Lisa Ann Grove Bilodeau

Lisa Ann Grove Bilodeau, 52, a lifelong resident of the Soap Lake and Ephrata areas, passed away on Dec. 12, 2007. A celebration of her life will be announced at a later date. Lisa was born to Charles Turner Grove (deceased) and Virginia (Juday) Grove in Soap Lake on Feb. 22, 1955. She graduated from Ephrata High School in 1973. Following high school, Lisa traveled to Florida (which she dearly loved) and Arizona. She became a dental assistant before marrying her high school sweetheart, Les Bilodeau, in 1979. Before attending college and starting a family, she traveled to Michigan where she became a therapeutic horseback riding instructor for handicapped children. Lisa and Les started their family in 1985 with son Keyton and son Jadon followed in 1988. Lisa and Les divorced in 1992 and remained good friends and co-parents.

After Lisa acquired her BA in Family Studies at CWU she went on to get a postgraduate certification in Infant/Toddler Mental Health. She also held a certification as a Guardian Ad-Litem. Her life's work was devoted to working for the "best interests" of children and families in Grant County. Lisa's memberships included "Pretty Intelligent Girls," Lakeview Country Club and The Washington Association for Early Childhood Educators. Lisa loved being a mother. She also loved rescuing animals, her work, and her innumerable beloved friends! Lisa is survived by her two sons, Keyton and Jadon Bilodeau, attending college in Bellingham; the entire Bilodeau family, mother Virginia Grove of Kent, Wash., and sister Sharon Mack and family of Maple Valley, Wash. A benevolent account has been set up at Washington Mutual, Ephrata Branch in the names of Keyton and Jadon Bilodeau.

"The meaning of earthly existence lies, not as we have grown used to thinking, in prospering, but in the development of the soul." - Alexander Solzhenitsyn