Isabel Hewlett

The Essence of Isabel

Isabel was born in Barberton, Ohio on September 19, 1924. She was raised by Hungarian immigrant parents, who came to this country in 1922. Her dad was a mechanical engineer and her mom a homemaker who barely spoke English, but baked and sewed up a storm. Izzy spoke fluent Hungarian, of which we were all in awe. Her dad’s intellectual side had a big impression on her ambitions. She had an older brother, Tibby, who, sadly, was killed in World War II at age 20. This was a devastating loss to Isabel and her family. It left a huge void in her life.

Mom was an outstanding student and a woman ahead of her time. She became the first female president of Buchtel High school in Akron and went on to study Chemistry at University of Michigan. Not many knew this about her past because she was very humble and never wanted attention focused on her.

At the University of Michigan, while working in the lab, she met Jim Hewlett, an intern in Hematology. They ended up getting married and moved to Lexington, KY where he completed his residency. Those years were the best of Mom’s young life. She had many entertaining stories to tell about her wonderful friends and her life in the bluegrass. Then, Dad got a position at the Cleveland Clinic and they began a new chapter of their life in Shaker Heights; they bought a house and Mom’s talents shone brightly. She never did go to work as a chemist, but rather, stayed home to raise us in the most nurturing way one can imagine. She could do just about anything, decorate, cook, entertain, and even paint and paper a wall or two!

While we were in middle school, Mom’s dream house on McCauley Road came on the market, and it soon became ours. We were so excited to move to this beautiful, cozy home, as she always called it.y After many good times there, Jim and Isabel began to take separate paths which ended in the heartache of divorce. For our mom, this was a very difficult time. She lost many of her couple friends and the world as she knew it, disappeared. But, Mom, who was not one to sit around and feel sorry for herself, gathered her strength and struck out on her own. Being an avid reader, she found solace in a part time job at the Shaker Heights library. There, she made many new, lifelong friends and rose quickly to become a Reference Librarian.

She soon left her McCauley Road house and moved to a perfect apartment at Shaker Square. She loved color which was reflected in her whimsical sense of style. This became her beloved home for the next forty years.

Mom was witty and had lots of friends from all walks of life. She developed friendships with young people who sought her advice and would visit her often. She was the first to offer to watch someone’s kids, help pack to move, and was always available to lend an ear. Volunteering at Judson Park, the Garden Center, the Nature Center, and reading at the Elementary school brought her much pleasure. She gave so much of herself and never expected anything in return. As straight-laced as we thought she was, we were often surprised by her shenanigans. We were amazed to learn that she had someone paint a life-sized, mustached, boyfriend in her hall closet! We also discovered that she enjoyed drinking boozy fruit and needle-pointing til the wee hours with her friend Dorothy, and spent many mornings drinking coffee and chatting with her pajama clad friend Jane, who snuck over from the building next door.

As mom got into her 90's, we gently began to discuss moving her to an assisted living facility. It took years, but she finally agreed to move to Washington DC near her daughter. It was a big change for her, but there was never a complaint. She made the most of it. Here she would remain until her death in 2026 at 101 years old. Today (Sept 19) she would have been 102.

Aside from her busy life of volunteering, working at the library, daily phone calls with Cathy and Susie, and spending time with good friends, Isabel simply adored her four grandchildren. Andrew, her first born, held a special place in her heart, they often enjoyed sharing a filet mignon, Chrissy would fly in from whatever state she was in to chitchat, and share wine and cheese, Peter took special care of his “Gran” in her elder years, and, David loved to talk about, and was fascinated by, her Hungarian heritage.

There truly are no words to capture the essence of Isabel. Those who knew her felt her in their heart. She was honest, reliable, trustworthy, self-less, smart, funny, patient, passionate, courageous, sweet but always stood up for what she believed in.

One of her dear friends and neighbor, summed it up perfectly when she said, “Your mother was kind, thoughtful, and caring. I never heard her say a bad word about anyone. She seemed to take life in stride and felt that every day was a blessing.”

We will miss her desperately, but know she is still there when we find ourselves saying…

I’m So Mad I Could Spit Nickels

Round Robin’s Barn (Taking the Long Way or Being Lost)

Shoestring Decorating

He Has More _____ Than Carter Has Liver Pills

When You Have Your Health, You Have Everything

You Don’t Know What You Don’t Know

Do For People When You Can (Don’t Wait Until the End)

We hope to live our lives in a way that will honor her. She led by example, and we are so grateful that she lived a long and full life. Rest peacefully little mother and feel our love everyday.

The service will be held privately with family. Donations can be made to The Shaker Heights Public Library, 16500 Van Aken Boulevard, Cleveland, OH 44120.