Full Circle: A Lifetime of Giving Comes Home to The Village at Incarnate Word

 

For Isabel Howard, these words are a way of life. At The Village at Incarnate Word, caregiving and being cared for have become one and the same.

Isabel first came to the renowned senior care facility at Incarnate Word University looking for volunteer opportunities. She never imagined it would soon become home.

“The minute I walked into that hall, I thought, What a happy place. It was so warm and welcoming, with people constantly moving about,” Isabel recalled.

A Life of Caregiving

Isabel credits her mother, a nurse’s aide, for instilling in her the value of helping others. As a child, she often accompanied her mother during shifts at Wilford Hall Hospital at Lackland Air Force Base, watching as she cared for injured soldiers from the Korean War.

“I learned at my mother’s knee. I guess my nature was already there to help people,” Isabel said.

As an adult, Isabel dedicated 33 years to civil service. Her employment was in military personnel at the Defense Language Institute at Lackland Air Force Base, as well as Fort Sam Houston and Protocol. During this time, she also became a caregiver for her mother, who was suffering from dementia.

Her passion for helping others extended beyond her family. As a devout Catholic, Isabel joined the Single Catholics Over Thirty (SCOTS), a single social group for seniors.

“Three months later, at an event for the organization, I met this blind gentleman named Don Howard—not knowing he was going to be my husband,” Isabel remembered. “There was something about low vision that attracted me. Our relationship grew and blossomed into love.”

 

A Love That Danced Through Life

Don’s blindness developed later in life due to ischemic optic neuropathy, a condition that causes nerve damage. But that never dulled his zest for life.

The couple became active members of the Low Vision Club and the Blind Veterans Association, where they helped organize social events. Don loved to dance, and Isabel fondly recalls teaching him how to move to Latin music.

“He would dance the same two-step all night long. To change it up, I told him he could adjust his steps to the rhythm,” Isabel said. “For Latin music, I would tap my fingers to the beat on his palm, and he would match it with his feet. That’s how he learned to dance to Latin music.”

The couple built a wonderful life together in their Northwood home, where they lived for 22 years—until Don’s sudden passing. Isabel remained there for three more years before fate led her to The Village at Incarnate Word.

 

A New Chapter Begins

One day, while inquiring about volunteer opportunities at The Village, Isabel unexpectedly asked to tour an apartment.

“What possessed me to say that I have no idea,” she recalled. “Then they said, you can see one right now.”

At the time, only a one-bedroom unit was available. She wanted a two-bedroom, so they placed her on a waiting list.

Just nine days later, a 2-bedroom became available.

“When I went to see it, I thought, this is it!” Isabel said. “Now I need to sell my home and find some boxes.”

She didn’t need many. Isabel gave away most of her belongings, bringing only what she needed to start her new chapter.

“The transition was so easy. I have never felt any remorse about leaving my home of 25 years because this place is so welcoming.”

Giving Back at The Village

It didn’t take long for Isabel to get involved. Encouraged by her experience caring for Don,

Isabel’s interaction among residents with low vision inspired the revival of the Low Vision and Support Group.

“I can share what I learned from my husband to help others be more active,” she said. “We use oversized bingo cards and puzzles to make activities more accessible.”

She also volunteers to help new residents adjust to life at The Village.

“I remember getting lost and struggling to remember names when I first moved in. But one morning, I woke up, and it all just came together,” Isabel said.

A Legacy of Care

Life at The Village is fulfilling, and Isabel is embracing every moment. She plans to continue helping others—until the day she needs help herself.

“I have almost 50 years of caregiving—first for my mother, then for Don. At one point, I said, God, you know how ditsy I am, and you want me to be a caregiver? But He knew what He was doing,” she laughed.

“Helping others gives me strength.”