Lisa Margaret Helene Graham-McGaffin

1968 - 2021

Lisa Margaret Helene Graham-McGaffin of Kamloops, British Columbia passed away suddenly on December 20, 2021 at the age of 53, at Kelowna General Hospital. Lisa was predeceased by her grandparents, Richard and Helene Storbo and Russ and Gertrude Graham, aunts and uncles, Lenora and Dale White and Patty and Wayne Becker, cousin Steven Tupper, and father in law, Patrick McGaffin.
Lisa is survived by her husband Colin McGaffin and their two wonderful children Kade (Lauren) and Maizy, mother in law Erna McGaffin, loving parents Allan and Evelyn Graham, sister Maxine Graham (Carl), brother Russell Graham (Tracy), brother Richard Graham (Dela), many aunts, uncles, cousins, and many friends that she considered her extended family.
Lisa was born in Fort Nelson, British Columbia on February 3, 1968 to Allan Reid Graham and Evelyn Virginia Graham (nee Storbo). Lisa was a beautiful, loving, and caring child and as she moved through British Columbia from town to town, she became the leader and big sister to her ever loving siblings Maxine, Russell, and Richard.
Lisa was an amazing talent, with music always around her; she played the clarinet, piano, drums, and guitar, and she sang along in many family jams. Lisa was also a tremendous athlete and fierce competitor playing at a high level in numerous sports including softball, basketball, volleyball, swimming, and soccer. Her tenacity, strength, and skill were second to none and she was revered and welcomed by all she played alongside.
Lisa had a wonderful creative and artistic side as well and loved to sketch, write, sculpt, and paint. She was lovingly known for the most beautiful and thoughtfully produced, handmade cards for family that she loved so dearly.
Lisa did most of her schooling in Kamloops and spent time at Cariboo College exploring her interests in sociology, philosophy, and English. Lisa loved to swim and became a life guard and swimming instructor as one of her first jobs. She taught and lifeguarded at all the local pools and taught open water swimming lessons in the Thompson Rivers as well as at Paul Lake. Lisa's great ability to coach and connect with people led to working with the Kamloops Boys and Girls Club where she excelled and met many wonderful people that would become lifelong friends.
Lisa's work with the community and her great planning skills landed her a job as a youth programmer for the Township of Langley in 1993 where she continued her love to help and educate youth. Among her many achievements with the Township of Langley, she planned and helped build Langley's first community skate board park.
Lisa loved to travel and once she had the travel bug, she just couldn't stop. Her travels took her through many countries in Europe on numerous occasions, including one where she played in the Senior Women's World Cup Soccer Championship in Italy in 2013. She back-packed through Central America and found a deep love for Costa Rica. She explored Hawaii and numerous other American states, and also spent time in Mexico where she eventually married the love of her life, Colin McGaffin in 2008.
Lisa and Colin grew up in Kamloops and knew of each other as teenagers before spreading their wings to Vancouver and then meeting by chance through mutual friends on a late summer trip back to their home town in 1996. They kept in touch and reconnected back in Vancouver for a romantic first date canoe ride on Burnaby Lake. Their relationship blossomed while Lisa worked as a youth programmer and Colin as a baker at a large grocery store chain in North Vancouver.
In 1997 they had a beautiful bouncing baby boy, named Kade. Kade brought so much love and joy to Lisa, Colin, and the entire family and they brought their new little family unit back to Kamloops in 1998.
Back in Kamloops, Lisa and Colin started their first small business, Ambiance Designs. Their business was based around interior design and the renovation, recreating, and repurposing of classic furniture that they turned into gems, many of which still live on in households around the community. Lisa's amazing business sense and drive for excellence helped catapult them into their next grassroots business, Fresh is Best Salsa Company, in 1999. Fresh is Best is well known throughout Canada and through much hard work and perseverance, this business exploded! Starting with an amazing fresh vegetable salsa made after hours and all night long in a local restaurant and sold out the next day at farmers markets to a massive warehouse and production line of multiple dips, taco shells, tortilla chips, and sauces. Kade has followed his parents' lead and is an integral part of the family business.
As the business grew, so did their family with the birth of their most beautiful daughter, Maizy in 2005. The bond between mother and daughter was strong and explored many avenues including the love of creation through music and art including drawing, painting, building, sculpting, and playing the piano.
Lisa loved to garden with her family. Each year her garden grew with vigor and so did her dreams of a bigger, better, and more sustainable plot at their house on the hill that spills into Peterson Creek. Lisa loved animals and had many family pets over the years from fish, reptiles, and birds to rabbits, cats, and dogs. She loved them one and all and was always deeply connected to them.
Lisa's love and passion for the beautiful game of soccer was deep. She not only played on numerous BC tournament teams and two world masters teams but was also a player and sponsor on local Fresh is Best teams for decades in Kamloops. She grew several lifelong friendships and a soccer sisterhood that she cherished very much. Lisa was also a Kamloops Youth Soccer Association coach for 15 years, coaching both her son, Kade and daughter Maizy's teams; Coach Lisa held these times so dear to her heart. Lisa's leadership, on the soccer pitch, in her business, and with family and friends, was ever present. She was always quietly leading us to better ways, better times, and a higher way of thinking, constantly showing us all that a calm, caring, laughing, and loving attitude was always the best way to live. Lisa's constants were the love for her family, friends, and animals, her business, athletics, and her ability to make a difference in the world.
Although we are all completely heartbroken and crushed by the loss of our lovely Lisa, her beauty, charisma, and creativity will live on in our hearts, minds, and souls. Lisa touched us in such a beautiful way and she will be deeply missed and never forgotten.


Lisa in the sky with diamonds
There are some who bring a light so great to the world that even after they're gone that light shines on.
The love that you have given and received remains behind to light the lives of those you've touched.
– Love Mom and Dad


Lisa has been cremated and the family will plan a celebration of life when it is safer to do so. Lisa loved to get together and celebrate with her family and many, many friends so please celebrate the memory of Lisa as you see fit. Lisa's family appreciates any memories or messages of condolences you would like to share. In lieu of flowers, a charitable donation in Lisa's memory can be made to the Kamloops Y Women's Emergency Shelter at https://www.kamloopsy.org/vawiss-donate.htm.