Isabella loses cancer battle

Mar 6 2009 by Alison Rennie, Paisley Daily Express

TRIBUTES have been paid to a much-loved Paisley hairdresser who has passed away after a brave battle with lung cancer.

Isabella Small lost her fight for life at the ACCORD Hospice in Paisley on Monday, surrounded by her loved ones.

Her beloved husband Alex, 63, fought back tears as he paid tribute to his wife of 41 years.

He said: “Isabella took everything that was thrown at her as far as treatment was concerned.

“She was an incredibly brave lady, especially as she went through the operations and the chemo and radiotherapy.

“At the end, the cancer moved into her brain, which paralysed her, and she lost her speech.

“She spent her last week at the ACCORD Hospice and I can’t thank the staff there enough for what they did for her. They were absolutely brilliant.

“I stayed with her for the full week and they got me a bed beside her.

“I cared for her in the last three months of her life.

“At the end, all our kids were there with her.

“She was peaceful and surrounded by her loved ones.

“She was a remarkable lady.”

Isabella became a hairdresser when she left school at 15, working at her parents’ salon – McMenemie’s – in Well Street in Paisley’s West End.

She worked there for 27 years and, when it closed down in 2001, she opened up her own salon – called Isabella’s – around the corner in Wellmeadow Street and took the McMenamie’s staff with her.

Unfortunately, due to a rent increase, her salon closed after two years and Isabella then went on to work in Johnstone Hospital, cutting patients’ hair.

Isabella and Alex, both from Paisley, married when he was 21 and she was 18.

They moved to Elderslie and raised a family of five sons, named Anthony, Steven, Martin, Chris and David, and one daughter, named Pauline.

They also have four grandsons, named Keiran, Declan, Christopher and Kalium.

Alex worked in the mills but was persuaded to go into the barber trade by Isabella’s dad.

“Isabella was very well respected by her customers and her staff,” said Alex. “It was never a case of boss and employees, they were all pals.

“We worked together for 25 years and celebrated our ruby wedding anniversary last year by enjoying a Mediterranean cruise.

“Sadly, that was the last holiday she ever had.”

As well as her holidays, Isabella enjoyed putting her feet up and watching her soaps on TV at the end of the working day.

But her favourite way of relaxing was spending time with her family and friends.

Alex said: “She lived for her family. We were both agony aunts in our jobs as we’d hear everyone’s worries and troubles and, whenever any of the kids had any problems, they’d go to their mum.”

Isabella turned 60 on December 15 last year and she asked for money she was given as gifts to be donated to ACCORD.

Alex said: “She told us she didn’t need the money, so we’re going to have a collection at her funeral as well and give it all to the hospice.

“I’ve seen the work they do and how well they work for cancer patients. They rely on donations, so we’re happy to give them the money.”

Isabella’s funeral will take place today at noon at St Aidan’s Church in Johnstone and thereafter at Broomward Cemetery in Elderslie at 1pm.