NPR

A funeral home worker tracked down a family — and uncovered a decades-old secret

A worker at a funeral home managed to locate the family members of an ailing woman. She didn't realize she was uncovering a family secret that went back to the 1940s.
Mas Masumoto (left) and Shizuko Sugimoto in 2013.

This story is part of the My Unsung Hero series, from the Hidden Brain team. It features stories of people whose kindness left a lasting impression on someone else.


Growing up, Mas Masumoto was vaguely aware that he had an aunt who'd been separated from the family in the 1940s. Her name was Shizuko Sugimoto, and she had an

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from NPR

NPR5 min readWorld
When Rockets Fall, Some Israeli Citizens Have Nowhere To Hide
While most buildings in Israel are required to have bomb shelters, a zoning catch-22 has left Bedouin villagers unprotected.
NPR3 min read
Renowned Painter And Pioneer Of Minimalism Frank Stella Dies At 87
Frank Stella was one of America's leading minimalist artists and a pioneer of the minimalist movement of the early 1960s. The movement challenged the idea that art was meant to be representative.
NPR2 min read
A Seafood Bounty Lures Sea Lions To S.F.'s Pier 39 In Numbers Not Seen In 15 Years
It's a popular rest stop for sea lions, but the docks at the tourist hot spot these days are unusually packed out with the slippery residents. Conservationists are buoyed by the surge in visitors.

Related