Lisa Marie Beke

Passed away peacefully with her devoted husband of 30 years, her best friend since middle school Michelle Valentine, and her brother Patrick by her side on Monday, March 30, 2026, at the age of 55.

Beloved wife of Karl Eric Beke; adored daughter of Perry and Mary (nee Bechtel) Weaver; Cherished sister of Patrick (Amy) Weaver; loving aunt of Lillian and Kara Weaver; adored niece of Bob (Dorianne) Bechtel, the late infant Robert Harold Bechtel; Barbara (late Ben) Rich, Kathy (Larry) Buck, Nancy (Robert) Chouinard, and the late Jimmy Weaver; dear niece and goddaughter of Judy Effinger Nishitanti; dear daughter-in-law of Anthony C. and Marguerite D. (nee Veres) Beke; dear sister-in-law of Steven Beke, Brian (Marjorie) Beke; loving aunt of Kyra Beke (fiancé Ben Chierici), Kyle Beke, and Olivia Beke; niece of Al (Gail) Beke; lifelong and adored best friend of Michelle Valentine; our dear cousin, and friend to many and all who knew her. Those that know us know our love for our cats (too many to name) but especially Lisa's baby, Annie Belle who we were able to take her to the center a couple of times to visit with Lisa.

Lisa spent the last decade as the bookkeeper at NHC Lake Saint Charles Retirement Community, where she absolutely loved her job and the people she worked with.

Lisa was also passionate about working at haunted houses, especially Necropolis Haunted House in Columbia, MO, where she found joy in bringing smiles and scares to others.

For the past 15 years, Lisa has been with The Saint Louis Mullen Foundation, a nonprofit charity that raises money for small charities, which she co-founded with James Slover and also served as its President.

In addition, Lisa has been deeply involved in the Saint Louis Theatre scene for more than twenty years, sharing her love for plays and supporting countless friends and community members.

She also worked at the World Bird Sanctuary in St. Louis and at times, skipped school in doing so. This would lead her to the Bird of Prey Shows in zoos across the the country including St. Louis, Tampa, Philadelphia, and Cleveland.

Lisa has always been the first to offer help, encouragement, and a listening ear, never asking for much in return. Her passion for theatre began when she was a little girl, and she carried that love into adulthood, touching the lives of everyone around her.

Lisa’s passing leaves a deep hole in the lives of everyone who knew her; to say she will be missed is an understatement. She loved to travel, spending time with friends and family, and creating lasting memories wherever she went.

Lisa's laughter, kindness, and generous spirit will be remembered always by those fortunate enough to have known her.

Lisa and Eric’s Story:

Lisa and Eric first met at Youth Group Bible Study in Gabe & Susie Csapo’s house back in 1993. There was an interest, but it seemed Lisa had her eye on someone else, so Eric backed off. Boy, was he wrong!

After a few weeks, her work schedule changed and they didn’t see each other until…Christmas Eve services at the Hungarian Reformed Church in Trenton where her mother’s family also were members years ago.

Do I dare ask a girl out for a date in Church? That’s not what church is for, I shouldn’t do it. I think God must’ve given me a push. I ended up asking her to go to the New Year’s Eve dance with me at church and of all things…a girl actually, said Yes! A girl that actually truly put her trust in God and EVERYTHING He has offered to us.

We arrived early at the church hall to help put on finishing touches for the dance and Lisa actually persuaded me to dance. Billy Kramer, who would end up being our DJ for our future wedding reception, took note of the spell she cast on me. He could tell that this was the one for me.

Four months later, we were engaged. Our engagement was the most romantic proposal. She was sitting in the recliner looking through a magazine and asked if it was ok for her to look at wedding dresses. I said sure! I was a very charming person you know. From that moment, Mary and Perry Weaver became Mom & Dad. Lisa and I went upstairs to talk. First, she wanted to make sure I was serious and second, how were we going to survive since I was a long way from solidifying myself as a funeral director. My response was simple but lasting-God will provide. Well, He did! Ok, so no children, no fat bank account but the things that Lisa taught and encouraged me to do…or not do... like stop putting ketchup on steak! Cottage cheese and noodles are in fact delicious. Brussel sprouts when fried in bacon are also delicious!

We married May 13, 1995, in the same church where we both were baptized by the same minister who married her parents, Rev. Istvan Kovacs. What better choice than him to also marry us? And I, of course, was one of his very last confirmants and both Lisa and I loved him dearly. What I didn’t know until years later was that wedding may never have happened because she was halfway packed to go back to St. Louis.

