‘A gentle giant'
SWANNANOA — Richard J. Isele, a retiree who moved to Black Mountain from Florida in 2016, joined St. Margaret Mary Parish in Swannanoa and immediately made his generous presence known. Richard, better known as “Dick,” joined several ministries and, as a Fourth Degree Knight of Columbus, he became active in the Knights council at the parish. Isele was drawn to pastoral care ministries and often visited the sick at home and in nursing homes. Although he was in the parish for less than three years, Isele’s service is a beautiful example of generosity of spirit and stewardship both in life and in death, people recall. He died in November 2018.
Knowing his illness was terminal, prior to his passing, Isele contacted the parish to share his plans to remember St. Margaret Mary Parish in his final wishes. Once his request arrived at the parish, the pastor and parish finance council established the Richard J. Isele Endowment Fund to benefit St. Margaret Mary Church through the Diocese of Charlotte Foundation. Half of the original $30,000 estate gift was used to establish the endowment and the other half to support the general needs of the parish.
An additional $76,900 gift from Isele’s estate was shared equally between the Richard J. Isele Endowment Fund and St. Margaret Mary Parish this past January.
Grand Knight Jessie Boeckermann, a member of St. Margaret Mary Parish, considered Isele a friend and mentor.
“We were blessed with Dick’s presence at St. Margaret Mary’s and the Knights of Columbus Council 13016,” Boeckermann said. “Dick was a gentle giant, a man with an amazing voice, calming presence and positive spirit. He added significance, value and warmth into most of the rooms and conversations he entered. He spoke with clarity, calm and wisdom. He was always caring and attentive to the needs of those around him. He also had a great sense of humor, laugh and smile.”
Boeckermann recalled Isele was always giving of his time, experience and knowledge.
“He died at 78, and I wish he could have stayed around for many more years. He was a strong Catholic who cared deeply about the Church and the work of helping people in need,” Boeckermann said.
“More and more parishioners are remembering our churches in their estate plans even if they have not lived in this diocese for very long,” noted Jim Kelley, diocesan director of development. “Richard felt so connected to St. Margaret Mary’s that he left his estate gift to them even though he had lived in this diocese only since 2016.”
— SueAnn Howell, Senior reporter. Claudia Graham contributed
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Interested in setting up an endowment? Establish an endowment in the Diocese of Charlotte Foundation by leaving a bequest in a will, a beneficiary designation from a retirement plan, a gift of real estate, a gift of life insurance, cash or securities sufficient to set up an endowment, or a life income arrangement such as a trust or annuity.
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