Isabelle Devanna

Isabelle M. Devanna, 99, of Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey died July 6, 2025. Born June 23,1926, she was the beloved daughter of the late Philip and Mary Ambrosine and sister and best friend to the late and beloved Catherine Arnett.

Isabelle was a graduate of Boston University. Upon graduation, she taught Physical Education at Butler High School in New Jersey and, also, worked as an Administrative Bookkeeper. On September 2,1950, she married her high school sweetheart, Robert Edmund Devanna, in Emerson, NJ. They celebrated 65 years of marriage until his passing in 2015. No one could make her laugh or love like he could.

Isabelle is survived by her five children who all proudly acknowledge her ever positive attitude and the mantra she would lean on in the face of any of life’s challenges: “It could be worse”.

Her loving children are Robert (Janet) of Tolland, Connecticut, Scott (Paula) of DeSoto, Texas, Karen Elrod (Jack) of Hilton Head, SC, James (Barbara) of Northport, LI and New Smyrna, Florida, and Richard (Lori) of Hillsdale, NJ. She was also blessed to have 12 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren.

Affectionately known over the years as “Iz the Wiz” by her children and their friends, Isabelle was both an incredible athlete and an accomplished musician. Her vocal talent, which allowed her to enjoy a multi-year role as College Song Leader, was only surpassed by her ability to play the piano. Though classically trained, she had the ability to play piano by ear and continued to enjoy doing so well in to her nineties. Her athleticism was displayed early on and throughout her life as well. She was renowned for flying through the air doing flips as a cheerleader or, later on, bowling with her bowling league girlfriends or, most especially, playing golf which she enjoyed doing through her late eighties at Ridgewood Country Club. Her family will also remember (and greatly miss) her wonderful cooking and, particularly, Sunday afternoon dinners which religiously followed noon church services.

A Celebration of life service will be private with interment arrangements under the direction of Becker Funeral Home, Westwood, NJ. Memorial contributions may be made to Alzheimer’s and Dementia Associations.

Saying goodbye is always sad but those who loved her understand “it could be worse”, for we might never have known her.