Lisa Diane Hanz passed December 18 ^th , 2020 to an uphill battle against liver failure. The family is thankful to Houston Methodist Willowbrook staff and doctors for exhausting every effort to treat her and provide the upmost of care. Special thanks to Dr. Arturo A. Bravo, MD PA and the Heart-to-Heart hospice team for all that they did for us.

Lisa was like a train, powering through feet of snow around a northern mountain. No matter what obstacles got in her way, she made light of them. Her fuel was the immense love and compassion she yearned to share with others. She loved big, and strong to all those who would accept it. Lisa will forever be remembered for being a hard worker, and a trustworthy companion to call family, a friend, partner, or client. However, nothing will trump the love she had for her daughter Loren, son in law Branden, and grandson Koda. Boy were they spoiled! And don't anyone dare touch her plants or forget to feed the 6 strays who visit her in the backyard. The list could go on and on for everything Lisa poured her heart out for.

The last couple of years was very hard for Lisa, and many knew the circumstances of her struggles. Because death is sad, and unfortunate, we tend to want to focus on the moments that taint our memory of her…But with death comes rebirth. In our natural system, everything has a purpose. Whether it be the bees in the meadow, the shadow in a forest, or the silt in a stream. Lisa fulfilled her purpose and has given birth to new beginnings for those connected to her. We should celebrate the good moments that she brought to each of us and cherish them forever.

We had a joke about my mom. She was freakishly lucky! She loved being in Vegas or at the slots in Louisiana. One time, on a trip to Albuquerque to visit us, I ended up with a credit slip of .16 cents. She had always told us to play the quarter machines (because they were better). So, I gave the slip to my mom and said I was "out". Before making her way into the restroom, in passing she put the .16 slip into a penny machine that sat right outside the doorway and won 500 dollars on her first spin! This type of scenario continuously happened no matter which state, which slot, or which day it was. And with her winnings, she hardly ever kept any. She always made it her mission to split and give her winnings to those around her. Giving to others was probably the one thing that made my mom the happiest.

Heartache will never disappear, but time will help lessen the burden it weighs on our hearts. I am thankful for each and every person who treated my mom with kindness and loved her for who she really was.