Lisa Siegel, 47, of Bellingham, Washington (formerly of Overland Park, Kansas), passed on Jan. 3 from complications following years of suffering from traumatic head injuries.
A graveside service was held at Sheffield Cemetery on Jan. 10.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to American Friends of Natal-Israel Trauma and Resiliency Center (afnatal.org); Chabad of Bellingham (jewishbellingham.com); or the charity of one’s choice.
Lisa had a huge smile that would light up a room. She had a passion for outdoor sports that brought her to many destinations both here and abroad: scuba diving, snowboarding, skiing, mountain biking, surfing, rock climbing and kayaking, to name a few. The more challenging the sport, the better. She was an avid runner and fitness devotee.
Lisa’s work over the years also kept her tethered to the great outdoors, challenging her physically as much as her sports endeavors. As a geologic surveyor, she would carry a 70-pound backpack for miles in rough terrain, setting up sensitive specific gravity measuring equipment for oil and mineral exploration. Lisa had also worked for a summer in Antarctica, calibrating and providing international research teams with sophisticated GPS equipment for their expeditions.
Lisa lived life on her own terms, possessed sweetness, humor and generosity and was loved by her cousins, aunts and uncles, and her many friends. Her youngest cousins adored her and called her “Auntie Cousin Lisa.” She would play games, read them stories and simply spend time with them.
Lisa was preceded in death by her brother, Adam; mother, Linda Tulchinsky Siegel; and father, Herbert Siegel.
Lisa is survived by her aunts, uncles and cousins on both sides of her family. She will be deeply missed. Online condolences may be left for the family at louismemorialchapel.com.
