Several days have passed since I learned of Isa’s death, and any number of times I’ve sat down to write this. And any number of times I’ve done something else instead, wanting to say the perfect thing and not being sure the words would come. Isa always knew just how to comfort me when I lost a beloved friend. I wish she were here to help me now.
Maybe she is hovering nearby, and if so, may she give me inspiration. For now, I’ll start at the beginning of my time with her. Isa was a lovely neighbor over for lunch when dogs killed our rabbit, Jake. She sat with me, and Jake’s furry little body. Her words, forgotten now, were comforting but minimal. Mostly we just sat and honored Jake. He was the first in a long string of animal friends that Isa helped me grieve.
Fortunately, we shared many wonderful living animal experiences too. One day, Isa called and said, “Laura, are you and Steve still interested in having a horse?” I said, “No, I don’t think so … that was just a pipe dream … we don’t even have a corral … but I’d like to meet your friend’s horse.” Enter Sadat into our lives. Sixteen hands of gorgeous, willful Appaloosa. It was hard (he taught me much, including what it feels like to be kicked in the gut by a horse, about patience and overcoming fear.) It was love (I wasn’t sure how I could go on the day Sadat left me.) Thank you so much, Isa, for bringing me Sadat, and opening the gates for all the horses that followed him into my life.
Isa inspired me. To rescue and care for animals (all those bags of food for Missi in her starving time, and days spent watching llama bottoms for babies to come out.) To communicate with them on their terms (not something I’ve mastered, by the way, but Isa could.) To live what you believe. (How many of you received countless emails from Isa in her efforts to improve the world?) These are the parts of Isa I knew best.
There was a lot more to know… Isa the nun. Isa the teacher. Isa the counselor. Isa the Peace Core worker. Isa the tireless volunteer. If you read this, and you were also fortunate enough to call Isa a friend, I invite you to click on “comments” below, and share your Isa memories and stories too.
Isa, in your own treasured words after I lost Tyler,
“go shining, sweet being. we’ll meet again.” “we will never understand the webs we spin and are spun into, and as much as it hurts when the visible presence leaves, how could we have it otherwise.”
Much love,
Laura
ps. Follow this link to read an incredible poem written by Isa’s friend, Tereza, in her honor. It captures the essence of Isa so beautifully.
Just think Laurie – now Isa is with all those animals that she helped you to say good-bye to at different points in your life. She is with them and “lighting up the heavens” with all her beauty and love.
That’s a good image … Isa up there having a party with the jillions of animals she knew and loved, “mine” included. Maybe she’s even met Buddy by now. Thanks Michele!
Even though I didn’t have the good fortune to know Isa as well as many of you, what I did know was a kind and gentle spirit.
I met her maybe three times and each time, she lit the room with her smile and warmth. I got the sense that she was fearless and was not one to turn from the truth.
It’s a comfort to know that she will be keeping watch on all those that we so dearly loved and lost in this life.
hi, i met isa for the first time in 1975 in swaziland. then she was teaching in the local university. we shared the same group of friends. in 76 or 77 we lost contact, i moved to another town and isa ( we called her doris then ) i think returned to the u.s. in 1986 i came to new york and within a few weeks i contacted her. some months later i visited her in california. we stayed in touch all these years and last november (2004 ) i payed her another visit. it took me 18 years to but how glad i am that i didnt delay it another year. i would have been mad at myself if i would have missed seeing her. we both had a wonderful time , between santa crus and monterey and of course picking or calling the aspca about sick animals on the road. nothing was more important for isa than animals. regardles of whos they were. this world has lost a great person. im glad i have some photos to remember her. simcha evron ( new york).
Laura, so you were where Isa went to babysit the llamas. Isa and I shared more of a poetry connection. She introduced me to Joe Riley, who puts out the excellent panhala – an e-mail with poem, picture and music 5 days a week. This is the link to the poem he had been working on, not knowing why he felt compelled to put together a bonus track, when I wrote him about Isa. I think you’ll agree that it’s uncanny, for someone who never spoke to Isa, although Isa always felt his poetry selections spoke exactly to her thoughts at the time. http://www.panhala.net/Morning_Prayers.html
I also have a poem I’ve written for Isa, which seems long to post here. Perhaps if Laura, or anyone who wants it, could e-mail me directly at tereza@retrometro.com, I could send it. (Update from Laura: Tereza’s beautiful poem is posted now, filed in the “quotes” category, assigned to June 5th, the date of Isa’s passing. Thank you for sharing it, Tereza. It truly captures Isa’s essence, and I’ll treasure it always.)
Does anyone else have this funny jealous feeling, like you thought Isa just belonged to you? I mean, I knew she had a life, but she was so accessible and so focused in her attention. It’s like thinking you’re the only kid, and then finding out she had all these other kids who thought they were the only kid. Isa would understand this.
Beautiful comments about Isa from several. She really had been there for you in losing loved animals and probably others also. It brought back memories to me that I loved. The world needs more like her! my thoughts and prayers are with you. love ya!
In response to Tereza … the llamas lived with my friends and neighbors, Don and Fran (who, hint, hint, should post something here.) I met Isa when she was living on their property. I would love to post your poem. Send it along. Thanks, Laura
Tom and I moved into the cabin on Don and Fran’s property after Isa moved closer to town. She left behind a birdbath that was well used by the local birds (finches, hummingbirds, chickadees, jays, woodpeckers, nuthatches, towhees and cedar waxwings…etc.). She had so clearly gained their trust during the time she was there. The chickadees and finches would allow us to stand right at the bath while they splashed around, and all the other birds tolerated us being very close as they visited. We tried to live up to Isa’s expectations of us as inheritors of her sanctuary. We kept the birdbath full, and the birds kept coming. We honored and enjoyed our time in that cabin, as Isa would have wanted us to. (Thank goodness Laura and Steve adopted Missy – we foresaw trouble keeping the promise of sneaking food to her at the neighbor’s house!) We are sorry to hear of her passing.
