Obituary for Lisa A Kaiser
Lisa Kaiser, 61, passed away peacefully while surrounded by loving friends and her beloved shih tzu Dexter on Saturday, October 31.
Lisa was an exceptionally kind, gentle person with a spirit of generosity that was boundless. Her warm smile, quick wit, sharp sense of humor, and magnetic personality would light up the room and make any gathering brighter and full of laughter. She was synonymous with fun. Lisa liked to laugh and make people laugh. She knew how funny she was and loved it when you could pass on a story, or a brutally perfect response. Her humor was a sign of her incredible and deep intelligence. And in her brilliant way, sometimes all it took her was a raised eyebrow, or single word, to communicate the very best of what just happened or evoke a memory of what happened 30 or 40 years ago.
Lisa embodied the perfect combination of humanity and compassion. She was kind and respectful to everyone she met. She was a fiercely loyal and most thoughtful friend who had an innate ability to make you feel like the most important person in the room. She curated memorable experiences, bringing friends with diverse personalities together in a lovely environment. She took great delight when they engaged in deep conversation and well-told stories. Lisa rarely took center stage.
Whether welcoming you to her beautiful home or helping friends decorate their own spaces, she was particular in making things just right for your enjoyment. Your comfort was her priority. And no detail was forgotten when she created the ambience of an evening together—from the table setting to flowers, candles, drinks, food, and music.
Lisa not only had the passion for interior design, but also had the vision and pure talent to create beautiful, magazine-worthy spaces. If something broke, call Lisa. If it needed assembling, call Lisa. She could fix anything and she always loved a challenge. She built and designed her homes—and was delighted to help friends decorate theirs.
Lisa had a gift for listening—always with love and compassion—never with judgment. She was generous with her time and was someone you could count on to help resolve any problem with great understanding. With her thoughtful and patient approach, she would ask many questions with deep interest, absorb the conversation, and offer sage advice that was both comforting and insightful. With an ability to remember things you’ve shared in the past, she would often recall details and pertinent information to shed new light on the current situation. She was respectful and accepting of everyone from all walks of life and was a fierce defender of anyone who she thought was wronged—always rooting for the underdog.
Lisa enjoyed many activities where she forged and nurtured many lifelong friendships—pilates, tennis, snowshoeing, walking, going to the beach, watching the sunset, and swimming in the ocean. She was always keenly aware of and appreciated the beauty around her. Lisa was also a real foodie and enjoyed meaningful conversations over delicious meals—venue didn’t matter—she appreciated fine dining or pulling up a barstool at a casual pub.
Lisa was born in the Bay Area of California and resided there as well as the Los Angeles area before moving with her family to Bakersfield, California in 1973. There she attended Garces High School and made many lifelong friends who considered her their sister. After graduating from the University of San Diego Lisa began her career as a paralegal for Bakersfield attorney Louis Etcheverry; she greatly respected him and how he started each workday with a prayer. Lisa then worked for Stewart Title in Bakersfield before moving to San Francisco to work for Esprit Clothing and then Oracle Corporation. Lisa made her way to Marlboro, Massachusetts, before settling in Princeton where she built a stunning home. She moved to Osterville in 2014 where she planned to retire, and loved being able to walk to the village and enjoy Dowses beach. No matter where she created her life she quickly made friends.
A business analyst in Human Resources, she worked at Oracle Corporation for over 23 years and also served as editor-in-chief of a monthly HR newsletter, Compass, for more than a decade—a project she launched and managed and for which she took great pride—just like she did in anything she took on. She was greatly admired and respected by all her colleagues and many are dear friends.
Her house was her kingdom—she relished in being home with a roaring fire, cocktail in hand, and Dexter snuggled next to her. She enjoyed watching TV, movies, and was an avid reader who had an impressive library of books. While she enjoyed staying home, Lisa also traveled to places she loved including Florida, where she had a second home for many years, Italy, St. John, and Nantucket. And a very special trip to Ireland left her with a loving, everlasting impression of the country and its people.
It is only fitting such an extraordinary and wonderful person like Lisa passed away during the rare occurrence of the Blue Moon. Lisa will be sorely missed. She would want you to remember all the good times you had together and smile while recalling her funny voices and imitations, storytelling, and perhaps a nickname she gave you or a moment when she broke out in a silly dance move. She was loved beyond measure—and the innocence for which she truly was oblivious to the depth and breadth of that love—made her even more lovable. She was not only beautiful on the outside, but also had great warmth and beauty on the inside and will forever be etched indelibly in our hearts.
She loved and cherished her circle of friends from coast to coast as well as her family residing in California. Lisa was very close to her maternal grandparents Lee and Louise Murdy who had a profoundly positive influence on her life. Lisa was preceded in death by her grandparents; her father Al in 1987 and her beloved mother Patty in 1995. She is survived by her brother John and sister-in-law Becky Kaiser, and her nieces she was so proud of—Erin Kaiser, Raegan Kaiser Enos and husband George, Lauren Kaiser and Kriston Kaiser. Lisa was truly one-in-a-million, never to be replaced but always to be remembered and tremendously loved. When you think of Lisa you should remember her electric smile and then smile yourself. She would love that.
Should you wish to make a charitable donation in honor of Lisa, please donate to Hope for Paws Los Angeles or Marley’s Mutts Tehachapi, CA or your local animal shelter.
