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With heavy hearts we announce the passing of Isabel Cutler (née Russell) peacefully in her sleep, on June 22 2016. Predeceased by husbands Percy Cutler in 2001 and Frank Elliott in 1942 and their daughter Faye Berthot in 2012, she will be remembered fondly by siblings Frank Russell, Elsie Altman and Vivian Pasacreta; sister-in-law Kath Bate and daughters Lynn (Michel) Garbay of Chilliwack, Lorna Mark of Lloydminster SK, Iris Moore (Brian) of Rossland, Gwen (Peter) Legg of Surrey, Marcy Cutler of Trail and son-in-law Lloyd Berthot. She also leaves behind a large extended family that includes 11 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren and one great-great granddaughter, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. The eldest of eight children, Isabel was born in Stettler Alberta on July 24, 1919 to Carrie and Howard (John) Russell. The family homesteaded in the Big Valley area until moving to Slocan City in 1934.  At 19, Isabel met and married Frank Elliott and followed him to Nova Scotia where he was stationed as an airman with the Royal Canadian Air Force. Tragically Frank was killed in a training accident in 1943, and Isabel returned to BC with their infant daughter, Faye.  She worked at the Greyhound bus station in Nelson and Vancouver and then met Percy at a dance in Slocan.  They were married in 1948. His work with the Department of Highways took them to New Denver where Lynn, Lorna, Iris and Gwen were born, then to Rossland in 1963 where they later welcomed Marcy.  In addition to raising her own family, Isabel took in many foster children, taught Sunday school, was a longtime member of the Pythian Sisters and the Order of the Eastern Star and a regular attendee at the United Church in Rossland and the Anglican Church in Trail, where she had lived since 1991.  Many will remember Isabel at the piano, which she played all her life.  With Percy on the fiddle beside her, music filled their home at every family gathering and as members of the Sharps and Flats band they even took their show on the road.  After Percy’s passing Isabel continued to play piano for various community organizations. Although in recent years her deteriorating eyesight gradually robbed her of some of her favourite activities including knitting and sewing, Isabel’s love for music, her family and ice cream never wavered.  She will be deeply missed.  The family wishes to thank Dr. Wilson of Trail and the kind staff at the Kootenay Boundary General Hospital for their care and comfort in the final days of her brief illness. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) www.cnib.ca.  A celebration of Isabel’s life will be held at St. Andrews Anglican Church, 1347 Pine Avenue, Trail, BC, Saturday, July 2, 2016 at 2:00 pm. A private viewing for family members will be held at the church from 12:30 to 1:30 pm. Gwen Ziprick of Alternatives Funeral and Cremation Services has been entrusted with the arrangements. You are invited to leave a personal message of condolence by visiting the family’s register at www.myalternatives.ca



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