Lisa Hatch Christensen passed away peacefully at home on January 4th, 2023, surrounded by her family and loved ones after having a long and hard-fought 7-year battle with colon cancer.
Lisa was born in Salt Lake City to F. Jay Hatch and Shirley Rose (Hogan) Hatch. As the only daughter in the family, Lisa always had a very close relationship with her parents. She held her mother near and dear to her heart. Her dad was wrapped around her finger. Her brothers and close friends called her “Lisa and Lou” and “Killer Hatch.”
On February 22nd, 1986, Lisa married her best friend, Jeffrey Mark Christensen, in the Salt Lake City Temple. Only a few days later, the newlyweds packed up their things and moved to Sacramento, California, where Jeff was serving in the US Air Force. While living in Sacramento they welcomed two beautiful boys, Alex and Travis. After 3 years, they happily moved back to Utah where they welcomed two more children, Breanna and Kade, and built two beautiful homes in North Salt Lake.
Lisa was raised in Bountiful and lived in North Salt Lake for most of her life. Lisa was a leader her entire life and accomplished a multitude of amazing things in her limited time on Earth. She loved to ice skate while young and participated on the drill team at Bountiful High. She graduated from Salt Lake Community College with a degree in cosmetology. She spent numerous years as the PTA president while her children were in elementary school. She also was twice the Primary president. Mom loved to be around kids!
Mom spent 10 years managing a business full-time after she and dad started a Mad Science franchise getting elementary children excited about science. While raising four children of her own, Lisa enriched hundreds of lives by teaching preschool out of their home.
Mom was an inspiration to many loved ones and friends. She was an extremely hard worker, and was tough as nails, she never quit. Even when her health began to fail, she never complained and just kept pushing her mind and body as far as they would go. She never allowed her diagnosis or disease to define her life. She was truly selfless and continually put everyone else’s needs before her own. She always wanted to become a nurse and strongly desired to help people every day. When she turned 37, she went back to school and became a Registered Nurse through Weber State University, before attending BYU-Idaho online to complete her Bachelor’s in Nursing. For over 16 years, she dedicated every day to serving thousands of patients as an admissions director and nurse care manager.
If you knew Mom, you knew she had a passion for traveling and sunshine. Before we returned from a cruise, she would be busy planning our next adventure. Mom was able to travel to Europe, Hawaii, Alaska, the Caribbean, and many trips to Disney, just to name a few. Mom enjoyed attending Denver Broncos football games with dad, children, and grandchildren for many years. She was a “high fiver" at the football games and everyone within reach was getting one like it or not. During her free time, she loved to read and cross-stitch. Over the years, she spent thousands of hours cross-stitching 18 Christmas stockings for her children and grandchildren.
Mom has always been our biggest cheerleader. She never said “no” to things we wanted to try or places we wanted to go. She spent years driving and cheering us on at countless sports games and dance recitals. She loved her children and wanted to give them the best life possible.
Quality family time was her number one priority. Her grandchildren were one of the greatest gifts she received. As she was blessed with each of her 8 grandchildren, it was love at first sight. Her grandchildren were her whole world and gave her new life and purpose. She never missed a soccer game or dance recital. It was important to her to build and maintain a personal relationship with each of them.
Mom shared a deep connection with her cherished four-legged friend, Maui. Maui loved mom unconditionally and was always receptive to any new trick mom was training her on. Maui could always be found warming her feet.
She is survived by her loving husband Jeffrey Mark Christensen and children: Alex (Amber) Christensen, Travis (Brittany) Christensen, Breanna (Trevor) Holgreen, Kade (Cassidy) Christensen; as well as grandchildren: Beckam, Jefferson, Callie, Dawson, Daxton, Henry, Sloane, Hana; her mother Shirley Rose Hatch; siblings: David (Deborah) Hatch, Darrell (Shelly) Hatch, Douglas (Trish) Hatch; many beloved nephews, nieces, cousins, and friends. She was preceded in death by her father F. Jay Hatch, who endured his own fight with cancer 18 years ago.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, January 11th, 2023, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 165 Monarch Drive, Bountiful, Utah. An evening viewing will be held from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Tuesday, January 10th, 2023, at Russon Mortuary, 295 N. Main Street, Bountiful. A Wednesday morning viewing will be held from 9:30-10:30 a.m. at the church prior to services. Burial will be at Bountiful City Cemetery.
Family and friends of Lisa wish to extend a warm, heartfelt thank you to Utah Cancer Specialists, Dr. Gregory Litton and physician’s assistant Louise Tobey for the care and compassion given to Lisa and Jeff during her battle.
Wednesday, January 11, 2023 at 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Wednesday, January 11, 2023 at 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM
Wednesday, January 11, 2023 at 1:00 AM – 3:00 AM