Lisandra Garcia Brink

Lisandra Garcia Brink, age 58, passed away at St. Elizabeth's Hospital January 9, 2024, after a brief illness. She was born in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico April 20, 1965. She was the youngest of three girls and was preceded in death by her sister Melisa Brown. She is survived by her parents Carlos and Efrend Garcia and sister Leslie (Chris) Heilig, all of Shiloh, Ill. Growing up she was the vibrant and funny baby of the family. She and her sisters always kept each other company and were often known as the "Three Musketeers".
Being from an Air Force Family, she grew up near or on Air Force bases in San Antonio, Texas, Biloxi, Miss., and Torrejon de Ardoz, Spain. The summer before her junior year of High School the family moved to Belleville, Ill. when Carlos was stationed at Scott Air Force Base. She then attended Belleville Township High School East and met her future husband Richard (Rick) Brink. Lisandra and Rick became friends during a 1982 band trip to Boston and attended prom together their senior year in 1983 then on September 3, 1988, they were married at Union United Methodist Church in Belleville. Two years later, they welcomed their first daughter Jessica (Jacob) Williamson into the world and in 1995 completed the family with their second daughter Amanda (Taylor) Michel.
She graduated from SIUE in 1989 with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and minor in Business and then completed her Master of Science in Education-Instructional Technology in 2002. In her early career she worked at Blue Cross Blue Shield as a client service representative and corporate trainer. She subsequently taught business classes as an adjunct professor at Stevens Institute of Business and the Arts and was most recently a part time office administrator at RLA CPAs.
Lisandra loved to spend time with her family and travel. She was always looking toward her next trip and delighted in planning the next adventure. She liked to craft and play dolls with her two granddaughters Zoraida and Jocelyn Williamson. She enjoyed cooking, planning holidays and events, sewing, scrapbooking, gardening, camping, decorating the house, sitting on the beach, and hiking in the mountains. She was also an active member of The Shiloh Church and Cancun Ladies social club.
Lisandra was a caring wife, daughter, mother, sister, grandmother, and friend. She loved fiercely and was adored by all who knew her. She always had a listening ear and had the gift of making others feel welcome and loved and knew how to make people laugh. She will be missed by so many people and leaves a legacy of so much love and comfort.
Memorials can be made to Karla Smith Behavioral Health or The Shiloh Church (formerly Shiloh United Methodist)
Visitation will be held 1 – 3 p.m., Sunday, January 28, 2024, at The Shiloh Church (formerly Shiloh United Methodist), 210 S. Main St., Shiloh, with Memorial Service following at 3 p.m., with Pastor Ken Hutchens officiating.