Isabella Monika Zumstein passed away peacefully at home with her family on April 19, 2024, 11 days before her 93rd birthday.
Isabella was born on Apr. 30, 1931 in Norwalk, CA to parents Joseph Rohrer and Monika (Sigrist) Rohrer, who had both immigrated from Switzerland. When Isabella was very young, her mother married Olie Aman, also a Swiss immigrant. Olie brought the family into the central California area where he worked at dairies. When Isabella first attended school, she couldn’t speak English. But she learned rapidly and graduated from Hilmar High School where she was student body treasurer.
At the Swiss hall, she was attracted to Pete Zumstein, and she married him in 1952.
On a dairy in Hilmar, they raised five children, and Isabella was a good homemaker, giving the boys haircuts, baking cookies, mending torn pants, and hosting visitors who came to play cards.
In 1969 they built a home on a country property in Ceres, and husband Pete began a 19 year career at Gallo Winery. Then their sixth child was born. Isabella and Pete were married for 66 years until he passed away in 2019. She continued to live at the country location, visited by family and friends, until her passing.
Isabella is survived by children Annabel Murata (Bob), Leonard Zumstein (Vicky), Fred Zumstein (Cheryl), John Zumstein (Marilyn), Heidi Scroggins (Olen), and Julie Hawkins (Mike). She also leaves behind her sister Lillie Olson (Bob), 14 grandchildren, and 14 greatgrandchildren. She is preceded in death by her husband, Pete Zumstein, and brothers Joe Rohrer and Richard Aman.
Isabella was a member of the Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Hilmar, and later attended St. Jude’s Catholic Church in Ceres, where she distributed food to the needy, served as a Eucharistic minister, and helped count the money collected at mass.
She was an active member of the SJV Swiss Club, and sang in the Swiss Echoes choir.
Isabella liked playing games like Rummikube and Scrabble, but she really loved playing Jass.
Even at the age of 92, she tied for 3rd place at the Swiss hall card party! She kept track of people’s birthdays and anniversaries, and mailed cards to one and all.
Good at managing money, she lived frugally, yet gave money to those in need.
She raised six decent, responsible children without a dishwasher, cell phone, or computer! The family will miss her dearly because she was such a hard-working, amazing woman.
The family will be having a private graveside service at St. Stanislaus Catholic Cemetery in Modesto. Remembrances in Isabella’s name can be donated to SJV Swiss Club, 110 N. Manley Rd. Ripon, CA 95366, or donate to a charity of your choice.
