Isabell L. Washington of Freehold, NJ, has passed away, leaving behind a family and community who loved her dearly.
What follows is written with love, by those who knew her best.
There are losses that teach us the weight of a life.
Obituary of Isabell L. Washington
Isabell L. Washington departed this life quietly at Centre State Hospital, Freehold, NJ on Sunday, April 2026 at 01:45PM.
Isabell was born on April 10, 1937, in Newark, NJ to her parents Daisy and Ottis Jackson. She is preceded in death by her loving husband William Washington Sr., Mother Daisy, her Grand Parent Mr. & Mrs. Jackson, Sisters: Joan and Tutsie: Brother Butch Sr., her daughter Sheila.
She attended public schools in Newark, NJ graduating from South Side High School. She united in marriage to William "Rico" Washington Jr., in 1955. To this union five (5) children were born, William III, Gregory, Lynette, Sheila (deceased) and Lawrence. On the death of her mother in 1974, they assumed legal guardianship of two of her younger siblings, Andre and Tanya (deceased).
She began her work career working at Barton Savings in Newark and later started working at the Urban League and then Minority Contractors in Newark before her final job in March 1986 at New Jersey Transit, where she worked for seventeen (17) years as the driving force of the Radio Systems Planning and Support division, until her retirement in October 2002. Later she continued working part time at H&R Block and the Senior Community at Silver Mead until transitioning from those roles in November 2025.
Isabell is best known for enjoying life, playing cards, working on the computer or playing games on her tablet and hanging out with her Bestie, Ms. Betty. She was also a member of the Red Hat Society.
Isabell "Belle" "Mom" "Nan" "Auntie," leaves to cherish her memory, her beloved children, three sons, William Washington III of Irvington, NJ, Gregory Washington of Hightstown, NJ and Lawrence Washington of North Plainfield, NJ: one daughter, Lynnette Washington of Bayville, NJ, her ward, Andre Royal Williams of Newark, NJ: three daughters in-law, Gail Washington, Mary Washington and Michele Washington: four grand-children, Gregory Chico Washington Jr. (wife Michelle), Kimberly Shante Washington, Derrick Leroy Brown and Kyla Washington: nieces Fantasia Williams and Nikia Stith and nephew Andre Williams Jr.: two Great Grands, William and Savana and Great Nephew Myles; Siblings: Joyce, Janet, Eleanor, Harriet and Angela: and a host of other nieces, nephews and cousins.
Visitation will be held at the Clayton & McGirr Funeral Home, 100 Elton-Adelphia Road (Route 524). Freehold Township on Thursday, May 7, 2026 from 10:100 to 11:00 AM, with her funeral service to begin at 11:00 AM. Entombment will follow in Hollywood Memorial Park, 1500 Stuyvesant Avenue, Union. For more information, directions, or to leave condolence messages to the family, please visit www.claytonfunderhome.com.
Sleep on Mom and take your rest. We loved you dearly, but God loved you best.
Lovingly Submitted, The Family
