Lisa Freihofer lived a life defined by compassion, resilience, and a deep devotion to her family and to caring for others. A loving mother, sister, daughter, friend, and nurse, Lisa touched countless lives through both her personal relationships and her 33-year nursing career.

A graduate of Pike High School '78, Lisa went on to graduate from Indiana University in 1982 and continued on to earn her nursing degree. At IU she was a member of Delta Delta Delta (Tri Delt) sorority. She began her nursing career as a pediatric intensive care nurse at Riley Children’s Hospital, providing care and comfort to children and their families during some of their most difficult moments.

Lisa later stepped away from nursing to focus on raising her two daughters, Hannah and Halle. Being their mother was the greatest joy and most important role of her life. The three of them formed a very strong bond. Together they enjoyed morning check-in phone calls, giggling while watching movies on the couch and traveling.

When Lisa decided to return to nursing, she completed a nurse refresher course through Community Health Network. She subsequently joined Community MD Anderson Cancer Center - North, first working in radiation therapy and later moving into medical oncology. Her return to nursing began a meaningful new chapter in a career devoted to helping others.

Several years later, Lisa found herself experiencing cancer care from a very different perspective when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She underwent surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy while continuing to be surrounded by the colleagues and medical community with whom she had worked. The experience gave Lisa an even deeper understanding of the patients she cared for. As she reflected at the time, “This whole experience has helped me to be a better nurse who has seen it from both sides.”

Through life’s challenges, Lisa remained grateful for her family, friends, colleagues, patients, and the everyday moments that mattered most. She was honored to participate in the Faces of The Giving Gig in 2017, helping give back to the patients and community she had spent so much of her life serving.

Lisa was preceded in death by her parents, Joan and Don Goelzer. She is survived by her daughters, Hannah Freihofer and Halle Freihofer Plavnick (David); her brother, Greg Goelzer (Suzy); and her sister, Sandy Smith, along with nieces and nephews, family, friends, colleagues, and former patients whose lives were made better by knowing her.

Visitation and funeral will be held on October 30, 2026 at Orchard Park Presbyterian Church at 1605 E 106th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46280. The visitation will be from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., with a funeral service beginning at 4:00 p.m. A Celebration of Lisa’s life will follow at the home of Greg & Suzy Goelzer from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. located at 6366 Dawson Lake Drive Indianapolis, IN 46220.

Memorial contributions may be made in Lisa’s honor to either the Community Health Network Foundation (give.community.com) or the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (breakthrought1d.org).

Lisa will be remembered for her strength, compassion, and generous spirit; for the care she gave to others throughout her nursing career; and, above all, for the love and devotion she had for Hannah and Halle. Her life came full circle in many ways, from caregiver to patient and back again, giving her a rare understanding of what it meant to care for someone during their most vulnerable moments. That compassion, along with the love she shared with her family and friends, will be an enduring part of her legacy.