Isabel Van Raden

Isabel García Van Raden,93 , a  resident of Ensenada, NM, passed away on March 26th, 2022, with her daughter Doreen and son-in-law  Manuel by her side, holding her hands and praying her to heaven.

Isabel was preceded in death by Eduvigen Rodela ( mother) , Gorgonio and Genoveva R, Duran, ( aunt and uncle who raised her), Robert Van Raden, (husband), Alfonso Garcia (brother) Mary Overmier (sister) Robert Overmier (brother-in-law), Wilson and Beatrice Burbank,  Bobby and Nell Van Raden, (stepson and wife), Rodela aunts, uncles and cousins, and her Van Raden brothers and sisters-in-law and their spouses,

Isabel went to school in Tierra Amarilla. After high school she worked for the Rio Arriba county school superintendent, BIA, and Rio Arriba County Clerk.  Upon moving to San Francisco, California, Isabel worked for Catholic Social Service for several years. After leaving that job, she worked for the largest funeral home in the city; Halsted, N.Grey, Carew & English as bookkeeper and then Chief Financial Officer until her retirement in 2004.

Isabel's spirituality guided her throughout her life, and her influence reached many people. She enjoyed fishihg out on the ocean with her husband Bob, as well as the lakes they frequented, where she usually caught the most and/or biggest fish. Isabel was an accomplished seamstress, great cook, grew beautiful roses for famous flower companies, and helped raise her stepchildren.  She was gracious and giving, and  loved to bowl with her league . She enjoyed road trips to Michigan with her husband Bob to his yearly family reunions, welcomed the reunions when the were held in California, and Bob came with her to her family reunions in New Mexico.

Isabel loved New Mexico's blue skies and puffy clouds, and the mountains she came from. When she moved back to Ensenada, she was at her happiest, enjoying fresh garden vegetables every growing season, excursions out to mountain drives in all seasons, and being close to her daughter.. She dearly loved her New Mexico and California families and friends and prayed for their well-being daily.

Isabel is survived by her Doreen Burbank-Trujillo (daughter) and Manuel D. Trujillo ( son-in-law), beloved grandson, Manuel De Atocha Trujillo and wife Ashley Maddox, sister Alyce and husband Mike Kelly, brother Phil Rodela and wife Bea, brother Steven Rodela and wife Loyda, brother Carrlos Romero and wife Sandy, brother Pedro Romero, several  New Mexico nieces and nephews, adopted Trujillo brothers and sisters-in-law to Doreen, who considered her their second mother, California family stepdaughters Karen Collins, and Marsha Van Raden, and stepson Ray Van Raden, along with a  Collins granddaughter, Jenny, grandson Johnny, as well as a Van Raden great-granddaughter and great grandson, along with her friends in both locations.   Services are pending at this time and will be announced as soon as they become available.  Burial will take place at the National Cemetery in San Francisco, CA at a later date.

Honorary pallbearers will be all her nieces and nephews

The Rosary will be recited at 10:00 am with Mass to follow at 11:00 am at the Santo Nino Church in Tierra Amarilla, NM on May 6, 2022.

In lieu of flowers, please contribute to any Catholic organization honoring the Blessed Virgin Mary, at Fatima, St. Anthony, or any of the saints in her honor.

The family of Isabel Van Raden has entrusted the care of their loved one to the DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory of the Espanola Valley. 505-747-7477 www.devargasfuneral.com

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