Lisa Colleen Schaapveld

Lisa Colleen Schaapveld arrived a few weeks early on 12/30/69 in Stillwater. A couple of years later, her twin sisters, Lory and Lacy, joined her and her mom and dad, Linda and Larry, who had moved to Henderson, TX where Larry was a Texas forester. Lisa's love of animals came naturally with lots of dogs, cats, horses and even an abandoned fawn as companions. The family moved to the Greater Dallas area, and after her parents divorced, Lisa added three sisters and a bonus mother and father to her family. Lisa became a licensed cosmetologist but converted her skills to grooming man's best friends. In 1995, the love of her life, Nathaniel, was born. Lisa's life was burdened with pain, unbearable sorrow, remorse, and guilt that haunted her most of her life. However, she found Redemption in the last several years, accepting God's pardon and escaping the bondages of her darkest days. She no longer wished to die to stop the pain. Once she understood God's forgiveness allowed her to forgive herself, and armed with a strong support system, Lisa became happy and enjoyed life despite her constant physical pain. Lisa's gratitude, grace, fortitude, and self-deprecating humor were inspirational to the many friends, family, therapists, and trainers who came to know and love her. Sadly, Lisa left this world far too early on April 8, 2022, at only 52, having suffered a sudden life-terminating event in her home. Lisa lived with her aunt and uncle, Jan and John, who in the early years after her serious injury in February 2015 were her primary caretakers. When John was diagnosed with terminal cancer and died in late 2017, Lisa took care of Jan as they both went through the grieving process of losing John, but it was Lisa who was the strong one. Her ability to comfort Jan during this time came from some place deep within that maybe only exists in those who have suffered so much internally themselves.There came a time that Lisa's body allowed her to enjoy life. Her strong love of nature kept her entertained as she was able to travel to many of God's masterpieces and experience the beauty of wildlife in the massive herds of the Black Hills, the migrating whales off the California Coast, the flight of the condors in the morning light over the Grand Canyon, among others. But she was also content watching the wildlife in her own backyard. Jan looked forward to Lisa's morning report of the nests being built, the progress of fledglings, the antics of the squirrels, the stage of the Monarchs beginning life on the milkweed and whether that snake was willing to leave on its own or was going to require an Uber to its new home on the creek. Lisa was an eager student and usually was the first one to spot the eagles or other critters and provide accurate information about their species. Lisa also loved the theater, farmers markets, and just messing about town. She was saddened by the homelessness in our city and the heartbreaking scenes out of Ukraine. Although she had a very limited income, she donated to those and other causes for people struggling. She was constantly looking for ways to help the homeless and their pets.Lisa was surrounded by many kind and loving friends in the last few years and was quick to compliment them, make them laugh, and express her gratitude for the help so many had given her. In the last five days of her life, she did the things she loved in the most normal of ways: Going to dinner and a hilarious musical with dear friends and Jan, taking Napoleon shopping, picking up a little gift for her dad, buying Jan's favorite ice cream for the freezer "when Lent is finally over," and working out at 6:00 a.m. with her dedicated trainer, Tony. Her cats, Astro and White Kitty, and her best sidekick and cuddle buddy, Napoleon, miss her. She was so grateful that she was able to spend time with her dad "at the cabin," enjoying his delicious cooking but mostly the time with him. Lisa was also grateful that her son, Nathaniel, had found a beautiful girl to love and spend his life, and her deepest wish was for him to be happy.Suggested memorials in Lisa's honor to: Sister BJ's Pantry https://www.srbjpantry.com/give; the Homeless Alliance https://homelessalliance.org/donate/; or any programs of the Oklahoma City Catholic Charities https://www.catholiccharitiesok.org/give/donate or any charity of your choice.Lisa was predeceased by her sisters, Lory and Lacy, her Gramma Lu and Popie, Popo Danny and Coco Foss, Granny Faye and Popo Glenn, her Uncle John Claro, her stepsister Rhonda, and great aunts, Lorraine, Joyce, and June (Sr. Francella). She is survived by her son, parents Linda and Wayne Rich, Larry and Kaye Schaapveld, aunts Donna (Bobby) Williams and Glenda (Dusky) Manley, and stepsisters Karen and Beth, many cousins, her "grumpy curmudgeon" Jim Norris, and Janis Claro of the home. Her "extended" survivors include her Claro and Clark cousins, and John's siblings, Joe Claro and Portia (Mike) Clark, who, along with their families blessed Lisa with their compassion, good will, and encouragement. Services in the Chapel at Smith & Kernke, on Saturday, April 16, at 10:00 a.m., 14624 N. May.