Yoneko Pence

Mrs. Yoneko Hirohashi Pence, age 85, of Haw River, passed away on Saturday, June 12, 2021 at Liberty Commons after several months of failing health.  She left us peacefully in her sleep to be with her holy Father in Heaven.  Here on earth, she will be greatly missed.

Born in Fukaoka Prefecture, Japan, she was the daughter of the late Tetsuzo (Father) and Chiyo (Mother) Hirohashi and was married for over 54 years to Thomas Jerome Pence, Jr., who survives.  She immigrated to the United States in 1969 where she devoted her life to her family, whom she loved beyond measure.   She extended that care to her church family and the many friends who were blessed to know her.  She was a wonderful cook and loved to feed people.  She made the best strawberry pie and chocolate chip cookies.  She travelled as much as she could, loved the beach and fishing, and was a UNC basketball fan.  She retired from Carolina Hosiery and was a longtime member of First Baptist Church of Burlington, where she was a member of the Pilgrim Sunday School Class.

Mrs. Pence is survived by her husband; three daughters, Yuri Christina Pence Johnston and husband, Robert, Deborah Pence Pendergraph and Patricia Miki Pence Pawlowski and husband, Daniel; four grandchildren, Caleb Pendergraph and wife, Lauren, Abby Pendergraph, Kimi Pawlowski and Sara Pawlowski; four sisters, Kimie Hayano, Sachiko Tsunawaki and husband, Hiroshi, Kayoko Kifuku and husband, Takeshi, and Teruyo Murakami and husband, Kazunori; and a brother, Oriyoshi Hirohashi and wife, Yukiko.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a sister, Tamiyo Hirohashi; her son-in-law, John Pendergraph, and her brother-in-law Itsuo Henry Hayano.

The funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM Saturday, June 19, 2021 at First Baptist Church of Burlington Chapel by Rev. Chris Phelps.  Interment will follow at Alamance Memorial Park.  The family will receive friends from 5:00 – 7:00 PM Friday evening at Lowe Funeral Home and Crematory.

She loved flowers, but for those who would prefer to send a memorial, please consider her favorite charities, Save the Children (www.savethechildren.org) or Samaritan’s Purse (www.samaritanspurse.org).