Obituary of Isabel Jean Wishart
Isabel Jean Wishart (nee Munro), daughter, Mother, wife, sister, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt and trusted friend, passed away in her sleep on Friday, May 22, 2020 at the age of 94 years, one day short of her 95th birthday.
Isabel was born in Calgary at the Scottish Nursing home in the community of Mission and was the first baby christened at the new Presbyterian Church in Carstairs, where her christening bowl resides in the museum. A country girl at heart, Mum was raised on the family farm, spending an adventurous time growing up; showing her livestock at 4H and the Calgary Exhibition, raising and riding Clydesdale horses and helping on the farm kept all of them busy. Her Scottish parents taught her the rewards of hard work and the power of a kind word. She kept these values in place her entire life, instilling them in her children without us even knowing it. Isabel graduated high school in 1942 and attended Normal School to become a teacher. She began her career in Olds and then taught at St. Hilda’s School for Girls. Her career was interrupted in 1948 when she met a handsome Scottish soldier named Tam Wishart and fell in love – but not right away, she said “I was dating someone else.” Together they raised six children across Canada. During this part of her life, Mum kept busy volunteering at our schools, canvassing for donations for the Cancer Foundation and working for Census Canada. She even managed to volunteer at a horse riding association where she helped disabled children learn the beauty and grace of riding a horse by themselves. She covered her family in cherished knitted goods and then knitted toques and mittens to donate to the Salvation Army. She was a fantastic baker and could coax an African violet to bloom like no one else. She took up writing and wrote and published many articles in local and rural newspapers about gardening and Alberta’s history, as she loved to fill her children’s heads with interesting facts about Alberta!
Slowed by a stroke in 2013, she spent her later years marvelling at her grandchildren and great-grandchildren’s pursuits. She loved watching sports and complaining about athletes that did not perform up to her expectations, which is something her boys absolutely adored about her. She was a sweet, gentle woman and her passing will leave an absence in our lives beyond measure. We loved her fully and completely.
Isabel will be profoundly missed by her children, Tricia (David), Douglas (Sandra), Nancy (Craig), Hugh (Carol) and Tam (Shereen), as well as eleven grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.
Isabel was predeceased by her parents, Jean and Jock; brother, Donald; sister, Christine; husband, Tam; son, Angus; and daughter-in-law, Leigh.
There will be a private interment and memorial at a later date.
If friends so desire, memorial tributes in Isabel’s name can be made to The Carstairs Museum, 1138 Nanton Street, Carstairs, AB T0M 0N0.
The family would like to thank the staff at the Valley Ridge and Newport Harbour for their excellent care and companionship. The family will always be indebted to the nurses and doctors at the Foothills Hospital for their care and attention to her health.