Isabel MURRAY Obituary

Dear Shaun, Kyle and Phil and families. Have been thinking of you all. Isabel was an exceptional lady, loved by so many. You will all have so many wonderful memories, I hope these memories bring some comfort in times to come. Deepest sympathy

Very sorry to read of Isabel's passing. Many happy memories when her family lived a few houses from us in Ross Street. Haven't seen her for a few years now but still feel very much for her family. A long time ago her and her siblings shared their chain bikes with us - we did not have those. Also rembering her parents when they had the cake shop and always bought us some un sold goodies. Hi the Joan, too - she was our flower girl in 1967. I am sure everyone will miss her
especially her siblings. Rest in Peace, Isabel.

Condolences on the loss of Isabel.
A special lady , full of confidence & charm & personality . So sorry, Isabel´s passing seems early . Love to all the family.
It would be lovely to have contact with Philip & Rosemary. (Contact numbers please). I will also contact
Bob. My cell is O21449122.
Blessings to all at this difficult time.
Warren & Ethel White.

Farewell Isi from leigh Gibson and the Gisborne YMCA.
It is with great regret that I am unable to stand here today to say farewell to my friend and past colleague Isi. I appreciate that Michelle is going to read this for me.
Isi was a kind nurturing soul, she had such great empathy to people around her, and was highly respected and loved locally, nationally and internationally. Isi was one of the most precious people in my life, and my time spent with Isi has made me a better person.
Isi and I were colleagues for nearly twenty years through the YMCA. We met quarterly at the YMCA CEO forum and became great friends. As part of the National Leadership Team, Isi, John Fairhurst and myself also formed close relationships with the CEO´s of larger Australian YMCA´s, and for a period of time we were meeting regularly with them to share best practice and opportunities for growth.
As the Chair of the NZ YMCA Education Committee, Isi offered operational advice and support to the National YMCA Board for many years. She was highly respected within the NZ YMCA, YMCA´s international movement and government. She worked tirelessly to ensure that nationally we had sustainable and quality educational programmes and services. I would go so far to say that she was loved and respected by her colleagues and staff. And even when she was really tired, she made sure she treated others as though they were really important to her and the Y. Hers was a life that shined brightly just so that the paths of others could be illuminated. Isi´s life exemplified brilliance in every capacity.
Isi and I attended numerous YMCA CEO international conferences annually, and one of my highlights will always be meeting Phil in Alexandria, Egypt. In New York we met Isi´s sister. We travelled to Madrid, Dominican Republic, Bundaberg, Melbourne. Isi always appreciated life.
In 2015 I travelled overseas with my husband to a YMCA CEO Conference in the UK and we spent two months following the Allblacks in the Rugby World Cup through Wales and England. Isi had left the Invercargill YMCA, and had also finished a 12 month position as National YMCA Education Manager, so I contacted Isi to see if she would like to fill in managing the Gisborne YMCA in my absence. Isi agreed and relocated to Gisborne and looked after our staff, my home and dog. My staff absolutely loved Isi and I managed to talk her into staying in Gisborne for the year. OMG, what an amazing woman. She cared and nurtured our staff, always had time to talk and was really missed when she returned to Invercargill. On her departure our staff gave her a can opener. The significance of that was that during my overseas trip Isi had an accident with my car driving up my driveway. The passenger side of the car hit the end of my husband´s ute, and Isi had not realised that she had hit the vehicle. The offshoot of that was that she carried on driving up the driveway and while there was no damage to my husband´s ute, the whole side of my car was opened up like it had been opened by a can opener. My staff still find this hilarious today in a good Isi way. While in Gisborne Isi and I would exercise at power plate three times a week which I think helped her to have her leg fixed.
Isi´s life could be all kinds of chaos but she never wore it on her face. Isi´s smile would light up the room, and I never heard a bad word from her. Isi was protective and supportive to everyone. She lived life as if there is always more to be thankful for than there is to complain about.
Isi and I kept in contact and I spoke to Isi a short time ago. She was very happy. She always spoke fondly of her work at Citizens Advice and the people that she worked with. She had found her calling post YMCA.
Isi loved her family, her children, grandchildren and her siblings with a passion. While in Gisborne she always had weekly phone calls to everyone in her family, and this was really important to her. Isi even arranged for me to stay once in Edinburgh with Mary, which was really appreciated. When we went shopping, she was always looking at presents for her grandchildren. I know that you will all miss Isi terribly and on behalf of the Gisborne YMCA and myself, we send the family our sincere condolences. Isi was a treasure and the Gisborne YMCA and myself appreciate the time that we were able to spend with Isi.

Though we have to say farewell
This won´t be the end
I´ll think about you often
And will always call you friend
Our memories will help us smile
And we won´t feel so sad.

A wonderful lady with a good heart

Our deepest sympathy to the Murray family. May Isabel rest peacefully. Xxx
Trish and Bill McKay

our thoughts are with you all at this very sad time trevor & margaret keelty

I have fond memories of Isobel
when we worked together at
Postbank Waikiwi.
We had great conversations together and a lot of fun.