Obituary of Isabel Filkins

Patiently transforming from her cocoon, Mrs. Filkins finally got her wings and is now off to freely dance in the winds. She gracefully fought her battle with cancer for the past three years and peacefully passed away on August 8, 2019.

Isabel was born 1/19/31 in Magdalena, New Mexico. She moved to California, married, and eventually moved her family to Arizona. Izzy was married for 51 years. For over 20 years, she spent her time serving the Verde Valley community, her family, friends, and neighbors. She worked at the Old Town Mission, St. Vincent De Paul and Northern Az Hospice. Izzy had a deep admiration and appreciation for Mother Teresa, whom she strived and devoted herself to be like:

“If you can’t feed a hundred people, then feed just one.” “Being unwanted, unloved, uncared for, forgotten by everybody, I think that is a much greater hunger, a much greater poverty then the person who has nothing to eat.”

Because of firsthand experience, she was determined to make sure that every person she came in to contact with knew they had someone and some place to go. She touched so many lives and loved everyone. Her love, devotion, compassion and gentle soul is one of a kind and something to never be questioned or forgotten. “Mother’s don’t fear death. Their greatest fear is leaving their children in this world, knowing no one will love them like her.”

The final message she wanted to leave is:

I want to thank Northern Arizona Hospice group for their 3 year treatment for me and for making me feel like they were my family and for being there for me when there was no family around. Faith, I love your soup. Thank you Chris, for everything. Francis, Fred, Rick, Robin, I love you, I’m proud of you and to be your mother. Francis, I’m so sorry I couldn’t be there for you with Ted. Rick and Robin, thank you for doing all you did for me. Fred, “you are not alone, I am here with you”

She is preceded in death by her husband Richard, two brothers, two sisters two great grandchildren and a son in-law. She is survived by four children, nine grandchildren and twelve great grandchildren. Cremation burial. Information provided by self and survivors.