LISA MARIE EXL, age 52 of Merrillville, passed away Saturday, July 18, 2026, while surrounded by her loving family. She was born on October 14, 1973, to Joseph James and Nadia (nee Niedbajlik) Exl. Lisa graduated from Indiana University Northwest with a bachelor's degree in criminal justice. After graduation, she worked for the Lake County Justice System before moving to Washington D.C. to work at the Pentagon, which involved training at Quantico. Lisa returned home and worked for the federal government in Illinois. She had currently been working as a case manager for Lake County Government. Lisa was an avid Jimmy Buffett fan and loved her pets. She loved her family and was a caregiver to her grandmothers, all while working. Lisa will be dearly missed.

She is survived by her mother, Nadia “Nancy” Exl; brothers, Joseph A. (Jennifer) Exl and Michael (Rachel) Exl; nieces, Chelsea (Justin) Grzelak, Abigail Exl, Violet Exl and Pearl Exl; great nieces, Vera and Mavis Grzelak; aunt, Olga (the late Gary) Martin; uncle, Tom Yeager; cousins, Christopher Yeager, Jeffrey Yeager, Greg (Stephanie) Martin, Jennifer Martin; other loving family and dear friends.

Lisa was preceded in death by her father, Joseph James Exl and baby sister, Elizabeth Exl; maternal grandparents, Aleksander & Zinaida Niedbajlik; paternal grandparents, Joseph F. and Mabel Exl; aunts, Maria Yeager.

Funeral services for Lisa will be Wednesday, July 22, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at Protection of the Virgin Mary Orthodox, 8600 Grand Blvd., Merrillville, IN 46410, with Fr. Jacob Van Sickle presiding. Burial will follow at Protection of the Virgin Mary Cemetery.