Council Meeting Adjourned in Memory of Lisa Hopewell [Video]

Obituary: Lisa Hopewell, Santee Humanitarian, Dies at 55

Lisa Hopewell, a woman whose humanitarian efforts truly made a difference in Santee and the world, died of breast cancer in hospice Dec. 14 at age 55.

Family and friends of Lisa remembered her positive impact on the community at the Jan. 8 meeting of the Santee City Council, and the meeting was adjourned in her memory.

A memorial service is planned for 2 p.m. Jan. 11 at Foothills United Methodist Church in La Mesa. Donations in her memory can be made to the Santee Food Bank — Lisa Hopewell Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 712054, Santee, 92072-2054; or the Santee United Methodist Church — Lisa Hopewell Memorial Fund, 8964 N. Magnolia Ave., Santee, 92071.

Adjournment in Memory, by the City of Santee:

Tonight's meeting will be adjourned in memory of Lisa Hopewell. Lisa lived in Santee for over 32 years; her heartfelt dedication to the community was demonstrated by thousands of hours spent volunteering to help those in need.

Lisa volunteered at Hill Creek School for 17 years and was active with the Santee Pioneer National Little League for 13 years. As a longtime member of the Santee United Methodist Church, she worked on several projects benefitting at-risk youth, and became active with the Santee Food Bank, serving over 10 years as administrative assistant and administrator.

Lisa volunteered as project manager for the relocation of the Santee Food Bank to a new site in early 2008 and managed all aspects of that project, securing contractor bids and negotiating discounted rates, donated work and materials, and later secured a $20,000 United Way grant and five pallets of food supplies from the Emergency Food and Shelter program for the food bank. In recognition of her efforts with the food bank and relocation project, Lisa was recognized as 2009 Citizen of the Year by the Santee Chamber of Commerce.

Lisa received the 2012 Wendell Cutting Humanitarian Award by the Santee Chamber of Commerce in recognition of her ongoing work in the community with the food bank and Relay for Life. Lisa's efforts truly made a difference; she was honored with the Santee Food Bank's "Lifetime of Service" award in 2012. Her actions will have a positive impact on the community for generations.