Obituary of Isabel Marrapodi
Isabel Marrapodi 11/19/1930-9/30/2022
Isabel Marrapodi, age 91 passed away on Friday, September 30, 2022, after a long illness at Autumn Lake Healthcare at Berkeley Heights. Born in San Antonio, Texas to the late Filipe and Antonia Hinojosa, Isabel grew up in San Antonio before marrying Frank Marrapodi and moving to Watchung in 1958.
Isabel raised her children before becoming a successful entrepreneur and owner of Helping Hands Agency in Dunellen in the 1980s until her retirement in 2005. Isabel enjoyed many hobbies, including bridge, mah-jongg, bowling, St. Mary’s Stony Hill’s choir, the Rosary Society, and acting with the Valley Players for many years. She also was the owner, producer, writer, and actor of the Wetumpka Players. Isabel studied drama at the Metropolitan Geographical Institute of Writing in California and took business courses at DeVry Institute.
Isabel was a published author. Her first novel, Scarlet Woman White as Snow: Mary Magdelene was published in 2007. She also was a prolific playwriter and published over 10 children’s plays. Isabel received the Somerset County Outstanding Woman Entrepreneur of the Year award in 2005 as well as a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition and the Somerset County Commission award as a “Woman of Achievement” for Women’s History Month.
Isabel is survived by her loving husband Frank of 64 years, two children Elisabeth Marrapodi and Frank Marrapodi, Jr., and his wife Myriem, five grandchildren, Ian, Julie, Jessica, Geanette, and Seth, and three great-grandchildren, Aubrey, A.J. and Hailey. She is also survived by nine siblings, Alicia Perone, Hope Hofer, Lily Abild, Diana Rangel, Sylvia Falcon, Linda Gonzalez, Marina Cavazos, Tish Hinojosa, and Jose Hinojosa. She was predeceased by four siblings, Gloria Harbour, Stella Sanchez, Philip Hinojosa, and Rueben Hinojosa.
Visitation is at Higgins Funeral Home 752 Mountain Blvd., Watchung on Tuesday, October 4, 2022, from 3-7 pm. A funeral Mass will be held on Wednesday, October 5, 2022, at 10 am at St. Mary’s Stony Hill, 225 Mountain Blvd., Watchung with burial services at St. Mary’s Stony Hill Cemetery, Plainfield Ave, Watchung.
Memorial donations may be made in her name to the Alzheimer’s Association.
