Isabel W. Lies

Isabel Lilian Walker Lies of Cranford and Lavallette, NJ passed away on June 9, 2021 surrounded by her devoted family. She will be remembered as a loving spouse, caring mother, grandmother and great grandmother. Throughout her life Isabel developed deep and lasting connections with many friends, neighbors  and colleagues.  Her laughter will be greatly missed by all those who knew and loved her. 

Isabel was born in Chicago, Ill. in 1934 to parents Isaac and Annabel Walker, immigrants from Inverness, Scotland who came to the United States in search of a better life for themselves and their four young children.  The family eventually settled in Newark, NJ where Isabel formed lifelong friendships and was a proud member of the West Side High School Class of 1952.

Soon after graduating from high school, while working at the NJ Bell Telephone Company, Isabel attended a dance at the Ivanhoe Club in Irvington, NJ where she met the love of her life, a young marine named Alfred H. Lies, Jr.  They were married in 1954 and celebrated 61 years together before his passing in 2015.

In 1958, as a young mother with two small children (Timothy and Terry) at home, Isabel joined the first class of night school students at Newark State Teachers College. She completed her undergraduate degree in Special Education in 1961. Then obtained her Master’s Degree at Kean University in 1975. During this time she and Al added two more children (Thomas and Heather) to their growing family. Isabel accepted a teaching position in Rahway, NJ at Roosevelt School where she was a dedicated teacher who pioneered many new teaching methods in her Special Education classroom. She loved her students and her colleagues became a second family over the course of her 30 year career.  

Isabel loved the town of Cranford, NJ and volunteered on many town committees. She was a passionate bridge player who had a weekly game with the same group of women for over 50 years. During the summer Isabel could be found at her home in Lavallette, NJ. on “the greatest block in town” surrounded by wonderful neighbors. The beach house was a dream come true for Al and Isabel and they spent many happy summers there with their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.  

Isabel is survived by her four children Timothy, Terry, Thomas and Heather; her eleven grandchildren William, John, Annie, David, James, Andrew, Isabel, Matthew, William, Thomas and Jake; and nine great-grandchildren Emilia, Abigail, Edwin, Seth, Anna, Margaret, Lilian, James and Cameron.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to the Cranford First Aid Squad at www.cranfordfirstaid.org

Friends and family are invited to Higgins and Bonner 582 Springfield Ave. Westfield, NJ on June, 15 from 10am-2pm.  Burial to follow immediately after at Fairview Cemetery. 

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