A Celebration of Life is being planned for a later date, one in Osterville, Massachusetts and one in Bakersfield, California.
Lisa was an exceptionally kind, gentle person with a spirit of generosity that was boundless. Her warm smile, quick wit, sharp sense of humor, and magnetic personality would light up the room and make any gathering brighter and full of laughter. She was synonymous with fun. Lisa liked to laugh and make people laugh. She knew how funny she was and loved it when you could pass on a story, or a brutally perfect response. Her humor was a sign of her incredible and deep intelligence. And in her brilliant way, sometimes all it took her was a raised eyebrow, or single word, to communicate the very best of what just happened or evoke a memory of what happened 30 or 40 years ago.
Lisa embodied the perfect combination of humanity and compassion. She was kind and respectful to everyone she met. She was a fiercely loyal and most thoughtful friend who had an innate ability to make you feel like the most important person in the room. She curated memorable experiences, bringing friends with diverse personalities together in a lovely environment. She took great delight when they engaged in deep conversation and well-told stories. Lisa rarely took center stage.
Whether welcoming you to her beautiful home or helping friends decorate their own spaces, she was particular in making things just right for your enjoyment. Your comfort was her priority. And no detail was forgotten when she created the ambience of an evening together—from the table setting to flowers, candles, drinks, food, and music.
Lisa not only had the passion for interior design, but also had the vision and pure talent to create beautiful, magazine-worthy spaces. If something broke, call Lisa. If it needed assembling, call Lisa. She could fix anything and she always loved a challenge. She built and designed her homes—and was delighted to help friends decorate theirs.
Lisa had a gift for listening—always with love and compassion—never with judgment. She was generous with her time and was someone you could count on to help resolve any problem with great understanding. With her thoughtful and patient approach, she would ask many questions with deep interest, absorb the conversation, and offer sage advice that was both comforting and insightful. With an ability to remember things you’ve shared in the past, she would often recall details and pertinent information to shed new light on the current situation. She was respectful and accepting of everyone from all walks of life and was a fierce defender of anyone who she thought was wronged—always rooting for the underdog.
Lisa enjoyed many activities where she forged and nurtured many lifelong friendships—pilates, tennis, snowshoeing, walking, going to the beach, watching the sunset, and swimming in the ocean. She was always keenly aware of and appreciated the beauty around her. Lisa was also a real foodie and enjoyed meaningful conversations over delicious meals—venue didn’t matter—she appreciated fine dining or pulling up a barstool at a casual pub.
Lisa was born in the Bay Area of California and resided there as well as the Los Angeles area before moving with her family to Bakersfield, California in 1973. There she attended Garces High School and made many lifelong friends who considered her their sister. After graduating from the University of San Diego Lisa began her career as a paralegal for Bakersfield attorney Louis Etcheverry; she greatly respected him and how he started each workday with a prayer. Lisa then worked for Stewart Title in Bakersfield before moving to San Francisco to work for Esprit Clothing and then Oracle Corporation. Lisa made her way to Marlboro, Massachusetts, before settling in Princeton where she built a stunning home. She moved to Osterville in 2014 where she planned to retire, and loved being able to walk to the village and enjoy Dowses beach. No matter where she created her life she quickly made friends.
A business analyst in Human Resources, she worked at Oracle Corporation for over 23 years and also served as editor-in-chief of a monthly HR newsletter, Compass, for more than a decade—a project she launched and managed and for which she took great pride—just like she did in anything she took on. She was greatly admired and respected by all her colleagues and many are dear friends.
Her house was her kingdom—she relished in being home with a roaring fire, cocktail in hand, and Dexter snuggled next to her. She enjoyed watching TV, movies, and was an avid reader who had an impressive library of books. While she enjoyed staying home, Lisa also traveled to places she loved including Florida, where she had a second home for many years, Italy, St. John, and Nantucket. And a very special trip to Ireland left her with a loving, everlasting impression of the country and its people.
It is only fitting such an extraordinary and wonderful person like Lisa passed away during the rare occurrence of the Blue Moon. Lisa will be sorely missed. She would want you to remember all the good times you had together and smile while recalling her funny voices and imitations, storytelling, and perhaps a nickname she gave you or a moment when she broke out in a silly dance move. She was loved beyond measure—and the innocence for which she truly was oblivious to the depth and breadth of that love—made her even more lovable. She was not only beautiful on the outside, but also had great warmth and beauty on the inside and will forever be etched indelibly in our hearts.
She loved and cherished her circle of friends from coast to coast as well as her family residing in California. Lisa was very close to her maternal grandparents Lee and Louise Murdy who had a profoundly positive influence on her life. Lisa was preceded in death by her grandparents; her father Al in 1987 and her beloved mother Patty in 1995. She is survived by her brother John and sister-in-law Becky Kaiser, and her nieces she was so proud of—Erin Kaiser, Raegan Kaiser Enos and husband George, Lauren Kaiser and Kriston Kaiser. Lisa was truly one-in-a-million, never to be replaced but always to be remembered and tremendously loved. When you think of Lisa you should remember her electric smile and then smile yourself. She would love that.
Should you wish to make a charitable donation in honor of Lisa, please donate to Hope for Paws Los Angeles or Marley’s Mutts Tehachapi, CA or your local animal shelter.
A Celebration of Life is being planned for a later date, one in Osterville, Massachusetts and one in Bakersfield, California.