Belle & Jerry were reunited Sunday, as Isabelle (Belle) Marie Donohue of Stratford, CT passed away peacefully in her sleep on March 2, 2025. Born September 13, 1931, in New York City to Eleanor and George Ludes of Scarsdale, New York, she graduated from The Ursuline School in 1949 and went on to graduate from the College of New Rochelle 1953 with a degree in Fine Arts. Belle had a zest for the outdoors and adventure. She traveled to Europe as a new college graduate then taught art in San Antonio, TX before returning home to marry the love of her life Jerry on June 22, 1957. They enjoyed 64 years of marriage and raised their family in the Lordship section of Stratford one block from the bluffs that led to Long Island Sound.

She is survived by her five children: Michael, Stephen (Eileen), Peter (Pooh), John (Peg), and Susan; her ten grandchildren: Jack (Monika), Patrick, Corey, Luke, Matthew, Ronan, Isabella, Joey, Nora and Quinn; her sister Carol (Charles) Gardner-Ewen and many beloved nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. She is predeceased by her husband Jerry, her parents, and her daughter-in-law Clare Sullivan Donohue.

Belle was happiest when surrounded by family.  She loved swimming near the shores of Groton Long Point, CT and Lake Sunapee, NH, watching boats go by from the porch with Jerry, and cheering on her children and later her grandchildren. She made each family Christmas memorable by decorating her home with special holiday treasures, baking date nut bars, and welcoming family around her table. She had a wonderful sense of humor and a hearty laugh. She loved to travel and spent time exploring Ireland and Italy and frequently visited her children whether they were in Japan, San Francisco, CA, Fort Collins, CO, Baltimore, MD or Charlotte, NC. She cheered for the UConn Huskies Basketball team and attended many games at Gampel Pavillion at Storrs where 3 of her children went to college.

Until more recently, she regularly attended morning mass at Our Lady of Peace in Stratford, tended her beautiful gardens, and volunteered. Belle was always at the ready to help out in her children's classrooms, drive the carpool to swim practice at the Stratford Y, give children tours of the Audubon Society, make beautiful holiday decorations with the "Wreath Ladies" at church, weed the impressive perennial gardens at the Hay Estate with her sister, Carol, or babysit her grandchildren.

Belle was a talented but humble artist. In fact, many of her beautiful paintings and pottery pieces were only unearthed as the family sorted her things when she moved to assisted living later in her life. Her work now adorns her family's homes, where they can be appreciated daily.

In her final years, her memories faded but she always had a ready smile for visitors and her faith in God. Her family is so grateful to the very special staff at the Health Center at Essex Meadows who provided her with remarkable care.

Friends may greet the family on Sunday, March 9 from 3 to 5 pm at the Dennis D'Arcy-Abriola and Kelemen Funeral Home at 2611 Main Street in Stratford. A mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, March 10th at 10 am at Our Lady of Peace Church in Lordship, CT. Interment will be held privately at the Gates of Heaven Cemetery in Valhalla, NY.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in her memory to:

Our Lady of Peace Church

651 Stratford Rd, Stratford, CT 06615

or

St. Edmund's Retreat Center

1 Enders Island, Mystic, CT 06355