Obituary of Mr. Hideo Baba

Obituary:  

Hideo Baba (81) of Scarborough, Ontario passed away peacefully at his home on August 1, 2023.   He is survived in Canada by his wife (Yasuko Baba), his children Sam (Christine), Grace (Vy) and John (Melanie) and his grandchildren (Kai, Bethany, Braeden, Ella-Grace, Kenji and Keizo).    

Hideo was born in Nakano, Tokyo, Japan on Jan 30, 1942, the fourth of five children to Kanjuro and Yaeko Baba.  His early adulthood was spent between Halifax, Nova Scotia and Los Angeles, California.  Returning to Japan in his early 30’s he met his wife Yasuko (nee Arai) through Omiai -a traditional match making service. They both settled in Scarborough shortly after their honeymoon. 

After working at several dealerships, Hideo went out on his own and established Hide Auto Centre which continues to operate today.  It was here that he was best known in the community with loyal customers driving hours to see Hide (read Hai-dee) as he became known. 

He was a member, church planter and attendee of Japanese Gospel Church for over 20 years before moving with his family to Agincourt Pentecostal Church, now OneChurch.to, where he remained until his condition prevented his return. 

Before retirement, he began bowling again in a league and was active until his arthritis prevented him from being an ace bowler.   Not being one to perform athletically at a mediocre level, he retired from this as well.  

Hideo Baba was a quiet, fierce soul who seemed scary to some, but funny and generous to others.   Freed from the difficulties that his physical body posed these past couple of years, he will be overjoyed to be able to move, see and hear effortlessly as he joins His Savior in Heaven. Dad, we will miss seeing you here, but we are happy to know that you are well and free now.  We will miss you until we meet again.   

Hideo’s family would like to sincerely thank everyone that touched his life, enriching his experiences and true love for Canada, which was more recently affirmed during a visit to his birth country, Japan earlier in May 2023.   

The funeral service for Hideo will be held on Wednesday August 9, 2023 at 11:30am at Ogden Funeral Home at 4164 Sheppard Avenue East, Scarborough, ON  M1S 1T3 with visitation immediately beforehand at 11:00am.     No further memorials or celebrations are being hosted at this present time.    

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Japanese Gospel Church.   Cheques can be made payable to the 'Japanese Gospel Church of Toronto', which can be mailed to: Attention Treasurer:  301 Silver Star Blvd, Scarborough, ON M1V 0B6 (tax forms mailed in the following year).  If online, you can donate here:
https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/882759715RR0001-japanese-gospel-church-of-toronto/impact/view/.   The tax receipts will appear as CanadaHelps.