Elizabeth "Lisa" Martin

On Friday, June 20th, 2025, Elizabeth (Lisa) Ann Martin departed from this earth to her new life in Heaven. She is a beloved daughter, sister, a beautiful mother, aunt, and a friend to all.

She was born on October 10th, 1963, to two wonderful parents, Robert and Judy Mechelhoff, who raised her with faith and strong values. Lisa was raised to do the right thing, follow rules, and ultimately honor her family by the way she lived her life. These very things she lived and later instilled into her children as well.

Lisa raised two beautiful children, Abigail and Zachary Martin. She raised them in the Catholic Church, with strong values such as never quitting anything you started and being selfless by putting others before yourself. She provided so much for her children, and they are forever indebted to her even though her love didn’t demand any repayment. She was not just a mother to her biological children but also to her students and many others as a teacher who taught kids who were behind in graduating from high school. She was loved by her students, and if you were around her, you would often hear “Ms. Martin” while in public, since she knew and impacted many people by being a mother and a friend.

She was a devoted sister and aunt who put her family before herself. She deeply loved her sister Stephanie and her nieces Kennedy and Sidney Barrett. She treated them like her own children.

Lisa was a parishioner at St. Malachy Catholic Church in Rantoul, Illinois, and was involved with the “Works of Mercy” group, prayer/discussion groups, and was a daily Mass attendee as well as on Sundays. She lectored for Mass and was an Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist. Because of such faith, she was able to persevere through life’s difficult moments.

Lisa survived her parents and would pray for and visit them frequently at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Rantoul. Her faith got her through these difficulties, as well as a loving family. When Lisa was sick, her faith gave her hope, and doctors were often astonished at her positive attitude toward her illness. She never gave up and loved her family to the end, by word and deed.

Some of the last things she did for her kids were offering up her sufferings to God for them, telling them she loved them, and joining them in prayer as she awaited her heavenly home. She said, “I suffer for you,” which showed her unconditional love for her children. While her family prayed the Hail Mary, she listened the whole time and said only one word of the prayer, which was the Holy Name of Jesus.

She will be missed dearly by her family and those she knew.

Thank you, Mom, for all you did for us and still continue to do. Your children know you are watching them from Heaven and praying for them. We will honor you by our lives and by loving others as you did, Mom.

Love you more,

Your kids,

Abbey and Zach

Visitation will be held from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, at Sunset Funeral Home and Cremation Center’s Lux Chapel, 1551 E. Grove Ave. Rantoul, IL 61866. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 am on Thursday, June 26, 2025, at St. Malachy Catholic Church 340 East Belle Avenue, Rantoul, IL 61866. Burial will take place at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Rantoul.  

Please join Lisa's family in sharing memories, photos, and videos on her tribute wall at www.sunsetfuneralhome.com.