ISABELLE B. SIMPSON

MENANDS - Isabelle B. Simpson, known affectionately as “Honey”, 109 of Menands, passed away peacefully on August 11th, 2025.

Born June 14, 1916 in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, Isabelle was the daughter of the late Charles F. and Mary (Kleiser) Wolfe. She graduated Troy High School in 1934, and married William A. Simpson on November 3, 1940, cherishing sixty-five years of marriage prior to William’s passing on July 8, 2006.

Honey wanted everyone to know she worked as a secretary for Kennedy & Kennedy Law firm for four years until 1939. She then worked for the NYS Health Department until 1942 and would later go on to work in the Payroll Department of Hoffman Car Wash for 27 years before her retirement in 1999. She was also a secretary for the nurse at South Colonie Central High School, retiring from that position in 1980. Isabelle was a former member of Hart Social Center, Colonie Elks Lodge Ladies Auxiliary #2192, as well as the Menands Seniors Club. Her daughter and family were lucky enough to have her as their next-door neighbor for over 30 years, with the last five years spent living in her granddaughter Paige’s home with her family.  In her free time, she enjoyed crafts, puzzles, winning Rummikub and nickel bingo, was a voracious reader, and loved traveling and camping with her large group of partying friends. She loved Lake George and travelled there often from her time as a young woman going camping at Roger’s Rock and continued visiting the lake well into her 100s. She had an extraordinarily sharp mind and was quick with a joke.  She loved spending time with her grandchildren, great-grandchildren and was excited about her two great-great grandchildren on the way.

Honey is survived by her two loving children, Carole M. Hoffman and William (Judie) J. Simpson, and five cherished grandchildren, Thomas Hoffman Jr. (Erin), Carrie Hoffman, Paige Hartl (Walt), Jill Marie Phillips (Tim), Timothy Simpson (Caroline), and eleven adored great-grandchildren.

In addition to her late husband and parents, she is predeceased by her brothers, Archie Wolfe and Franklin Wolfe and sisters Marian Wolfe and Anna Peck.

Relatives and friends are invited and may call on Thursday, August 14, 2025 from 9:00 to 11:00 AM at The Dufresne & Cavanaugh Funeral Home, 149 Old Loudon Rd., Latham. Funeral service will immediately follow the calling hours at the funeral home beginning at 11:00 AM with Reverend Gordon Drake officiating. 

Interment will follow and take place in Albany Rural Cemetery, Menands.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Honey’s honor to the Menand’s Senior Club at menandsny.gov and/or The Community Hospice Foundation at www.communityhospice.org/donate. 

For directions, information, to light a memory candle or order flowers for the family please visit www.dufresneandcavanaugh.com.