Isabel Stauffer

Isabel Stauffer (née Zaragoza), age 93, passed away peacefully on May 22, 2025, reuniting at last with her beloved husband, Paul Stauffer, who preceded her in death on July 12, 2022. Married for 64 wonderful years, theirs was a life built on devotion, adventure, and unwavering love.

Isabel was a cherished wife, sister, aunt, and friend. She is survived by her loving sisters Mary, Rachel, Millie, and Olivia; her foster brother Isidro; and a large extended family of nieces and nephews who adored her. She also leaves behind two dear friends, Cara and Sylvia, who were as close as family.

Aunt Isabel and Uncle Paul shared a beautiful life. They traveled extensively across the United States, always by car, usually in a new Cadillac, as Isabel preferred the road to the skies. Their journeys weren’t just for sightseeing; they were collectors at heart. From vintage bottles and tin containers to whimsical salt and pepper shakers, gnomes, and delicate paperweights, their home became a curated museum of memories, each piece a story from the road.

Isabel was an artist in the truest sense. Her home was adorned with her own paintings, a gallery of landscapes and still lifes that captured the world through her eyes. She was also a gifted crocheter and knitter, earning awards and admiration for her intricately crafted blankets; each stitch was a labor of love.

Born to Reyes and Galdina Zaragoza, Isabel was preceded in death by her siblings John, Maria, Beatrice, Angie, Carmen, and Reyes Jr. She began her working life in the 1950s as the elevator operator in the Haberfelde Building in downtown Bakersfield, a unique job that would change her life, as it was there she met Paul.

Together, Isabel and Paul built a life filled with love, laughter, and art, much of it spent in San Jose, before returning to Bakersfield in the early 2000s. Their home reflected their journey — a place filled with beauty, warmth, and the sense that every corner held a memory.

Isabel made a lasting impression not through grand gestures, but through her passion and the care she poured into everything she did. She lived on her own terms—guided by her artistic spirit, effortlessly stylish, and never one to blend into the background. There was a bit of Elizabeth Taylor in the way she moved through the world: with elegance, charm, and just the right amount of panache. From her deep friendships and spontaneous adventures to the passions she pursued with flair, Isabel infused everything she did with warmth, wit, and her shared journey with Paul added an extra layer of richness to it all.

She will be deeply missed and fondly remembered by all who were lucky enough to know her.

In keeping with their wishes, Aunt Isabel and Uncle Paul will have their ashes scattered in the waters off Pebble Beach, California, a place they both loved deeply. The family has planned a private burial-at-sea ceremony to honor their memory and the life they shared together.