Isabelle Newcombe

Isabelle Carpenter Duchene Newcombe, age 99 of Faribault, passed away peacefully on Thursday, September 30, 2010 at St. Lucas Care Center in Faribault.             Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, October 8, 2010 at 10:30 a.m. at Divine Mercy Catholic Church, 139 Mercy Drive, Faribault, with Rev. Kevin Finnegan, pastor, officiating. Interment will be held at St. Lawrence Cemetery in Faribault, officiated by Donna Mae Kadrlik, Spiritual Director.             Visitation will begin with the Faribault Eagles Auxiliary #1460 memorial service on Friday at 8:45 a.m. at Divine Mercy Church.             Arrangements are with the Parker Kohl Funeral Home of Faribault.             Daughter of Joseph and Bridget McCarthy Carpenter, Isabelle was born on August 2, 1911, at the family farm on Fox Lake in Faribault, MN. Isabelle attended the one-room country school at Fox Lake, which she enjoyed so much that she attended the eighth grade twice so that she could stay in school. Learning, reading and art were of special interest to her.             Isabelle loved to dance and socialize. At the age of 14, she began attending barn dances with her Uncle Elmer Carpenter and sister Marie, and eventually met Ray F. Duchene at one of the Duffney barn dances. Isabelle and Ray were united in marriage on November 24, 1931, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Faribault. She was a full-time mother and homemaker until she and Ray opened Duchene's Grocery when she began helping to manage the family store. After Isabelle and Ray sold the store, Isabelle began working as a cashier at the Piggly Wiggly grocery store in Faribault. She loved the customers and people she worked with and remained with the store until she retired.             After Ray's death in 1966, Isabelle later met Frances Newcombe while playing cards at "euchre night" at the Faribault Eagles Club. They were married on August 16, 1969. Isabelle moved to Francis' family farm in Walcott Township where they lived until Francis retired, and then moved to Faribault. Isabelle and Francis loved to travel and took many trips together, including visiting Mexico, Germany, and her favorite place, Ireland.             Isabelle was president of the Faribault Eagles Auxiliary from 1952-1953, and was a lifetime member of the Catholic Church in Faribault where she volunteered her time. She also volunteered for Meals on Wheels, as well as other organizations. Her life interests included baking, cooking, canning, entertaining at home, the Lake Mazaska cabin and the farm, as well as keeping her house spotless, fishing with Ray, traveling with Francis, participating in local card clubs, and spoiling her grandchildren.             She is survived by five children, Sharon (Jerry) Mangold, Shirley Amundson, and Donald (Ceil) Duchene, all of Faribault, Howard (Nori) Duchene of Pipestone, MN, and Kenneth Duchene of Aitkin, MN; by former daughter-in-law, Gerry Meissner of Roseville, MN; by 18 grandchildren, 42 great-grandchildren, and six great-great-grandchildren, and by many relatives and friends of the Carpenter family, Duchene family and Newcombe family, as well as her recent St. Lucas Care Center family.             Isabelle has many people to greet her as she enters the Kingdom of Heaven. She is preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Bridget Carpenter; husbands, Raymond F. Duchene and Francis S. Newcombe; two sons, Robert J. Duchene and Gerald T. Duchene, special nephew, Bill Duchene; daughters-in-law, Lorraine Broin Duchene, Patricia Hoban Duchene, and Delores Boyer; grandchildren, Cindy Duchene, Lisa Paul Chappuis and Martin Mangold; sisters, Marie Duchene and Eleanor Savioe; brother, George Carpenter; as well as sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, cousins, nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends of the Carpenter family, Duchene family, and Newcombe family.             Memorials may be directed to Divine Mercy Catholic Church or St. Lucas Care Center.