Isabel Harrington, born Isabel Rodrigues in Gonzales, Texas passed away in her home of over 50 years next to her beloved husband, Patrick on October 25, 2020 while the Mass service played on the TV. She was 95 years old. Isabel is survived by her son, Mark Harrington and daughter, Lori Jasper and her grandchildren, Jacob, aged 16 and Julia aged 14. Isabel was one of twelve children. She has two younger surviving sisters, Pauline Clevenger and Emily Mills, both from San Antonio. Isabel’s family moved from Gonzales to San Antonio when she was a teenager. After high school, Isabel joined the convent in San Antonio and attended Incarnate Word College where she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing. After a long career working as a nun and a nurse, Isabel decided to leave the convent and move to San Francisco, where her older sister Genevieve Rodriguez lived. Isabel was employed as a nurse at Children’s Hospital in San Francisco. After a short time, she met her husband, Patrick Harrington at a dance for Catholic singles and was married on April 25, 1965. Isabel and Patrick then moved to San Jose. Soon, they were a family of four and began raising their children. Isabel was very involved with her church community and neighbors, who were like family to her since her family lived in Texas. Isabel learned to drive a Volkswagen bug after having children since she had no need to learn to drive as a nun or while living in San Francisco. Isabel loved her second career as a homemaker and mother. She loved to cook and bake and volunteered at school and church functions. While her kids were in school, Isabel returned to school to renew her nursing license and returned to work as a nurse. After an early retirement, Patrick decided to learn how to ski and Isabel loved their trips to the snow. She even tried to learn how to ski herself, but decided that the lodge was a better fit for her. Isabel and Patrick also learned how to camp in retirement and enjoyed many trips to Bass Lake with friends. Isabel loved to travel and took many trips to Europe and even to the Holy Land. When she learned that she would be a grandmother, she was beyond excited and doted on her grandchildren, Jacob and Julia. She enjoyed trips to Disneyland with her grandchildren and they enjoyed many sleepovers at Grandma and Papa’s house. Isabel was a devoted Catholic and she and Patrick attended Mount St. Joseph Carmelite Monastery in the eastern San Jose foothills. When it no longer was safe to drive up the windy road, a fellow parishioner drove Isabel and Patrick to church every Sunday. Isabel and Patrick lived independently until a few years ago, when a caregiver joined their family to take care of them during the day with their son Mark taking care of them at night. Isabel and Patrick loved trips to Costco and Valley Fair and getting take out from El Pollo Loco and McDonald’s. Isabel was thoughtful, kind and generous to everyone she met. She will be missed by everyone who was lucky enough to know her.
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