Isabel J. McCormick

Isabel was born Jan. 23, 1934 to Bertha and Joseph Fountain in Owls Head, New York, the youngest of 19 children.

She married Bernard Richard “Dick” McCormick on April 10, 1950 in Saranac Lake. They raised nine children in the Adirondacks on Donaldson Road in Lake Clear, teaching them how to garden, sew, knit, raise animals and learn various trades in an effort to help them become self-sufficient. There was not much she wasn’t able to accomplish, teaching herself to cook great food for her family and sewing, each of us receiving a patchwork quilt she designed and made herself. She had a passion for camping, canoeing, gardening and hosting family gatherings. She loved to sing old songs to her children and dance, oh how she loved to dance.

Isabel began her nursing career at Morford’s Nursing Home in Bloomingdale as a nurse’s aide and went on from there to work at the Lake Placid Hospital, Will Rogers Memorial Hospital and Saranac Lake General Hospital (Adirondack Medical Center). She loved working with patients and getting them on the road to recovery after surgery. One of her proudest moments was when she earned her LPN through North Country Community College in Malone.

Isabel was predeceased by her husband Bernard “Dick” McCormick, daughter Donna Lasell (South Carolina), son Thomas Allen (New York), grandsons Thomas McCormick (Alaska), Bernard Joseph McCormick (BJ) (New York) and great grandchild Elana Prince (Michigan), her parents and all of her siblings.

She leaves behind daughters Jane Straub of Gwinn, Michigan, Deborah of Bloomingdale (Joseph Bates), Joan of Whitehall (Brian Washburn), Betsy Corris of Saranac Lake; sons Richard of Malone, Charles of Emmett, Idaho (Mary), Bernard Mark (Tammy) of Lake Clear and many grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Funeral arrangements are in care of the Fortune-Keough Funeral Home in Saranac Lake. The services will be private at the convenience of the family.

Donations can be made to the BJ McCormick Scholarship Fund in care of Saranac Lake Central School, 79 Canaras Ave., Saranac Lake, NY 12983. Family and friends can also share their condolences and memories at fortunekeoughfuneralhome.com.