By Nicole Hamilton
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Complications from Parkinson's disease made tasks most take for granted - like signing her name - hard for Fannie Isidor.

But even when her disease challenged her, the Deer Park resident was able to pursue her life's passion - drawing and painting.

"It was quite remarkable," said John Isidor of Amberley Village, of his mother's ability to work beyond the limitations of her illness to create works of art.

Ms. Isidor died Saturday at East Galbraith Health Care Center in Deer Park. A longtime resident of Hyde Park, she was 90.

Last year, East Galbraith Health Care Center hosted an exhibit of her work, mostly of sketches and figure drawings, as well as paintings of landscapes.

Raised in Avondale, Ms. Isidor graduated from Hughes High School in 1929. For about 60 years, beginning when she was a teenager, she attended classes at Cincinnati Art Academy in Mount Adams.

From the early 1950s until the mid 1970s, she worked in the book department of Shillito's Department Store downtown.

Her son said that she loved to read and made sure she was up to date on the latest release so she could help her customers.

"She was like a living book review," her son said.

She later worked for Kidd's Bookstore, then on Vine Street downtown, for about 11 years.

She was a longtime friend of another Cincinnati artist, Dr. Ruthe Pearlman. They traveled extensively together to paint in places such as Cyprus, Italy and Wales.

Ms. Isidor was also an avid baker, famed among friends for her brownies. She collected hundreds of cookbooks and art books, which she donated to the Cincinnati Art Academy.

Besides her son, John, survivors include a daughter, Betsy Ellenberg of New York City; a sister, Bernice Schneider of Hyde Park; a brother, Dr. Milton Rosenbaum of Albuquerque, N.M.; and three grandchildren.

Service will be at 2 p.m., today at Weil Funeral Home, 8350 Cornell Road, Sycamore Township.

Memorials: Parkinson's Disease Foundation, William Black Medical Building, Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center, 710 W. 168th St., New York, NY, 10032-9982.