Those bags halfway packed? We finished packing 5 years later since I promised her that if she didn’t like New Jersey, we would move to St. Louis. Five years later, and here we are, living in the same house where she grew up in her early years as her parents hung onto it as rental property.

Our first 3 cats came with a house in New Jersey (those were expensive cats!). while living there, Lisa had rescued a crow that evidently was hit by a car from the butcher across the street from the church fellowship hall and promptly named him Connie. Connie had a few more months of love because of Lisa and actually enjoyed being with the cats...Abby, Andy, and Amstel. Lisa after all these years to her last days, still took that loss very hard.

It took a while to get on our feet financially and when we did, Lisa and Eric went on many adventures, the latest being New Orleans in addition to frequent trips to Branson, Missouri, Savannah, Georgia, and of course, St. Augustine, Florida.

In 2019, after being prodded by her best friend, Michelle Valentine, to go see a doctor instead of frequenting urgent care for a check up. That’s when our strength was tested. She was diagnosed with breast cancer. She put on the strongest face and approached it very matter of factly and we put our trust in God. After chemo and one round of radiation she was declared cancer free but…

This past year in January, she had trouble standing up. Her left side just didn’t want to work.. We eventually got her standing and went to the emergency room where the worst news of all was delivered. There was a spot on her brain. Glioblastoma. There is no in between, no 1st or 2nd stage. You went immediately to 4th stage to the point of no return in modern medicine. The tumor was removed but there were still other spots too small and tucked away to remove.

At the end of it all, I asked only three things from God. I needed to hear her tell she loves me too...granted. Then it was hang on until Patrick arrives...granted. And finally, your Daddy is coming in...granted. But she still had one more surprise for me. Just when I thought the verbal communications were done and all she could do was squeeze my hand or wiggle her toes, she very plainly asked me one morning as I stayed with her..."Are you doing ok?" That's my Hunny!

Through this entire experience, from just as they took her into surgery and several times up until her final moments, I kept telling her, "Love God more than me."

I am so grateful for her family but I need to mention a few people specifically for their support these last few weeks. Mary and Perry Weaver-Mom & Dad for shaping this beautiful woman into what she became, Patrick for staying overnight and watching over her so that I might actually get some sleep plus giving her private guitar concerts in her room, Kim Hambrick for making a special trip both after her bout with breast cancer and again when she first went into Physical Therapy, and finally, Michelle Valentine for helping guide me through paying bills, being with Lisa for nearly every day, and staying overnight so that I could possibly get some sleep.

This is where you are overwhelmed when you learn how many people lives she touched throughout her life; our families, her co-workers at NHC, Dignity Funeral Services, Webster Groves Lodge AF & AM 84, Mike Mullen Foundation, the St. Louis Theatre Community-namely Shakespeare, friends throughout college and the SCA, the ministerial staff at Bonhomme Presbyterian Church, and friends from the Trenton Youth Group as well as the Hungarian Reformed Church Youth Camp have been keeping Eric in their prayers. Your love and support have made the last few months more than just bearable.

Our story doesn’t end there. Lisa will always be in Eric’s heart and through it all, our faith remains in God.

SERVICE: Visitation 4-8pm, Friday, April 10, 2026. Funeral Service 11am Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Hoffmeister South County Chapel. Services will also be Live Streamed. Interment to Follow at Lakewood Park Cemetery.

Memorial Donations in Lisa’s name may be made to The St. Louis Mullen Foundation: www.mullenstl.org, HRC Youth Camp: www.hrcyc.net, or to the family's Go Fund Me Page at www.gofundme.com/f/support-for-lisa-maries-cancer-battle

For those who live out of town and wishing to send flowers, please call Walter Knoll Florists (800) 341-7673 or visit wkf.com. Those living locally should support their favorite florist directly. Please do NOT use any internet floral services.

A Miracle from God

Just give up, there’s no hope for her they told me in front of her. I couldn’t do that. To give up on her was to give up on God. I don’t care what modern medicine says, God is greater. I believe God works miracles every day. I know through His grace and our faith in Christ as our Savior, and His Holy Spirit guiding and comforting us, we were guaranteed the greatest miracle of all-a place for her in heaven. Or did He have it in His plans to turn the world of medicine upside down and give us a cure? Either way, we were getting a miracle from God…

The family invites friends and loved ones to honor Lisa by sharing their favorite memories and stories in lieu of traditional condolences at the “Add a Memory” link below.