Keiko (Kuroda) Stack passed away peacefully at Lowell General hospital on October 19, 2024.
Born on December 9, 1940 in Formosa, Japan, Keiko enjoyed an idyllic childhood as an only daughter growing up in beautiful Osaka. Keiko majored in English at Kansai University and began working in the computer industry, which is ironic to anyone who watched her struggle with her Apple iPad. In an effort to improve her English, Keiko acquired an overseas pen pal–an airman in the US Air Force, stationed in San Antonio. She and Ashley Stack of New Bedford, MA would marry two years later in 1965.
They moved to Tewksbury, Massachusetts and lived for 51 years in that peaceful suburb, raising three sons and many beloved pets. Keiko loved every animal that crossed her path, including one family of ravenous raccoons, who will dearly miss the day-old bread and marshmallows she left for them every evening at dusk.
One of Keiko’s greatest passions was the rich cultural heritage of Japan. She took enormous pride in taking her children and grandchildren to her homeland in order to addict them to sushi, karaoke, ramen, sumo wrestling, Hello Kitty, Godzilla, and the most reliable trains in the world.
Keiko also loved sharing her gifts with needle and yarn and thread–so many couches in the family are covered with her needlepoint pillows and flawlessly stitched quilts, so many drawers are stacked with her hand-knitted sweaters, untold closets overflow with her hand-sewn clothing. When grandchildren arrived, Keiko’s custom-created Halloween costumes won every contest.
Keiko is survived by three children: Ken Stack and his wife Karen, of Lyman, SC, Michael Stack and his wife Beth, of Lowell, MA and Andrew Stack and his wife Angela, of Pelham, NH; five grandchildren: Colby Turner, Katherine Grace, Isabella Miyako, Olivia Akiko and Sabrina Rose.
Keiko was predeceased by her parents Shigemichi and Yukiko (Tokunaga) Kuroda, her devoted husband Ashley George Stack, her Lhasa Apso, Princess Jasmin and her Saint Bernard, Bernadine Beatrix. There will be a private burial at Tewksbury Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Keiko’s memory to the:
Lowell Humane Society, www.lowellhumanesociety.org
Salem (NH) Animal Rescue League, www.sarlnh.org
Great Dog Rescue of New England www.gdrne.com