We lost our beautiful mother, Isabel “Liz” Sisneros, on August 9, 2020. She was active and maintained her usual daily routine until she passed. She had just taken and passed her driver’s test and renewed her license for another five years. Her wish was to always be able to care for herself physically and mentally to the end of her life. We were lucky that she never tested positive for Covid and we were able to be with her to the end.
A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Mountain time on Friday, September 29, 2023, at Mitchell City Cemetery in Mitchell, Nebraska with Fr. Mike McDonald as Celebrant. The service will be live-streamed and recorded on Isabel’s obituary page viewable at www.reverencefuneralparlor.com.
Isabel was born on July 8, 1927, to Vincente Hernandez Martinez and Barbarita Quinones in Germania/Midland, Texas. She was the youngest of ten children.
She married Ysidro Sisneros on May 20, 1944, in Mitchell, Nebraska. They had four children, Delores, Joe, Ed, and Rudy, that were raised in Mitchell. The couple divorced in 1976 due to many differences and then remarried on November 20, 1986. They moved to Colorado after Ysidro retired from farming to be with family and grandchildren.
Isabel’s primary career was raising her family and managing the many tasks that were part of being a farmer’s wife. She loved her family and was dedicated to their well-being and education. Isabel enjoyed music and her home was always filled with music, singing and dancing. She even taught herself to play the piano.
Writing was another activity Isabel liked. She was never able to complete a formal education because of her family’s migrant lifestyle, but she learned to read and write in both Spanish and English. Her stories included family history, her difficult times including her divorce, her son Joe’s time in Vietnam, especially after he was wounded in action, and her personal growth. She was able to successfully communicate her emotions though her writings and poems.
Some of her many hobbies included crafting, cooking, sewing, crocheting and cleaning. It seemed the furniture was moved weekly, even in her later years.
Isabel encouraged her family to believe and trust in God, to stay in touch, support each other, and to remember that even though they started as migrant workers, with a focus on education and hard work it was possible to make it in this world.
Our Mom was our resource. She was the one we called for all family phone numbers, addresses, family status, birthdays, anniversaries, and any changes. She was even the one to call for questions on family traditions, customs and even how to say a word in Spanish. We still think of calling her with questions before remembering we can no longer call her. We miss the calls, the celebrations, and the times together, but sometimes we still hear her voice and messages and realize she is still with us in spirit.
Survivors include her daughter, Delores; sons, Joe (Nikki), Ed (DeAnna), and Rudy (Patty); grandchildren, Matthew, Brad (Mindy), Tami (Rob), Angie, Levi, Mike, and Kurt; great-grandchildren, Aubrey, Weston, Sydney, Samantha, Zane and Max; along with other extended family members.
Isabel was preceded death by her husband, Ysidro; son-in-law, Mike; and all her brothers and sisters.