Isabel D. Escober

A Visitation and Recitation of the Holy Rosary and a Mass of Catholic Burial will be celebrated on Monday and Tuesday in Santa Cruz for Isabel Escober who passed away peacefully Saturday here in Santa Cruz where she had been a resident for more than fifty years. Born in Agana,Guam and raised in Chalan Pago, she survived Japanese occupation of her community and home. As the youngest of 16 children, she was preceded in death by all 15 of her brothers and sisters and her dog Max. She was 81 years old. Izzy worked as a banker with a career spanning more than 40 years. While in Guam, she was a banker on Anderson Air Force Base, and upon moving to Santa Cruz in 1967, she worked many years with Wells Fargo, ultimately retiring from that establishment. Because retirement didn't suit her, she worked later with Coast Commercial Bank and, upon retiring again, left many dear friends and colleagues who admired her meticulous work and feisty humor. She was a long-time parishioner of Our Lady Star of the Sea Church where she served as a Eucharistic Minister. Her friends and family will always remember her love of music; especially, "I Walk the Line" by Johnny Cash, and the joy she demonstrated when singing along to oldies. She also loved collecting shells on the shore, and gardening, taking special pride in her African violets, roses, and orchids. She especially enjoyed the special time spent with her son and daughter and their families. Her family will forever cherish the memory of her love for island style gatherings, and the welcome that she extended to all who will remember her favorite saying, "and all that stuff." She is survived by her son John D. Escober and his wife Victoria of Jamestown, CA and, by her daughter Lourdes Spellman and her partner Steve Harris of Key Largo, FL. She is also survived by her grandchildren, John and Christina Spellman of Santa Cruz, and many nieces and nephews and grand-nieces and grand-nephews. The recitation of the rosary will be held on Monday September 18th at Benito and Azzaro Pacific Gardens Chapel beginning at 5 p.m. Friends may pay their respects at a viewing from 1 pm. - 5 p.m. on Monday at the chapel. The mass will be celebrated on Tuesday September 19th at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church (515 Frederick Street in Santa Cruz) beginning at 10 a.m. Following the mass, a reception will be held at 132 Carl Avenue in Santa Cruz. The committal ceremony will take place later that afternoon at 2:00 p.m. at Holy Cross Cemetery in Santa Cruz, where she will be laid to rest with her loving husband, Carlos T. Escober, who preceded her in death in 2002.Any kind acts of charity can be made in Isabel's memory to the Santa Cruz SPCA at: https://spcasc.org/donate_step1/ Please visit the Benito and Azzaro homepage to share your prayers and condolences with her family.