Isabel C. Wagenheim

Isabel Cabral Wagenheim, 85, of Arlington, TX, passed away peacefully at home on January 4, 2025.

Born in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain, on March 21, 1939, Isabel was the daughter of Juan Cabral Palido and Francisca Vazquez Fernandez, and had seven siblings: Juan, Jose, Alfonso, Francisco (Paco), Mercedes, Maruja, and Ana.

Isabel met her husband Howard while he was stationed with the US Navy in Rota, Spain, and they married in Gibraltar in June 1965. She immigrated to the United States later that year and became a proud American citizen in 1972. She and her family were stationed in Long Island and then Virginia before settling in Arlington, Texas, in 1974. In 1979, she and Howard opened the beloved Isabella’s Pizzeria in Grand Prairie, where she was known for her delicious food (especially her cheesecakes) and warm hospitality. Many of her customers became lifelong family.

After she retired in 2010, Isabel spent her time gardening, baking (the requests for those cheesecakes kept coming in), and visiting with family and friends. She and her husband were weekly visitors to Elk Lodge 2114, and she always looked forward to her monthly pokeno game. Despite living an ocean apart, she called her family in Spain every week and loved opportunities to return to her homeland for a visit. Isabel treasured her family and friends, and she will be deeply missed by all who knew her.

Isabel is survived by her husband Howard Wagenheim; her daughters Maria Wagenheim and her partner Robert Hill, Renee Wilson-Heald and her husband Greg Heald, Ellen Windschitl and her husband Leonard Windschitl, and Phyllis Platt and her husband Joe Platt; her grandchildren Mallory Wagenheim, Jared Hill, Lindsey Chaney, Ronny Wilson, Nash Wilson, Crystal Windschitl, Samantha Windschitl, Stephanie Windschitl, Garrett Windschitl, and Tiffany Bennett; and several great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sisters, Mercedes and Maruja, and her brother, Jose.