Downham, Isabelle Pelletier

Mrs. Isabelle Pelletier Downham returned to her Lord and Savior on August 28, 2006, after a long and blessed life of well over 100 years. Rose Isabelle Thielman was born in Calumet, Michigan on July 4, 1906 to Frank A. and Mary Theresa Thielman. The family moved to a farm in Fruitport, Michigan in 1912, which farm is still owned by the Thielman family. Isabelle married Muskegon Police Officer Roy Pelletier in 1929 and she worked in the office of Donaldson's Coal Company in Lakeside. When Roy and Isabelle retired, they moved to Fort Myers, Florida. After Roy's death in 1956, Isabelle returned to school, studied nursing and went to work at Lee Memorial Hospital in Fort Myers. There she met Flossie and George Young and traveled with them all over the world as their personal nurse and secretary. In 1969 Isabelle married William Downham and traveled with him until his death in 1977. She continued to travel with various friends and relatives until well into her 80's. Isabelle loved playing music, dancing, learning languages and traveling. She was kind and generous to friends, family and strangers. She was preceded in death by her parents and siblings; William Thielman, Mary Jospehine (Mayme) Haney and Francis Thielman. She is survived by her sister-in-law, Barbara Jean Thielman; nephews, Eugene Thielman and Thomas Thielman; nieces, Coral Wiles, Gayle Bickowski and Rosemary Thielman Sugarbker and many great-nieces and nephews. She is buried in the Garden of Memories, Fort Myers Cemetery. A Mass in her memory will be celebrated February 25, 2007 at St. Michael's Church, Muskegon, Michigan.