Lisa Danielle Buxton

Lisa, the youngest of three daughters, was the darling of our family, and the reason my parents didn't go to Woodstock considering she was born the second day being August 16, 1969. She had a very adventurous life and had friends all over the world.

Lisa was a vivacious, lively, independent woman who spoke her mind. I don't know if she knew that Trump was impeached again, but she would have applauded that. A champion for human rights and dignity for all, she hated that man and would distance herself from anyone that supported fascist ideals.

Lisa had many remarkable accomplishments. She quit school at 16 but courageously went back at 19. She enjoyed a six-week trip to Europe trip and after coming home, decided she was going to university and that was that. Whatever she put her mind to, she accomplished -- failure was not an option for Lisa. She obtained an Honours B.A. in English literature with a minor in German. She spent her 4th year of university in Germany and made some very wonderful relationships there that lasted her lifetime. Wherever she went, she made lifelong friendships.

She continued her university education for two more years at Lethbridge University in Alberta where she obtained a Bachelor of Education, with great distinction. She landed her first job at Red Crow Community College on the Blood Reserve in southern Alberta and taught adult students English to prepare them for college and university. She loved her job and loved the people and felt great honour in being given the name Niitsiaakii by the late Louis Soop, elder, traditional artist, teacher and dancer of the Blood tribe. Niitsiaakii means good, beautiful woman - so fitting for Lisa.

As a family, we were thrilled to have Lisa back home in Ontario in 2012 after the Alberta government slashed education funding and she was no longer employed. At the same time Ontario was facing similar slashes to education and she was unable to find work in education here either. In keeping with her tenacious, hard-working attitude and desire to teach, she took a job as a note taker in York Region for students that are deaf and hard of hearing. Recognizing her strong teaching abilities, she was encouraged to further her education and she obtained a diploma for the education of deaf and hard of hearing students in 2016. She was able to finally find a teaching job in Vancouver and away she went!

Lisa became an itinerant teacher for deaf and hard of hearing students from Kindergarten to Grade 12. She loved that she was back teaching and she loved the Vancouver vibe. She had some great friends there already and took up inner-city cycling with the Night Owls, a cycling group that met nightly and rode around the amazing bike trails all around the city. She was introduced to wonderful people through this group and really felt at home. As a family, we were grateful to the Night Owls for all of their support. It meant a great deal to our family and to Lisa.

Lisa never married and didn't have children but she was a fabulous aunt to her 2 nephews and 1 niece as well as a great-aunt to her grand-nephew, who all love her dearly and will greatly miss her. She did not get to meet her grand-nephew due to her illness and her inability to travel but he will be regaled all of his life with stories of Lisa and how she impacted so many. She would have adored him. She was a wonderful sister to Michelle and I (Mayrienne) and a great sister in-law to Steve and Mike.

Lisa was vivacious, impressive, she was exceptional. She had a spirit that was enigmatic and Earth could not contain. She gave herself with kindness, humility, selflessness and commitment. My parents Buck & Monika gave the world the precious gift of Lisa. We will miss her every minute of every day for the rest of our lives but, we will go on. Every time we reflect on Lisa it won't be with sadness but with awe at her accomplishments, laughter at the millions of fun times we had, and anticipation of meeting again. Rest my beautiful Lisa, see you soon.