Mrs. Monserrate Serrano Y Mendoza Ishman's Obituary
ISHMAN, Monserrate, nee Monserrate Serrano Y Mendoza, 91, of St. Petersburg, went to be with the Lord on July 14, 2014. She was born on November 10, 1922 in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico to Concepcion Dolores Mendoza Cuevas and Jose Serrano Velez. She was preceded in death by her husband of 51 years, Arthur L. Ishman, USAF, Ret. They were married in Mayaguez on March 8, 1941. Her first trip to the mainland was in 1943, with her infant daughter, to Rockford, Pennsylvania to reunite with Arthur after his return from active duty in the Pacific Theatre during World War II. After he retired from military service in 1961, they relocated to her hometown of Mayaguez, where they established an air conditioning and refrigeration contracting business. During the nine years they owned their business; Monserrate managed the office and kept the books.
In 1970, they sold this enterprise and both retired. At that time, they moved to St Petersburg to be closer to their daughter and grandchildren. Once here, they became members of Allendale United Methodist Church. Mrs. Ishman became a member of the Naomi circle, one of the women's service groups at Allendale, and also served faithfully as a Prayer Warrior and Choir member. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Bonnie Ishman DeFrees and David Terry DeFrees, now of Castle Rock, CO and her son, Jeff Ishman, of St. Petersburg. She is also survived by four grandchildren, Tracy DeFrees Motsinger Stewart, D. Mark DeFrees, D. Matthew DeFrees, and D. Paul DeFrees and their spouses and 11 great-grandchildren, all of whom reside in the greater Denver metropolitan area.
In memory of Mrs. Ishman, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Women's Residence and Food Bank arms of the St Petersburg Free Clinic, to CASA or to the Allendale United Methodist Church Music Program, all causes close to her heart.
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