Isabel J. Wallace

The facts and details that make up a typical obituary (birthplace, education, occupation, etc.) seem inconsequential when it comes to recounting the life of Isabel Wallace. But for social customs' sake, here goes a brief synopsis:

Isabel was born on April 29, 1945, in Bensonhurst to Paul and Mary. She graduated from Lafayette High School and went on to work at Metropolitan in New York City. There she met her true love, William Wallace, who pursued her nonstop and eventually captured her heart with his effervescent charm, dashing good looks, and the occasional wearing of a bald wig around the office.

Isabel and Bill married in May of 1966 and started a family soon after. In 1969, they moved to their first and only home in Staten Island, New York. Isabel would be proud to tell you that she was above all a wife and mother, and happy to call herself a homemaker. When her three children were in school full-time, Isabel returned to part-time employment. For several years, she worked at Family Affair steakhouse, where she mentored countless neighborhood kids and forged lasting friendships. Following the restaurant's unfortunate close in the early 90s, she found work as a dental assistant ("sucking spit," as she called it), providing as much talk therapy to patients-turned-friends as cups of mouthwash.

Isabel retired for good in 2007, by which time she had several grandchildren to dote on and spoil. She and Bill delighted in taking the entire family on lavish vacations, hosting BBQs with never-ending food and fun, and spending thousands on ice cream. The couple also enjoyed going to dinner and traveling with friends.

Isabel died on December 24, 2019, at the age of 74, surrounded by her loving family. Predeceased by dear William in 2016, she leaves behind sons William, Jr. (Kim) and Robert (Cathryn) Wallace, daughter Elizabeth (David) Yeserski, and 12 adoring grandchildren: William, Meaghan, Kelli, Daniel, Heather, Catherine, Caitlin, Matthew, Isabelle, Alexandra, Sophia, and Brendan. Her sister, Lorraine Pearson, survives her as well.

There you have it, your ordinary, run-of-the-mill obituary. But since Isabel was nothing short of extraordinary, she deserves an obituary to match. And so, to continue:

Nobody loved like Isabel. If she loved you, she made you feel like the most important person alive. She was a selfless wife and mother, devoting herself almost entirely to her family, who she cherished above everything. Her heart was truly happiest when it was beating for her children and grandchildren.

She cooked the way she loved, with abandon, and often showed affection through food. Her specialties included manicotti, spicy calamari marinara, seven-layer cookies, cream puffs, and biscotti, to name a few. Her all-time favorite meal to prepare was her famous Christmas Eve seafood feast (to have a seat at that table was to know pure heaven). But since she wasn't perfect, she made a lousy pot of coffee.

Isabel kept her circle small and friendships real. She served as a loyal and trusted confidant, and always made herself available for that lousy coffee and long talks. Isabel was spirited, funny, and known for her blunt honesty. Izzy drove around town like Mr. Magoo and narrowly avoided numerous accidents, of which she was blissfully unaware.

She loved to shop and was the ultimate gift-giver. If she could find you something special, and on sale, she reveled in a high that only experienced shoppers know. In recent years, Isabel looked forward to seeing Broadway shows with her granddaughters. She also got a kick out of cooking and conversing with her grandsons (and maybe sipping wine with the oldest).

Those who had the honor to love Isabel will miss her beyond words. As she was fond of saying, "When you love a lot, you hurt a lot." Her family's hurt at this time is impossibly magnified, but they will be forever blessed to know her, and her love will fill their broken hearts until the end of time.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Isabel’s name to either St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or Mary’s Place by the Sea: marysplacebythesea.org

"A Mother's love is something that no one can explain,

It is made of deep devotion and of sacrifice and pain,

It is endless and unselfish and enduring come what may

For nothing can destroy it or take that love away."

---Helen Steiner Rice