Harriett Mary Issertell died peacefully on March 12 in Altamonte Springs at the age of 88. Harriett was born in Mt. Vernon, NY on September 20, 1935.
She is survived by her niece Karen Speidell, her husband James of Poughquag NY, their three children and six grandchildren. She is also survived by Janet Grosso of Mt. Vernon, NY, and Richard Genesse of Buffalo, NY, and a great niece and nephew.
She was predeceased by her husband Joseph T. Issertell, her parents Mary and James Genesse, and her brothers James and Edwin Genesse.
During her lifetime, Harriett became an educator and touched the lives of thousands of students during her long tenure in the classroom. She taught at St. Mary Magdalen for many years and then continued teaching in the Orange County public school system in 1985. Throughout her long career Harriett held many positions including a kindergarten and second grade teacher, a reading specialist, and instructional coach.
During much of this time Harriett also served as a consultant in the religious education division of Silver Burdett publishers. Harriett was selected as Bonneville Teacher of the Year in 1995 and won a Disney “Teacherriffic” award for innovative teaching practices in 1996. She retired in 2022. Harriett graduated from the Audire program in 1999 as a spiritual director and then served as an assistant in Year 1 of the program from 2005-2020. She will be remembered for her exemplary organizational skills, her faithfulness to serving the Audire program, and her beautiful welcoming smile. Harriett’s impact will be felt for many years, and she will be missed by all those she touched with her wisdom and wit.
Services for Harriett will be held at DeGusipe Funeral Home at 9001 North Orlando Ave., Maitland, Florida, on Friday, April 5, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
A mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday, April 6, at 10 a.m. at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church, Altamonte Springs, Florida. Interment will follow immediately after mass at Glen Haven Memorial Park.