Fonds F015 - Terez Hyodo fonds

Born Blanche Theresa Frances Caruana in Toronto, Ontario on September 27, 1928. She was the granddaughter of British immigrants who came to Canada in 1912. She grew up in the Junction neighborhood in Toronto, and attended Catholic school. At the time, her family was not encouraging of her education, so she began working as a waitress at the age of twelve to earn enough money for her high school textbooks. At age 14, she began to work in Victoria Cap Factory in Hamilton, Ontario. Making caps in the 40s, she met Kim Takeda who introduced her to Wesley Hyodo. The two eventually eloped and eventually had five children.

The family moved to Germany as Wesley, a Sergeant Major in the Canadian Armed Forces, was posted there in 1957. They Returned to Canada, living in Scarborough in 1959. Sadley, Blanche and Wesley separated in 1963, and divorced in 1967.

To raise her family as a single mother, Blanche began night school learning stenograph and typing. She then took a job working full-time as an Administration Assistant at the Department of Transportation.

Blanche stayed close with her family in-laws. She was a regular attendant of the Hyodo family picnic started by Toshi Hyodo soon after WWII. She was also a regular volunteer for the Japanese Canadian redress movement, beginning in 1984. As a member of the Greater Toronto Chapter of the National Association of Japanese Canadians, she offered her time as a professional stenographer and advised on government administration. She took minutes and helped organize much of the many records the organization created. In 1991, Blanche was a co-host of the Earth Spirit Festival and helped organize the banquets of the event.

It was on her 80th birthday that she chose to officially change her name to Terez Hyodo.