Toyoko Kadyszewski

Toyoko Kaminoko Kadyszewski, 93 of Glen Mills, PA passed away Tuesday April 8, 2025 at Maris Grove.

She was the wife of the late Thomas Kadyszewski for almost 68 years.

Born in Tokyo, Japan on April 7, 1932, Toyoko excelled in school through her very early teen years, but her interest gravitated toward music and dance. At the dismay of her father, on a whim, she decided to audition as a stage dancer with the famous dance troupe which still exists in Tokyo today. She was among a handful of selectees becoming the troops youngest dancer.

Although Toyoko enjoyed her new life as a dancer, she eventually left it behind, meeting her future husband, Tom, who was stationed in Japan with the Air Force. Less than two years later, she moved to America at the age of 19, the first war bride to step foot on the soil of the small town of Kulpmont, Pennsylvania. She worked as a homemaker with a wonderful experience as a waitress at the Hickam Air Force Base officers club in Hawaii. Toyoko was proud of working at the officer’s club, having received glowing written recommendations on her performance before moving on to another military assignment with her husband. Her English proficiency also grew significantly with this job. She was an excellent gardener, seamstress, cook and pencil sketcher. Toyoko was a wonderful and entertaining autobiographical storyteller. The narrations of her experiences and insights of the war years she and her family encountered were fascinating to the listener.

Toyoko is survived by her children, Thomas (Beth) Kadyszewski, Marie (John) Anderson, Julia (Peter) Notarianni, as well as 10 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. 

Relatives and friends are invited to her visitation on Monday, April 14, 2025 from 10:00 am - 10:45 am at St. Agnes Church, 233 W. Gay St. West Chester, PA 19380 followed by her Funeral Mass at 11:00 am.

Interment will be in St. Agnes Cemetery West Chester PA.

Tom and Toyoko have been lifelong donors to the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers. In lieu of flowers Please consider a donation to the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers

Arrangements by DellaVecchia, Reilly, Smith & Boyd Funeral Home, Inc. of West Chester, PA 610-696-1181; www.DellaFH.com.