In Memory of Isao Moriya
Children: Kwanchai, Imin, Emmy
Grandchildren: Sadie, Kana, Theo, Rosie, Kit, Caleb
DOB: April 24, 1954
Blessing: July 1, 1982
Ascension: May 13, 2026
Seonghwa Ceremony: May 22, 2026 at 3:30 PM Pacific Time at 200 E Duarte Rd, Monrovia, CA 91016
GoFundMe Link: https://gofund.me/5f0d1b8aa
Send flowers: Turner & Stevens Live Oak Mortuary & Memorial Park, 200 E Duarte Rd, Monrovia, CA 91016
Today we gather to honor and remember the life of Isao Moriya — husband, father, grandfather, missionary, and man of quiet integrity.
Isao was born on April 24, 1954, in Yamanashi, Japan, the youngest child of four, to Tokuo and Shiori Moriya. Raised in a small farming village, he learned hard work and humility from an early age while helping grow rice and raise silkworms.
As a child, he survived a severe case of asthma after his mother prayed and promised his life to God’s service. That promise would shape the course of his life.
Isao was thoughtful, curious, and hardworking. As a young man, he became a missionary of the Unification Church and later moved to America, where he continued serving others while building a life with his wife, Walairat, whom he married in 1982. Together they raised three children, Kwanchai, Imin, and Emmy. They later welcomed six beloved grandchildren: Sadie, Kana, Theo, Rosie, Kit, and Caleb.
Throughout his life — from Japan to Hawaii, New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago — Isao lived with perseverance and faith. He worked tirelessly, continued his education in midlife, and built a successful career with the Saeilo Company and NTN in Elgin, Illinois, to support his family while serving others. He enjoyed house projects, repairing anything and everything, music, singing, and Japanese dishes.
When Isao found out about his sickness, the doctor said he would have two years to live, but he lived for eight more. He said he “beat the odds!” The last eight years of Isao’s life were difficult and full of ups and downs with his health. His wife was by his side and he had the support of his children and in-laws.
Perhaps the story that captures Isao best is a simple one. As a young employee, he quietly stayed behind after lunch each day to straighten the shoes of his coworkers when no one was watching. Years later, his manager told him that act of humble service was what made him unforgettable.
That was who Isao Moriya was. A servant-hearted man whose life spoke not through attention or recognition, but through simple acts of care and love.
