Susan Isbell
A memorial gathering will be held Tuesday, Sept. 17 at 7 p.m. in Bemis Hall for Susan Isbell, a resident of Lincoln and formerly of Bedford, who died on July 31.
Susan was the daughter of the late Maurice and Barbara (Kingsbury) Isbell. She graduated from Bedford High School and later went on to receive her bachelor’s degree from Regis College. For many years, she worked as a social worker at the Arlington Council on Aging and most recently at the Lincoln Council on Aging. She was also actively involved in the Bedford COA. As an avid New England sports fan, Susan loved watching and cheering on the Red Sox and Patriots.
Susan’s objective in life was to make people happy and to help people in any way that she could. She was passionate about her social work at the Council on Aging and always willing to volunteer and advocate for the needs of others.
Her contributions were innumerable. Before she was even an official volunteer in Bedford, after her career in Arlington, Susan was working tirelessly in behalf of seniors in areas of health, disability, and financial assistance — crusades she continued on the COA staff in Bedford and later when she moved to Lincoln.
In Lincoln, she undertook one of her favorite COA projects, a consumer resource guide that was both brimming with useful information and extremely attractive. In addition, she spearheaded successful COA efforts to make Bemis Hall more accessible. Most important, Susan was hailed by colleagues for her constant positive and inspirational attitude. She will be missed by many and remembered as always having a smile on her face.
Susan is survived by her sister, Judith Johnson, and her husband, Dennis of Woburn; nieces Laura Tarello and her husband Michael of Medford, and Debra Patterson and her husband Michael of Billerica; grandnephews and niece Matthew and Stephen Patterson of Billerica, and Ashley and Ryan Tarello of Medford; and cousins Gail Kelley of Stoneham, Barbara Adzima of California and Donald Berry of Florida
A funeral service was held at the Bedford Funeral Home on August 3 with burial in Shawsheen Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Care Dimensions Hospice, 75 Sylvan St. B-102, Danvers, MA 01923.
The September 17 memorial will be an informal gathering for all those wishing to share their thoughts, stories, and reflections about Susan, and an occasion to honor her life and the many ways she cared for and helped others. All are welcome. Refreshments will be served.