Read Idamae Julie Isaacs's Obituary & Leave Condolences

In memory of

Idamae Julie Isaacs

Brooksville, FL, USA

December 30, 1946 - August 27, 2018

Dec 30, 1946 - Aug 27, 2018

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An avid traveler, foodie, and adventurist, Idamae Isaacs shed a clever and loving light on all whose lives she touched. She was a detailed craftswoman and woodworker, a creative soul, inventive home chef, an intensely detailed organizer, and a lover of all things mango and vanilla. Even when her health was failing, she actively exercised the use of her middle finger (but never towards her children of course).

She was married to her husband Leon for just over 50 years. They met and were married in Santa Maria, CA, and enjoyed years of water skiing, entertaining, home improvement, golfing, and traveling. They took many wonderful trips, traveling widely, and loved visiting Hawaii, Jamaica, Switzerland, and Germany the most. They also judged barbecue contests with the Florida Barbecue Association in the south, as well as internationally in Jamaica and Europe. They even competed in a few European competitions, representing the U.S. with pride.

Ida loved entertaining, and owned every color table cloth made by Pier One, as well as every variation of tropical scented candle. She hosted many dinner parties, luaus, and other themed parties. She was well known in the neighborhood for her annual “Smokin’ and Jokin’” party, which brought friends together in a competition of BBQ ribs and joke recitations.

In her children, she instilled solid values such as honesty, compassion, and respect, as well as love for the Beatles (especially Sgt Peppers), Bob Marley, “maxing and relaxing”, “prime time” (aka cocktail hour), and Christmas traditions. Christmas in the Isaacs household stretched an entire day or more, with food, presents, and music. Weekends at the Isaacs’ usually involved guacamole and singing & dancing to records (and later CD’s).

Ida was always up for an adventure. She was an avid golfer for many years and even organized golf tournaments to benefit Hospice. She started bike riding in her 30’s and rollerblading in her 50’s. In her 60’s, she won a dance competition in Jamaica, while Leon was sleeping peacefully in his lounge chair.

She took her kids to many events she may or may not have been interested in herself. She took Kevin to the 1976 All Star game in LA and cheered her heart out. She took Julie to see Van Halen and Ozzy Osbourne, as well as the musical Tommy (twice) and wore her souvenir T-shirts proudly. Her home was always open to her kids’ friends. She gladly hosted them throughout the years, and despite the loudness and late hours of the get-togethers, looked back fondly on all the kids who came over.

Ida’s garage would have made most homeowners cry. It was probably neater and more organized than most people’s kitchens. Her labelmaker was extremely well used, and inventories were thoroughly documented in Excel. Her linen closet was organized by color and her board games were stacked and numbered by size.

Food was one of her biggest loves. After one of her loved ones returned from a trip, the first thing she’d ask is what they ate. As a child, she wrote home from camp about her meals. Clam chowder, tri tip, and ribs were among her specialties. When she didn’t make dessert, she occasionally insisted (with gusto) that someone provide her key lime pie, and always kissed them when they brought it to her.

She took joy in teaching her grandchildren to eat whipped cream from the can, and make fart noises (often at the same time). She enthusiastically pushed chicken nuggets on her grandkids until their cheeks were stuffed. She let them stay up after their bedtime, swimming and making noise, even if it made the neighbors mad.

Her loving soul will be desperately missed by her husband Leon, children Kevin and Julie, grandchildren Ella, Desmond, and Vincent, siblings Melba Sue Shannon and Jesse Jacobson, son-in-law Shawn Hoffman, in-laws Celia and Terry Hoffman, as well as many other friends and relatives.

Ida also requests that everyone toast to her, enjoy life, and rejoice in good times. In lieu of flowers, the family requests in donations be made in her name to either American Cancer Society https://donate3.cancer.org/?l… or Hospice Atlanta https://vnhs.org/get-involved….

Her special departing request was for people to hear one of her favorite songs, the Letter by Macy Gray.
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch…
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/trac…

"Don't know where I'm headed
Hope I see you someday soon
So long everybody
I have gone beyond the moon

All I ever wanted was some love and peace and harmony
Just to be live and shine
When I get ready I up and fly
And I can't remember none of the things that I want
To forget
It's the best - satisfaction no less
Ask if I'm free and I'll say Oh yes"

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In lieu of flowers, consider a gift to American Cancer Society.

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