DIXFIELD – On Monday, Oct. 6, surrounded at home by her loving family and faithful cat, Isabelle M. Verkaart slipped gently away to join her husband of 56 years.

Born March 23, 1915, in Caldwell, N.J., the second of three children of Rodney Sr. and Isabelle Montell McDonough, she grew up on her parents’ small farm, her schooling delayed to the fourth grade by fears of illness abundant at the time. She often spoke of haying with her “Poppie” to whom she was “Little Miss,” and of childhood trips, a steamer to Nassau in a hurricane and traveling to Katahdin by horse drawn wagon.

During the Depression and into World War II, she worked by day and schooled at night to earn her associate degree at Rutgers. Isabelle joked that when she and Howard married on May 12, 1943, they had two motorcycles, two cars and $200. Employed as tax collector for the Township of Pequannock, N.J., for 22 years, she raised their two children and served for 10 years with the volunteer First Aid Squad.

In 1977, she and Howard retired to West Union, S.C., for 22 wonderful years, where she volunteered at Oconee Memorial Hospital, was active in Garden Club, United Way and Richland Presbyterian Church and choir, spending her spare time enjoying her flowers while avoiding the chiggers, playing a bit of bridge and learning the game of golf. She had an enviable zest for life, an insatiable thirst for knowledge and a curiosity which knew no bounds, frequently punctuating conversation with timely recitation of little sayings, quotes and lines from poems long ago committed to memory.

We laughed, we cried, we marveled at this woman who was our mother, a friend to all who needed, a true lady in every respect with a strength known only to God. She had cared for their parents, our dad and countless others and in April of 2000, shortly after her move to Maine, she granted us the gift of her presence for another eight years, surviving a health challenge which should have taken her from us. Determined to become active once again in the process of living every day, she chose to be part of the Peru Homemakers Extension, Auburn Red Hat Ladies, WOWs, Moving Freely Sr. exercise group, Luncheon Bridge Club of New Hampshire and became a member of the Dixfield Congregational Church as well as an adopted member of the International Women’s Group. She loved the “Mainers” she met and they loved her.

Among her greatest passions was her commitment to the Saranac Chapter of the DAR, the Clinton County Historical Society and Kent Delord Museum, all of Plattsburgh, N.Y., as the great-granddaughter of Commodore Thomas MacDonough who, on Sept. 11, 1814, fought and won what is considered the most significant tactical and strategic naval victory of the War of 1812. With that lifelong connection to Plattsburgh and Cumberland Head, where she and Howard spent countless summers with special friends, Isabelle was instrumental and supportive in giving life to the history of the area and provided those lucky enough to have conversed with her a living link to one of the great historical figures of the era.

Having unveiled the obelisk McDonough Monument at the age of 11, she spoke of dignitaries attending the day, many of whom she met while seated in the lap of the then secretary of war. As grand marshal of the parade during the 2003 Battle of Plattsburgh celebration, she perched atop a sports car and gave her brightest smiles to the children.

She encouraged us all to move more slowly, look around us, and to always make memories. To the end she was an inspiration in her appreciation of life and the joy she found in every day. She raced motorcycles, rode in a Winston Cup car (which she thought was a bit slow), was fascinated by cloud formations and landmarks from the air in her son’s helicopter, mowed her own lawn with her John Deere tractor, protected the birds, worried about the world, thrilled at the sight of a baby porcupine and a “volunteer” in her flower garden and felt deep gratitude at being included in the specialness of the lives of others. She was a lady of discipline, humility and grace who made a difference in every life she touched. To know her was a privilege, to have been loved by her an honor.

Predeceased by her parents and brothers, Rodney Jr. and baby, Frank, Isabelle is survived by daughter, Isabelle (Kit) and husband Harley Parlin of Dixfield; son Wesley and wife Barbara of Duxbury, Mass.; grandson Jason and wife Tomomi, and three great-grandchildren, all of Osaka, Japan; grandson Brian of Boston Mass.; beloved sister-in-law Hazel DeNike of New Jersey; and three special nieces.

Isabelle and Howard will rest together in a family plot at Mt. Hebron Cemetery, Montclair, N.J.

The family wishes to convey our gratitude to all who assisted in the peace of her passing.