Obituary

Lisa Marie Bacopulos, 39, of Rancho Santa Margarita died on July 15, 2005. Born Feb. 6, 1966 in Syracuse, New York. From her earliest childhood, Lisa’s love for animals manifested itself through horse ownership, raising a seeing eye dog, and always wanting to bring home the strays! Lisa was always happy to be around animals, whether that was at the Wild Animal Park or the nearest shelter. Lisa graduated Magna Cum Laude from Biola University. She taught school for several years. Lisa was also very active in serving in her church in various capacities.
She is survived by her husband, Eric; her children, Joshua and Sarah; her parents, Ralph and Patricia VanPeursem; her sister, Laura Ross of Fresno; her brothers, Randy VanPeursem of Thousand Oaks and Ron VanPeursem of Venezuela; her in laws, George and Genevieve Bacopulos; five nieces; four nephews; two aunts and two uncles.
Memorial Service at 3:00 PM, July 20, 2005 at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest.

The following is a rememberance from Eric:
The Lord brought Lisa and I together during our college lives. Lisa was attending Biola, and I was at San Diego State. We did not know each other. A mutual friend was driving to a Christian camp called forest home. She invited both Lisa and I to drive up with her and thus the Lord brought us together. I remember when I first saw her. She stood at a rail waiving to us as we drove up. She was smiling and her eyes were shining. She took my breathe away. 
We were married on 3/18/89. Lisa’s whole desire in life, other than to live the way the Lord would have her, was to be a great mom and wife. She was entirely successful in all three. We have 2 children Joshua and Sarah. She had quit her job as a teacher to rear her children. She was amazing in how she raised and cared for them. She was amazing how she loved and cared for me, her husband. Even when her health failed her causing pain and disabilities, she would always try to put her family first. It was this great love for us, that kept her fighting. Her last words were to her kids and while she was under heavy sedation to help ease the pain. She heard their voices telling her they loved her. She murmured the best she could ‘I love you too.’ That’s who Lisa was. That’s who she will always be in our souls.