Isa’s Graduation Celebration Announcement
Isa Dempsey April 25,1929-June 5, 2005.
Isa Dempsey’s life touched many. Her very being encompassed an intense commitment to a more compassionate way of living life fully while respecting and honoring our planet and all its inhabitants and resources. She was born in Ohio and spent nineteen years as a Sister of Notre Dame. After leaving the convent she recognized and responded to diverse needs. She taught at the University of Botswana and Swaziland in Africa, Notre Dame in Ohio, and Gavilan Community College in Gilroy where she was also a counselor. She was a fire lookout for the California Department of Forestry and worked for the California Conservation Corps and at Five-Mile House in Corralitos. She was part of a work group for Habitat for Humanity in Belfast Ireland and for Capacitar in Guatemala. For a number of years she served as support staff and on the editorial board for IF, a local nonprofit organization. She stood vigil with Women in Black as a witness for peace. She continued counseling and felt a special call to care for and communicate with our animal companions and their owners. She founded the Pet Loss Grief Support Group at the Santa Cruz SPCA and volunteered much of her time working with them and in the City of Watsonville’s Animal Shelter. She provided re-cycled stuffed bears to assist people recuperating from pain and gave many of the small clay bears she fired as gifts. She loved Celtic music and cats held a special place in her heart.
Donations in Isa’s memory can be sent to one of the following:
Native Animal Rescue
PO Box 1001
Santa Cruz, CA 95061
Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary in Swaziland
Please make these checks payable to IF
On the “note” line of your check, please write Swaziland. Mail check to:
IF
160 Sunflower Lane
Watsonville, CA 95076
Isa requested that her “graduation” be celebrated by a party for her friends. The party will take place on Saturday, July 30 at 3:30 pm at IF, 160 Sunflower Lane, (off Freedom Blvd.) Watsonville, CA. Snacks and beverages will be served. Please RSVP to Isa’s e-mail so that we may give the caterers an approximate number. Please note “Isa’s Memorial” on the subject line and specify if you are vegan or vegetarian. Condolences may also be sent to the same e-address.
Isa came into our lives in the Spring of 1990 when she moved into our log cabin guest house and became a part of the Como Se Llama Ranch. She enjoyed the animals, which included horses, a donkey, llamas, chickens, dogs, cats, canaries and fish. She stayed with us for five years, helping with the ranch chores, welcoming new crias into the world and taking care of things when we were gone. Her favorite llama was named Eureka, who was an aloof female, but she always had kisses for Isa. After leaving she often came back to ranch sit when we went on trips, and came to visit when we had new crias (baby llamas). She took care of the Ranch when we went to Greece last September, and we had a wonderful visit after our return. When Isa was at the ranch we never had any hesitation about leaving the animals in her care. Our last conversation with her was a week before she died. She was planning a trip up to see us to get her “llama fix”. It is so hard to believe that she is not coming. We miss her. We have so many fond memories of the life we shared. Her love of cats was well known. She was the first person to be able to approach Manxie, the emotionally disturbed cat who belonged to my brother and came to live with us after he died. She was and is a kind gentle soul.
I just learned of Isa’s passing 0n Oct 5th, a friend of Isa’s, Henriett, sent me an e-mail asking if I would like some of the poems and leaflets from her service. I was shocked! I didn’t know she was ill, I hadn’t corresponded with her for awhile as we had a flood in our house and the computer was out of comission from April till September. I live in Salt Lake City and first met Isa in 1952 when I was a 14 year old freshman at Notre Dame Academy in Cleveland Ohio! Isa was one of my teacher’s then and we all loved her so much. I had kept in touch with her off and on over the years, I am so sad, but I know she is happy in heaven. Does she have any family left anywhere? Please give them my sympathy, she was a beautiful person. love, doris bertrand
Doris,
Isa does have family, living in the mid-west, I think. A sister and a brother. Both came to CA for her memorial service, and many of us got the opportunity to let them know how special Isa was to so many people. I don’t know if they’ll see your message here but thanks for writing. Isa’s lives on through her legacy of love to the people and animals to who she gave so much.
I received the following email from Isa’s friends, telling the last chapter in Isa’s physical life. Her ashes now rest in places she held dear.
I knew Isa best as “the nun.” She was my freshman homeroom, religion, and English teacher at Notre Dame Academy. And she has never stopped teaching me. I too was an SND, eventually, and then left the community about 20 years after Isa did.
I’ve kept in contact via Christmas cards over the years. After a few months of wondering about her, I did an Internet search in December and learned of her new life. It’s hard to accept the fact that the single, most influential person in your life will never again send those unique sentiments at least once a year.
But after reading all of items in her memorial folio and speaking with Henriette and Lisa, she is still very near and even more dear. I’ve learned so much about Isa whom we called SMKA. What a full life and now even fuller! “Eye hath not seen….”
Thank you all for sharing your roles in Isa’s life.
Marie
I am sitting here at IF where Isa used to sit before she “retired” from her retirement. She used to visit me in Aromas and we would talk about my dog Lady. She took me to the SPCA in Santa Cruz to watch a special dog exhibition. We both thought Lady was smart enough to be part of those events. But, Isa would be proud, instead Lady chose to be a companion dog to my elderly Uncle and Aunt who live with my husband and myself in Aromas.
I thought Isa was ageless. She was proud of her age and I marveled at her energy, enthusiasm for life and passion to help those who couldn’t fight back. I miss her a lot and I think of her daily as I lightly rub my bear fetish she made. I know she is happy and is still helping us.
I just felt like sending her a note.