Obituary of Anneliese "Lisa" Gervasi

Just after sunset on December 31, 2020, Anneliese “Lisa” Gervasi passed away peacefully, surrounded by her loving husband, children, and grandchildren. Lisa was a spectacular wife, magnificent mother, and extraordinary grandmother. She was born in Bad Ischl, Austria in 1946 and moved with her parents to the United States when she was a toddler. After spending a short time in Boston and New York, they moved to Los Angeles, California, which became their permanent home. Lisa’s parents, Helen and Joe Weinberg instilled in her a love of travel, languages, culture, and education. She traveled the world extensively from a young age, and developed deep and meaningful friendships across the globe. She was a student at Villa Cabrini elementary school, St. Brendan Elementary, and Van Nuys High. After high school, Lisa attended University of California Los Angeles and Cal State University Hayward, studying early childhood education and becoming a credentialed teacher. Lisa spent her career educating, inspiring and mentoring children. She had a gift for teaching, and impacted so many lives for decades. She taught at schools including Holy Angels in Arcadia, Beverly Hills Catholic Elementary, and Hudnall Elementary in Inglewood. She also spent seventeen years as director of Beverly Hills Presbyterian Nursery School. In college, she met the love of her life, David Gervasi. They were married in 1970 at St. Brendan Church in Los Angeles, California. David and Lisa had two girls, Jennifer and Julia who were the light of their lives. Lisa and David shared their love of traveling and adventure with their children and grandchildren, visiting Europe, Australia, New Zealand, French Polynesia, Asia, the Caribbean, and North America. For 45 years, they spent each summer on Catalina Island, and created wonderful memories with four generations of family and friends. In 2017, Lisa and David moved to Capitola, California to be closer to their children and grandchildren. They loved the beach, their yoga and exercise classes, the community, and especially having the time with family. Lisa was loved by so many and is survived by her adoring husband, David, her daughters, Jennifer Nelson and Julia Rodriguez, sons-in-law, Robert Nelson and Juan Rodriguez and six grandchildren: Gabriela, Marco and Alexandra Rodriguez and Elizabeth, Katie and Bobby Nelson. Lisa had a thousand gifts, her vivacious spirit of fun and laughter made her a magnet to everyone who knew her. A celebration of life will be held in late summer or early fall 2021 on Catalina Island. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the American Cancer Society. SERVICES FOR LISA GERVASI A celebration of life will be held in late summer or early fall 2021 on Catalina Island. During this time of COVID-19, you can still show your support by planting a tree in memory of Lisa Gervasi or donating to the American Cancer Society.