Lisa Marie Giannascoli Spear

With humble spirit, Lisa Spear passed into her eternal life on April 14, 2026. She was 67 years old. She came into the valley of tears in Vineland, New Jersey, on September 3, 1958. She was the youngest of five children born to Dominick and Adeline Giannascoli. Her childhood was idyllic. Many relatives shaped her positive and vibrant personality. She attended Sacred Heart Grammar and High School and graduated in 1976. She maintained contact with many of her classmates and was interested in a possible 50th reunion this year.

She earned a bachelor’s degree at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, New York, after just three years of study. She was unsuccessful in finding employment on the East Coast and accepted an invitation by her sister living in Denver to relocate to Colorado.

She found employment with Capitol Life Insurance Company working in data entry. Several people she worked with at Capitol Life have remained life-long friends. After a time at Capitol Life she found employment with another insurance company, Security Life which became ING, Insurance. She worked hard and eventually became a leader in the reinsurance area.

She decided to try law school and attended one year of study at the University of Denver. “Work and school were incompatible with sleep,” as she put it so she abandoned her legal studies. It was in that one year that she met her future husband, Michael.

In 1989, she wed Michael and they had 36 wonderful years together. In 1994, they decided that Lisa could leave the hectic life insurance world and become a “professional volunteer.” She gave her time to many different causes and was involved in politics assisting various candidates in their efforts at holding public office. As time passed she devoted more and more time to serving her church, Risen Christ Catholic Parish. She also enjoyed travel, usually in the form of pilgrimages and visited Germany, Austria, Italy, the Holy Land, and Poland. One pilgrimage to Italy was a “secret” pilgrimage with Michael and her brother, Brian. The trip was a secret as visits were made to several famous and not-so-famous religious sites along the eastern coast of the Italian peninsula.

In 2002, she was diagnosed with breast cancer and successfully fought that battle into 2003. In 2024, a bout of shingles led to the discovery of ovarian cancer. Intensive chemo therapy and major surgery followed. She had an eight-month respite before the disease came roaring back in August of 2025. More chemo followed with limited success. By March a new mix of drugs was suggested and Lisa prepared for the continuing battle. Before that new treatment could begin she succumbed to the steady assault of the disease and died at Swedish Medical Center at 9 p.m. on April 14.

She is survived by her husband, Michael, as well as two sisters, Karen Giles and Denise Link, and two brothers, Brian Giannascoli and David Giannascoli. She had many nieces and nephews and now, many grand-nieces and grand-nephews. She never missed a birthday and loved all of her siblings and their children and grandchildren. She will be missed.

In lieu of flowers contributions to the Saint John Vianney Seminary in Denver, Colorado, in her name would be appreciated. She loved her priests and sought every opportunity to encourage young men to the priesthood or religious life.

 The Rite of Committal (Burial) will be at Sacred Heart Cemetery in Vineland, New Jersey.