About Lisette

From a Caring Bridge post by Lisette’s mother Elsabe Meyer dated 10.19.24

Lisette Pfaffenberger was born on March 31, 20122 and died on October 15, 2024, surrounded and held by her loving family. Lisette’ s physical strength, from years of swimming, frisbee and soccer gave her the endurance to survive eleven days longer than most individuals who sustain such an injury, and speaks to her enormous will to live and love of life.

Lisette left the world far too soon, but not before making her mark on our lives forever. Lisette’ s spiritual strength and wisdom, infectious laughter and joy, mischievous nature, deep love for her family, and tender heart, were appreciated by all who knew her and her family is in awe of the impact her death has had on her community far and wide. Lisette was a quirky, unique, free-spirited individual, who was coming into her own and discovering her identity.

She loved thrifting clothes (her recent red leather jacket acquisition was the highlight))and shopping at antique stores and dreaming of the perfect “aesthetic to reflect her style. She discovered photography and was so proud to enter a photograph in the KY State Fair this past summer. She loved music and singing more than anything and her discovery of a Walkman cassette player at a thrift store gave her the opportunity to listen to her family’s old cassette collection and discover more old music to add to her favorites. She sang Abba songs endlessly and was proud of her excellent pitch and ability to remember all the words to any song instantly. We are so grateful for our memories of all the concerts and Broadway shows she was able to attend. Lisette’s life has deeply affected the people and communities she dedicated herself to during her very rich life. She was a reluctant soccer player, but loved playing with her friends, and the thrill of being a referee. She loved the HYR community, engaging with younger children, and blowing a whistle was an added bonus.

She was very fortunate in that she thoroughly enjoyed middle school. She loved telling her mother and sister the details of her day, what she was learning, and funny stories about her friends. She overcame the challenges of Attention Deficit Disorder and maintained straight A‘s in the Gifted and Talented magnet program at Noe Middle School. She found her curriculum to be stimulating, loved writing and science, and adored her teachers, who are particularly affected by her passing. She was a gifted writer and relished the compliments her teachers paid her for her work. Lisette also relished the hour she spent in choir each day and adored her choir teacher, Mr. Cooper.

Most of all, Lisette loved swimming with the Lakeside Quarry Gators, and. her swim coaches and teammates were among her favorite people. She loved freestyle and backstroke, and any time spent in the water. She was particularly proud of being asked to coach the Junior Quarry Gators and viewed that as a steppingstone to her ultimate goal of being a LQG coach, like the people she admired most. Her summer days at Lakeside pool brought her such joy. We will always be looking for her in the crowds to catch a glimpse of her next dive.

"As a family, we are so honored and awed by this incredible act of love by the community. Not only will this be a tribute to Lisette, but it will be a reminder of what love and compassion can accomplish."

Elsabe, Annalies and Marianna