OBITUARY Takami M. Phelan March 5, 1932 – November 29, 2018 Takami M. Phelan, of Marblehead, entered into her spiritual life on November 29, 2018. She was the cherished wife of Richard Louis Phelan with whom she shared 63 years of marriage. Takami was born on March 5, 1932 in Obama, Nagasaki-ken, Japan.
She was the eldest of two children born to Shigekichi and Osai (Nakashiba) Morikawa. Mrs. Phelan met her husband, a handsome U.S. Navy officer, while he was stationed in Sasebo, Japan. She converted to Catholicism and took the name of her mother-in-law, Marguerite, to marry Richard not once but three times, in a traditional Japanese marriage, a Western marriage and a marriage in Germany to formalize their union.
The pair lived and traveled in Europe before settling in Marblehead where Richard was born and raised. They arrived with two children in tow, Marguerite born in Sasebo, Nagasaki Japan and Charles born in Heidelberg, Germany. They built a home on Widger Road in Marblehead across from the former Mary Alley Hospital.
On three occasions, Takami walked up the small incline to Mary Alley Hospital to deliver her three youngest children, Richard Thomas, Michael Candia and Melissa Cathleen. In spite of vast linguistic and cultural differences, Takami graciously made a home for herself and her family in Marblehead. Takami was an energetic business woman who owned and managed the Pleasant Manor Inn of Marblehead with Richard for 24 years.
It is now known as Hotel Marblehead. She was proud of her large family, Marguerite “Mugsie” Bailey and her husband Jim of Marblehead, Charles J. Phelan and his wife Jennifer of Elizabethton, TN, Richard T. Phelan and his wife Linda of Duxbury, MA, daughter Michael Phelan of Marblehead and her partner Robert Deininger and Melissa Phelan of Merrimack, NH and her fiancé Al Meier. Nana leaves her cherished grandchildren, Kelley Bailey, Abbey Bailey, Patrick, Clayton and Shelayne Phelan, Renee Phelan Moran and her husband Jason, Richie Phelan, Hana Phelan, and Zachary Phelan-Waters.
Takami also leaves her sister-in-law Rosanne Phelan of Marblehead and her dear cousin Dr. Takekazu Ohi and his wife Ryuko of Kyoto, Japan and also many beloved nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her younger brother Yoshitaka Morikawa of Nagoya City, Japan, and also by her brother-in-law Edmund L. Phelan and his wife Marguerite (Hagan) and brother-in-law Thomas L. Phelan. In lieu of flowers, donations in Takami’s memory may be sent to the Marblehead Council on Aging, 10 Humphrey Street, Marblehead, MA 01945.
Assisting Takami’s family is Eustis & Cornell of Marblehead. A private service will be held there.
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