Dolly (Dalalil) Isaac

FAMILY TRIBUTE  January  2004

Dolly Isaac (Dalalil)

Dolly was born in Dunedin on the 9th May 1914. She grew up in a loving and caring family. The twelfth child from a family of fourteen. Her parents were Tobia & Hala Isaac.  Dolly's father, Tobia, died when she  was 11 years old.

What do we know about Dolly. At about sixteen years of age she was taken to Seacliff Hospital for the mentally unwell. Why? we don't know! Perhaps she was a rebellious teenager. Sad to say she lived there and in Cherry Farm, until it closed down and she was transferred to Claremont House in Dunedin.

I met Auntie Dolly only a few times during those Cherry Farm years when she was on leave and staying with her sister Annie.

It was when she went to live in Claremont House that I became involved in her life. I wanted her to know that we cared and that she still had a family.  I visited her and she came to our home on several occasions. She came to visit for her birthday and Christmas and other special occasions. 

So what do we really know about this special lady?

We know that she loved a cigarette and that she puffed away like a smoky bear. She loved her food, a game of cards, which is no surprise given that she came from a family of card players. Going out for a drive was another favourite. She loved beads and having her nails polished. Music was another interest and she and she loved to sing.

Dolly was a gentle person with a huge smile that could light up a room, she could be quite cheeky and mischievous with a lovely sense of humour.  She was very placid in nature and accepting of what life had dealt her.

She loved her family and was especially close to her brother Kelly who was two years younger than Dolly.

I feel extremely sad when I think of Auntie Dolly living in a Mental Hospital for most of her life and for what she had to endure. She was a special lady who had become institutionalised,  this was demonstrated in her lack of social skills, conversations with Dolly were limited. She was timid, shy and intelligent. How I wish I could have known her better.

Just over a year ago Auntie's health deteriorated she spent many weeks in Dunedin Hospital before going to live at Glamis Hospital. Her caregivers always expressed to me that Dolly was very easy to care for and that she was a lovely lady. The family would like to express their gratitude to Claremont House and Glamis Hospital for the wonderful care that she received while under their care.

Also to Father Tony Harrison and the special ministers of the parish for seeing to Dolly's spiritual needs by taking her communion on a weekly basis. Thank you.

Dolly was 89 years old when she died on 30 December 2003. This marks the end of an era for the Isaac family.

Scotties family Noel, Sonia and Rozeta send this message: It's sad to hear of the loss of Auntie Dolly, she was the last of Dad's family and we remember her fondly.

God Bless you Auntie Dolly  

Glennys Espie (Nee Isaac)

God has you in his keeping

We have you in our hearts