Isilena Petrona Northover

Isilena Petrona Northover, fondly known as “Lena” was the last of five children born to Obadiah Jones, and Mary Ann Reynolds, on April 6, 1935, in Crawle River, Clarendon, Jamaica, West Indies. Her three oldest siblings, oldest brother, Daniel (Gwendolyn-Daniel's widow) Jones, sister, Ophelia Jones (Feta), and middle brother, Rudolphus Jones (Bio or Dada), were all born in Cuba during the years her parents resided in Cuba prior to her birth. Only Lena and her youngest brother, Baldo Jones, were born in Jamaica. Lena's siblings pre-deceased her in life.

Isilena (Lena) passed away in her sleep on Saturday, February 21, 2026, at her home, in Lincoln, California, while under the loving watch of her youngest daughter and caregiver, Shelly Northover, Esq., granddaughter, Sarah Northover, and oldest daughter, Marilyn Correa. She was 90 years young, just a month and a half shy of her 91st birthday.

She was a loving and devoted mother, grandmother and great grandmother, sister, aunt and grandaunt, who demonstrated to her family, children, grand, and great grandchildren her deep faith in, and love for God, a zest for learning and education, and a drive for excellence in everything she did. She was an overcomer, surviving cancer three times, and she remained a selfless nurturer who sacrificed everything to see her family succeed in life. She worked tirelessly to keep her family united with her in the U.S. and showered her children Marilyn (Alfred-Marilyn's spouse) Correa, Jacqueline (Dalton-Jacqueline's spouse) Brooks (deceased), Dr. Patricia Northover, Heather (Garth-Heather's spouse) Northover-Watt (deceased), and Shelly Northover, grandchildren, Ramon (Rashieka-Ramon's spouse) Northover, Michael Simms, Michelle Simms, Yanique Simms, Deneish Brooks-Briley, Alexander Brooks, Jr., Sarah Northover, and great grandchildren, Lenaya Thompson, Jaeden Briley, Ria and Robyn Northover and Dalton Alexander Brooks Junior (Pepe), with love, compassion, and support, and passed on to them her devotion to and faith in God. She leaves behind many beloved nieces and nephews in the UK and Jamaica.

Isilena (Lena) had a difficult early life growing up in rural Jamaica, but that adversity made her resilient, with a curious mind, a thirst for learning, life, and adventure, and a strong determination to succeed from an early age. The loss of her mother at the tender age of 6 left an indelible mark on her young heart, and shaped her determination to be the foundation and refuge for her own children later in life. She excelled at school in spite of very little resources, graduating from Prospect Primary School after passing the entrance exams, and then going on to Rock River All Age school, where she successfully passed her 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Jamaica Local exams, allowing her to secure a place at Kingston School of Nursing in Kingston, Jamaica. After successfully passing her exams, Lena moved to Kingston to complete Nursing school, which included a specialization in Mental Health Nursing at Bellevue Hospital in Kingston. She earned her Nursing certification and the Registered Nurse (RN) designation, and went on to spend her first years as a nurse working at St. Joseph’s hospital, in Kingston. It was while in Kingston completing her nursing program that she met, fell in love, and married in 1958, Neville Seymour Northover (deceased), a seaman and master mechanic. The union produced five daughters. Lena later divorced in 1983.

Isilena (Lena) first migrated to the United States in 1967, to create a better life for her daughters who remained in Jamaica. While in New York, she worked at Montefiore Hospital for over 30 years and was promoted to increasingly demanding positions including Nursing Supervisor in ICU. She was a quick learner and hard worker which earned her the respect of all the doctors and nurses she worked alongside. She ended the last decade of her nursing career at the Jewish Home and Hospital, in the Bronx NY, from which she retired in 2001.

Isilena was greatly loved by all who knew her, and will always be remembered by those who knew her best for her unconditional love, kindness, generosity of heart, great faith, and zest for life. She was a faithful churchgoer, who loved growing roses and tending to her garden, watching her favorite TV Soaps, talking with her family and encouraging them, sharing her childhood stories, making memories with her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and doting on her daughter-in-law, Rashieka, son-in-law, Alfred, and niece, Icilda, but she also shared her love, faith and zest for life with extended family, and friends. She had an infectious laugh and radiant smile with deep dimples that could light up any room and she will be deeply missed. Her life could be summed up by the words of 2 Timothy 4:7, “She has fought the good fight, she has finished the course, she has kept the faith.”

A Service in Memorial of her life will be held on Friday, February 27, 2026, at Dignity Memorial - Lincoln Funeral Home, at 406 H Street, Lincoln, CA 95648. Viewing will be from 1 pm to 3 pm, with a short service at 4 pm, led by Rev. Dr. Alfred Correa, officiant and son-in-law. The viewing and service will be streamed through Webcast between 3:30 pm to 5pm for family and friends who will not be able to attend.