Erna Elizabeth Isolda, 92, died on June 30, 2023, at her home at Bernhardt Meadow in Roxbury, Conn.

She was born Elizabeth Erna Blaauw in Ubach Uber Worms, Netherlands, on October 6, 1930, the daughter of Johannes and Liesbet Blaauw. She met her husband-to-be, Edgar Joseph Isolda, at her doorstep when he was in the 29th Division U.S. forces liberating Holland. She came to America where they married in 1947.

The young couple established their home in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., with Edgar's family. In addition to speaking Dutch, she was already fluent in German and English when she arrived in the U.S. She polished her English further as a sales assistant in J.J. Newbury Department in Saratoga, while she also helped care for the family's household.

She and her husband and their young son, Marc, moved to Westport, Conn., in 1958 where they operated Westfair Smoke Shop for a number of years, and later both Erna and Edgar pursued a variety of occupations in Westport and Fairfield. She worked in retail at Franklin Simon Department Store and Kleins Stationery. When her son served as a Marine in Vietnam, she organized other mothers of sons in service to send packages and letters to help them feel connected to their homes and families.

Before their retirement, Erna and Edgar were innkeepers of their own establishments in Stockbridge, Mass., and Lincolnville, Maine. Afterward, they moved back to Connecticut to be near their son in Bridgewater. Always active, she worked at the Village Store in Bridgewater, helping develop Bridgewater Chocolates. Later, Erna volunteered in the kitchen at the New Milford Senior Center and socialized regularly at the Roxbury Senior Center where she was well-known for her knitting and skill at Pinochle. She was a well-loved and vital member of the senior community and had many friends. Erna was a resident at Bernhardt Meadow in Roxbury for over 20 years.

She was predeceased by her husband and her brother Hugo Blauuw. She is survived by another brother, Werner, of Landgraff, Netherlands, her son Marc Isolda and his wife Cynthia, of Bridgewater, and her grandchildren Erika Burgess, of Bridgewater, and Kurt Isolda and his wife Ninle, of Brookfield, and her great-children Odin Burgess and Axel Isolda.

A celebration of her life will take place July 19, 2023, at 4 p.m. at the Bernhardt Meadow Community Center, 19 Bernhardt Meadow Lane, Roxbury, Conn.

To leave an online condolence, please visit www.munsonloveterefuneralhome.com