Isela Cronin

Our beautiful Isela “Issy” Cronin passed unexpectedly, but peacefully into the arms of her Savior on May 10, 2023, in Puyallup, Washington.

Memorial services will be held Saturday May 20th at 1:00 pm at the Powers Funeral Home in Puyallup WA.

Isela Casso Lopez was born on September 12, 1972, to Isela Casso Lopez and Ernesto Aguirre in Rosario, Durango, Mexico. She spent her early years helping her mom, brother Frank, and sister Elsa on the family ranch in Mexico raising cattle and helping with other ranch duties. At the young age of 8, she moved to San Diego, CA with her mom and sister.

Isela married her best friend, Kevin, on April 5, 1992. From this union, she became a devoted mother to Kevin-Michael, Dylan, Isabella, and Blake.

Isela lived a life of joy and brought happiness to those in her life. Isela had an amazing relationship with her children and dedicated her life to them, ensuring that she raised them to be the best that they could be. She was a straight shooter with them and never sugar coated any issues that might have to be discussed. Whenever there were hard decisions to make, she handled them with immense wisdom and motherly intuition.

In addition to her role as a devoted mother, Isela embraced the challenges and adventures of being a military wife, as her husband, Kevin, served in the military for 26 years. Together, they embarked on a journey that took them to various corners of the world. With each new assignment and change of duty stations, Isela transformed each house into a warm and welcoming home, creating an environment that nurtured her family and provided solace in the midst of constant change. Isela understood the importance of creating a sense of belonging wherever they went.

Isela possessed an incredible talent for turning any space into a haven of comfort and love. She had an eye for detail and an innate ability to blend functionality with esthetics. She would precisely arrange furniture, carefully select colors and decorations, and thoughtfully incorporate personal touches that reflected the family’s identity and history. Her touch could be felt in every corner of every room.

She brought life and joy into everything that she did. Often you would find her in local shops collecting antiques or working in her craft space, creating beautiful decoration. On a nice day, you could find her working in the yard tending to her flowers and garden. There was never a space that Isela lived in that was dull or bleak because she was the heart of the home.

Isela’s love for photography was a constant part of her everyday life. The holidays were her favorite time of year. She would decorate her house in holiday splendor. Her friends always loved and awaited seeing her beautiful photos of what her holiday decorations would look like from year to year.

Isela’s warm and welcoming nature made every place they lived a gathering spot for loved ones and friends. She opened her doors with open arms, creating a sense of community and friendship. She was a light to all those who knew her and an advisor to many of her closest friends and family. She would help them in their hardest moments with dignity and respect.

As we remember Isela, let us celebrate her remarkable talent for turning houses into homes, her ability to bring warmth and love to each new place, and her role as a pillar of strength for her military family. Her legacy of creating welcoming spaces will forever be cherished by those who had the privilege to witness her creations.

Isela is survived by Kevin, her husband and best friend of 31 years; her children, Kevin Michael, Dylan, Isabella, and Blake; her brother Francisco “Frank” Sr. (Merlinda) Casso Lopez of Las Vegas, NV, sister Elsa Casso Lopez of Kenner, LA; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Larry and Sandy Cronin of Fort Pierre, SD; sister-in-law Kelli (Brandon) Nagel of Gettysburg, SD and brother-in-law Kirby Cronin of Fort Pierre, SD; along with many nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, uncles, and cherished friends.

She is preceded in death by her infant sons, Seth and Kenneth; her mother Isela and father Ernesto.