Florence Isabel Bidleman

Featured in: November/December 2021

BIDLEMAN — Florence “Issy” Isabel (Gerdon), 76; born Feb. 9, 1944, Richland, New York; died Jan. 1, 2021, East Wenatchee, Washington. Surviving: spouse, John “Jack;" son, Darl; daughters, Portia Loken; Grace Delgado, Erin Erwin; 8 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.

 

Mom went by "Iss" or "Issy" most of her life. She loved her family with all of her heart... and devoted her life to caring for and loving each one of us. She and my dad were true-love soul mates and loved sharing life's adventures together.. raising four children, traveling, working, engaging in church activities, Bible studies, and doing all they could to witness of Jesus and His great love for them and others.  They simply enjoyed doing life together and in their later years, just loved being with one another and growing old together.

Mom always had a special love for young people and lived her life uplifting and praying for all the young people she knew and loved around her. It could be depended upon that during any prayer request time, she would pray for the young people. She spent many years leading out in children's Sabbath Schools, VBS, Pathfinders, Jr. Grange, being a softball coach, team mom, friend, guide, activity coordinator, etc. to her four children and all their friends as they grew up, and later to her grandchildren, and any other young person that touched her life. She especially enjoyed every moment with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren... camping trips, swimming, telling stories, making tree forts, bicycling, or just loving and snuggling them, and talking about what was going on in their lives. In her later years, as she grew weaker, the joy of her life was just to be in the presence of her children and grandchildren... to have them come visit, hold her hand, and just be with her, whether in person, through a phone call, or online... just to see or hear their voices brought her peace and total contentment.

Issy was known by all for her energy, hugs, hospitality, laughter, enthusiasm, big personality, and her love of family and life.  She will forever be in the hearts of her husband, children, and grandchildren... and likely in the hearts of many others who knew and loved her, as well.  We love you, Mama, and are looking so forward to that great resurrection day and eternity with Jesus our Lord and Savior, who made it possible for us all to be together again.