It is with broken hearts for ourselves yet rejoicing for her, that we announce Isabel Catherine Pakarno is in Jesus’ healing arms. She passed away on Friday, May 15, 2020 at the age of 78 years.
Isabel was born March 23, 1942 in Gladstone, Manitoba, the second of 11 children born to Cecil and Isabella (Isa) Flaws. They lived in Glencairn, Manitoba until 1957 when the family moved to Hays, AB.
She married Jerome Pakarno on March 31, 1962. They farmed in Hays for a few years before the rigs called Jerry to a new career. Many years were spent following the rigs around, including a year in England. They bought a lot in Rosemary in 1971 to have a home base and this is where Crystal and Cory were raised.
A strong advocate for reading and education, Isabel took bookkeeping courses, Teacher’s Aide diploma, and Office Tech and Business Administration Diploma at Brooks Campus Medicine Hat College, excelling in each. She worked in a bank, as a bookkeeper, a special needs assistant, and speech aide. Isabel was never one to be idle. She enjoyed going for walks, traveling, visiting with friends, playing games and cards, word puzzles, crafting, gardening, and sewing.
Isabel was very caring and compassionate. Many foster kids found love and belonging in her home and each one held a special place in her heart. She loved animals, especially dogs, and found they had a special healing touch for the hurting.
After Jerry passed away in 2005, Isabel lived with her daughter and son in-law for a year, then Orchard Manor for 3 years, before moving to Sunrise Gardens for her last 11 years.
In her years at Sunrise Gardens, Isabel was known for the miles she put on while walking the hallways (she wore out many shoes!) and for her singing (which she used to claim, “I only sing solo, so low no one can hear).
Family was very important to Isabel. She was predeceased by her parents, Cecil and Isa; her husband, Jerry; her brother, Lloyd; brother in-law Otto; sisters in-law, Antonia Jones, Marie Gertzen, and Marlene Pakarno; brothers in-law Willard Chomas, Lyle Mooney, and Dan Jones; and niece Karen Gertzen. She is survived by her loving family including her children Crystal (Scott) Lintott and Cory (Liam) along with two grandkids, Saffron and Lexus Lintott; her siblings Bert (Janice), George (Sandy), Anne, Darlene (Bill), Agnes, Heather (Howard), Doug (Bonnie), John, and Marilyn; sister in-law Lucy; Jerry’s siblings, Gil Pakarno and Linda McAughey, sister in-law Lillian Pakarno and brother in-law Arnold Gertzen; as well as many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Thank you to the staff, past and present, at Orchard Manor and Sunrise Gardens, Dr. Coetzee, and Home Care staff for your wisdom, support, and loving care of Isabel over the past 14 years. We will greatly miss our extended family of staff, residents, and their families.
A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date when gathering restrictions are lifted. In honour of Isabel’s love of the guest musicians brought to Sunrise Gardens, if friends desire, memorial tributes may be made to Sunrise Gardens Resident Council, 1235 3rd St. W., Brooks, AB, T1R 0P7.
If you have a memory of Isabel that you would like to share, we would love to hear it. Please email memoriesofIsabel@gmail.com.
