"Barbara Ann “Isabella” Roesch of Mesa, Arizona passed away November 15, 2011. She was born August 1st, 1939 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Barbara married Robert "Jon" Roesch on August 14, 1971. She was a wife, mother, friend, nurse, artist, writer, lover of creatures big and small, puzzle expert, and chaser of hot-air balloons. She will be tearfully missed and joyfully remembered. She grew up in Massachusetts, Georgia, Florida (attended Florida State University), and Texas (graduated from Incarnate Word College of Nursing in 1967). She worked as an intensive care nurse and taught nursing at Incarnate Word until 1971. She married Robert D. Roesch “Jon” on August 14, 1971 in San Antonio, Texas in the Riverwalk chapel. They moved to Wichita, Kansas, where they had three children. Her family moved to Arizona in 1986.
She had a life long love of animals and supported numerous charities to support this love. Animals seems to know this as her longtime pet cat, Serendipity, a stray, came to her when he jumped into her car during a rainstorm, and knew he found a home. Isabella was an avid reader and had a mastery of the English language. Preferring the more personal, she always wrote letters by hand. She tutored Chinese students in English while learning Chinese herself. She took up many hobbies during her life including leaning to play the harp, making stain glass windows, card making, and driving a diesel eninge train with the Los Angeles Live Steamers. She even logged a few hours as a hot air balloon pilot when she could be spared from her chief chase crew duties.
Isabella is survived by her grateful husband Jon; her son and daughter-in-law Jonathan Daniel and Bonnie, and grandchildren Laura and David; her son Robert Andrew; her daughter Katharine Noelle; and her loving cousins Rosemary “ReRe” and Nancy whom with she grew up with as an older sister. Isabella will be missed by all. She will be laid to rest in Mariposa Gardens, 400 South Power Road, Mesa, AZ. A private memorial will be held Sunday, November 20th. The family requests any donation be made in memory of Isabella to The Phoenix Zoo, Attn: Development, 455 North Galvin Parkway, Phoenix, AZ 85008. A plaque will be installed across from her beloved elephants.
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