Isabel C. Oskutis

Isabel C. Oskutis of Plano, passed away August 8, 2022 at Medical City Plano from a myriad of issues related to her multiple sclerosis and breast cancer diseases. She had been hospitalized for a week before succumbing peacefully in hospice care.

Isabella Catherine Smith was born in Newark, NJ on September 3, 1949, to Charles and Isabella McNeill Smith. At age 2, the family moved to Rahway, NJ, where they lived in a neighborhood filled with baby boomers and young parents, directly behind an elementary school, high school, and soon to be constructed junior high school. It was a place where kids could go outside to play without fear, where streetball and sandlot games flourished daily, there was no bullies because older kids watched out for the younger ones, related or not. To this day, Isabel still maintained friendships with grammar school mates who moved away before junior high not to mention those she finished high school with.

Isabel was a 9th grade cheerleader following her cheer career in recreational sports. A knee injury unfortunately ended that extracurricular activity. It also reared its ugly head many years later as chronic knee pain became a daily issue. In high school, Isabel's empathy and insight made her a natural born leader. In her junior year, she was chosen for the select Blue Tri Sorority by the teachers and senior members. She served as President her senior year. The sorority raised monies for various charitable organizations in town and delivered food baskets to needy families at Thanksgiving. They also sponsored the "King of Hearts" dance annually. The heated debates among the members were tempered by Isabel's level-headedness.

In addition to Blue Tri, she served the Future Teachers Club as secretary her junior year and as President her senior year. Time management was obviously an acquired skill for she also served on the yearbook staff her senior year as well as a chair in Rainbow girls.

Following graduation in 1967 at age 17, Isabel attended Glassboro State College (now Rowan University) majoring in Elementary Education. She'd try to avoid classes scheduled for Friday afternoons so she could commute up to Rahway to see Adolph, who was attending Rutgers College in New Brunswick, NJ. She was able to stop the weekend commute by marrying him on July 25, 1970. She started Glassboro as a Smith, but graduated in 1971 as an Oskutis. Brave beyond doubt!!!

The ease with which she could communicate with anyone put her in good stead as she was offered a teaching job in Lindenwold, NJ on her first interview. She started September that year, and taught until Michael was born in 1974. She entered the Order of the Eastern Star during this period and maintained her membership to this date.

Adolph's career change in 1975 allowed the small family to relocate back to Rahway. Soon David and Laura joined the family and Isabel, while a stay-at-home Mom, flourished with PTA, Church School Teacher, Girl Scout Leader, Cub Pack Banquet Chair, Soccer Chauffeur, Church School Superintendent, Substitute Teacher. When the state determined grammar schools needed to offer complete libraries on each campus, Isabel attended Montclair State College to obtain her Library Certification. She then literally built in-school libraries from the ground up. For the next few years, she taught library skills to 3rd grade through 6th graders. She really found her element.

In 1988, after another job relocation to Plano, she again became a stay-at-home Mom to help in her children's transition. She was hired on May 4. 1992 as a part time clerk for the City of Plano Library system. She retired on January 31, 2011 as a former Periodicals and current Circulation Supervisor. During those 18 years, she was able to walk across the Swilken Bridge at St. Andrews Old Course, fly in a corporate jet, watch the Edinburgh tattoo, be a guest at Palm Springs resorts, and sit next to the 16th green at Augusta Nationals' Masters Tournament on finals day. Since then she's been to 20 countries, Pike's Peak with 8 feet of snow on top, the Eiffel Tower twice, Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, Yosemite, slept on the Queen Mary and generally refused to give in to the pain of the neuropathy and other symptoms of the MS. She didn't want to miss a single soccer game, football game or softball game any of her grandchildren were involved in.

Daughter, sister, mother, grandmother, teacher, librarian, reader, traveler, colleague, friend, partner wife.

Isabel is survived by her husband of 52 years, Adolph; her son Michael, his wife Lindsey and their children Camy, Aiden and Maddon; her Son David; and her daughter, Laura, her husband Ed and their sons Trey and Sean.

In lieu of flowers, Isabel would prefer a gift to Operation Kindness 3201 Earhart Drive, Carrollton, Texas 75006 or the Humane Society of North Texas, 1840 E. Lancaster Ave, Fort Worth, TX 76103

A celebration of life for Isabel will be held Friday, August 26, 2022 at 2:00 PM at Ted Dickey Funeral Home, 2128 18th St, Plano, Texas 75074.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Ted Dickey Funeral Home.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.TedDickeyFuneral.com for the Oskutis family.