English and graduated in April of 1975. Upon graduation, Shizuka followed Theodore’s career in the Army and eventually civilian career and lived in Fort Lewis, Washington, Indianapolis, Indiana, Heidelberg Germany, Okinawa, Tokyo and Kanagawa Japan and eventually settled in Orem, Utah. Upon returning to the U.S. Shizuka was offered a job as an adjunct faculty member at BYU and taught Japanese for 25 years. This opportunity to teach brought Shizuka great joy.

Shizuka’s passion in life was service to her family, community and church. Her church callings included ward and stake relief society president, ward young women’s presidency and primary teacher. She especially enjoyed the opportunity to serve on the church curriculum department writing committees where she served on the young women, teachings of the presidents of the church and visiting teaching message writing committees. This service for a total of four years was both challenging and rewarding for Shizuka. Shizuka was also passionate about her role as an interpreter, translator and interpretation coordinator for the church headquarters where she was involved in numerous general conferences as a translator, interpreter and coordinator and also was involved in various special projects including mission president seminars and temple president seminars. She felt especially privileged to be involved in translation of temple related materials. She also loved serving as a temple worker for 19 years where she served until her health no longer permitted.

Shizuka is survived by her husband, Theodore Hisao; son, Theodore Ryo (Jessica) Okawa; son, Christopher Hisao (Rumi) Okawa; daughter, Traci Tomi (Adam) Andreason; and son, Timothy Shin (Shizuka) Okawa and nine grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents Kametoshi and Tomi Sato and brothers Shizuma and Toshiyuki Sato.