In an effort to honor the life of the late Lisa Libis, as well as show her three children how loved she was by the community, a Celebration of Life was held last Thursday at Winman Junior High.

Lisa Libis, who moved to Warwick nine years ago, died at the age of 55 on March 23 after several years of battling breast cancer.

Libis grew up in the foster care system in California and was never adopted. Yet, during her life she came to be loved by so many, her family reaching far into the community from her Gloria Gemma Cancer Sisters, to the Kent County YMCA and Winman Junior High School, where her children go to school.

Mary Cartwright, who organized the celebration, met Libis more than five years ago when their children were on the same basketball team at the Kent County YMCA.

“We became close friends cheering from the sidelines,” she said.

Upon their meeting Libis was in remission, only to learn a few months later her cancer had returned.

Cartwright said that despite undergoing surgeries and chemotherapy Libis’s three children, Isaac and Samuel, 14, and Luciana, 12, were always her priority.

“No matter what she was going through she was devoted to her children. She was just an amazing woman,” Cartwright said.

On February 1 Libis was rushed to the hospital for a severe case of pneumonia. Doctors found her cancer had spread to her brain. After her passing Cartwright, who has four children of her own, took the twin boys, while Luciana went to stay with the Lombard family with her best friend, Amelia Lombard.

So many more have come forward in making sure the children are cared for during this tough time, preparing meals, helping with transportation and offering to help with laundry.

“It takes a village,” Cartwright said. “I used to think that was cliché, but I’ve seen the village and it’s a nice village.”

Currently, the children’s father, Carl Libis, and stepmother, Sandi Libis, originally from West Greenwich, are looking for a home in Warwick so the children can continue attending their current schools.

“There was only a small private funeral for Lisa, but here was this massive community that loved her, that was coming together to care for her children,” Cartwright said. “It’s just been a beautiful effort.”

The purpose for the celebration of life event was for her children to be “surrounded by love and support.” Similarly, the celebration wanted to recognize the impact of Libis’s life, for friends to share memories and to grieve.

Nearly 120 people showed up for the celebration. Luciana greeted all the guests and then several people spoke about Libis including Cartwright, Frank Catano, who had taken Libis under his wing as a group leader in the foster care system, and Christine Yanish, a fellow Gloria Gemma Cancer Sister. There were some musical performances and a “life video” filled with pictures from Libis’s life.

“When I took on this project I had no idea just how many people would be coming out of the woodwork to help,” Cartwright said. “Even Lisa thought this was a great idea before her passing. I believe it was very cathartic for everyone.”

There is an online fundraiser for the three children at www.youcaring.com. To donate search the website using the keywords “Lisa Libis.”

DEAR FRIENDS: Mary Cartwright (left) with Luciana Libis, organized the Celebration of Life honoring Lisa Libis. She has also taken in two of Lisa’s children, Isaac and Samuel, since Lisa’s passing. (Submitted photo)

COMMUNITY AND FAMILY: Lisa Libis grew up in foster care and was never adopted, but throughout her life she was loved by so many. The Celebration of Life event saw nearly 120 of those loved ones. (Submitted photo)

LOVING MOM: Lisa Libis, pictured with her three children, Luciana, Isaac and Samuel, moved to Warwick nine years ago. Not long after moving here she was diagnosed with breast cancer. In March she passed after a long battle with the disease. (Submitted photo)

PINK OUT: Since Lisa Libis battled breast cancer before her passing, many of the guests to her Celebration of Life wore pink. (Submitted photo)