Sun City resident Bessie Kajiya celebrates 100th birthday

Friends at the Sun City Gardens retirement home last week helped resident Bessie Kajiya celebrate her 100th birthday.

Bessie Kajiya was born on May 3, 1923 in Bakersfield. After World War II, Bessie met and married Tetsuro (Tets) Kajiya on Dec. 31, 1952 in Las Vegas. She followed Tets by ship to Yokohama, Japan, where he worked for the U.S. Government. During the 10 years in Japan, three children were born -- Karen, Jeffery and Kevin.

Tets was transferred back to the U.S. and hence started a journey for the family in places such as Neptune, New Jersey and Warren, Michigan. After the children were older, Bessie returned to work as a clerk/accountant. Around 1980, Bessie and Tets built a house and retired in Sun City. Both were avid golfers, bowlers, travelers, mahjong players and most of all spent time with all their friends. They moved to Sun City Gardens in 2016.