Lisa’s Story
If you knew Lisa Marie Wood, then you know this:
She wasn’t just alive.
She was passionate.
She was sparkly, stylish, spiritual — and silly in the best way. She often talked about her goals of being an acrobat, a gymnast, a dancer, an actor, a teacher, a dog walker… and more. She could go from speaking deeply about her dreams to laughing about roller skates, childhood wins, and wild ideas — all while making sure you clearly understood your potential — all in the same breath.
Lisa was a childhood actor featured on Romper Room, and you couldn’t tell her nothin’ about it — she was a star, and that was the end of that story. It was her favorite story, and it made sense. It’s clear she had star energy from the very beginning.
Lisa openly admitted that she wasn’t spontaneous. In fact, despite all her beauty, she silently struggled with intense anxiety. But she tried her hardest not to live from that place. She buried that version of herself and chose instead to show up as the person everyone around her loved so deeply.
She was the kind of person you could talk to for hours about all the important things — healing, honesty, purpose… and of course, Cesar Millan.
Her love for dogs became a newfound passion — especially meaningful because she had once been extremely afraid of them. But she faced her fears and made a change. She softened. And in that process, she built deeper bonds. One of the most special was with her longtime friend Elaina, who shared her love for dogs, a good sunset, and deep, soulful conversations.
“This is a picture of a beautiful sunset we saw together at George Lane Beach. Tom and I call it Lisa’s Beach now — she loved it there. We went one day and talked for hours. A beautiful memory for me. She also loved Angel’s Café in Sharon. She always enjoyed talking about her love for dogs. We had many, many conversations about dogs and about Cesar Millan hopefully finding the truth.” — Elaina
When you were around Lisa, you felt:
Enthusiastic
Alive
Valued
Understood
She made you feel like you mattered. She was genuinely interested in you — your heart, your thoughts, your presence. That was Lisa.
Lisa was born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts, to Pamela and Robert Wood. She was magnetic, creative, passionate, and motivating. Her dreams ranged from fashion designer to photographer to ballerina — and she wasn’t just dreaming. She was talented. She even won the fashion award in high school, which doesn’t surprise anyone.
Lisa was sooo smart — in every way, shape, and form. She skated through life with flair, always trying her hardest to love deeply and spread kindness wherever she went. She mothered with her whole soul, cared for others with her full heart, and never stopped growing — even through pain (Eph 4:24).
Lisa’s Final Journey
Lisa fell asleep in death on May 26, 2024, from neuroendocrine cancer—just four months after her diagnosis. But long before her body grew tired, her heart had already been carrying more than most could imagine. She spent decades fiercely protecting the people she loved:
A daughter she cherished with her whole soul.
A mother she cared for without hesitation.
Siblings she supported with unwavering devotion.
And three nieces she adored with all she had.
In her final days, Lisa opened up to her family. The conversations were tender, raw, and transformative. One of the most meaningful moments was with her oldest niece, where she spoke candidly about her emotional suppression.
“It’s not something I talk about to people because it’s a weakness of mine, and it’s embarrassing,” she said quietly.
“People don’t understand it, so I just don’t talk about it.”
“It’s not something you can take a pill for and it just goes away. These are deep-rooted things from my childhood that bring on my anxiety. I do the best I can.”
Many didn’t know that Lisa had been bullied when she was young—for being too smart, too different, too fashionable. She was even beaten and jumped at a young age. And that was only scratching the surface of the things she had pushed herself to overcome. She didn’t want to suppress her resentment or fear anymore. What she wanted—more than anything—was to be the person her friends and family saw and loved all the time. Because at her core, Lisa truly was graceful, passionate, and kind. But underneath that beautiful light lived a quiet fear: fear from her past, and fear from the life she was still trying to survive.
In one of their final conversations, Lisa told her oldest niece:
“Don’t let anyone stop you from being yourself. And just let people think what they want. That way, you won’t end up like me—hiding.”
What she didn’t fully realize is this: she did want to be like her. So many women did. We’d love to be as kind, as stylish, as thoughtful, as funny, as fiercely loyal as she was.
And while it hurts that her story ended with pain, we can also be deeply grateful. Because even though she carried sorrow, she never let it take her heart. She never let it take her love.
We know she was still fighting to protect the people she loved until her very last breath. And we know she never stopped trying to be a light.
That’s who Lisa was. That’s how we’ll always remember her.
Lisa’s Legacy Lives On
Makayla Wood, her niece, is the founder of BrainPassion LLC — a company inspired by Lisa’s life, her unspoken battles, and her desire to finally be free. BrainPassion was created to carry that legacy forward: to help others let go of the weight of judgment, the grip of shame, and the fear that silences so many.
Lisa Marie Wood was more than her anxiety. Only a little while longer and we will get to see her dynamic personality fully.
And through this work, we make sure that her story — and her joy — never gets buried beneath the silence again.
