Lisa Koppel, 41, has died after a nearly three-year battle with colorectal cancer, with her family revealing her private health struggle for the first time and saying they hope her story will help raise awareness about the disease among younger people.
Koppel was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in November 2023 and spent the following years pursuing treatment in South Africa and abroad alongside her family, determined to find every possible avenue of hope.
“From that moment, she fought with extraordinary strength and determination,” her family said in a statement.
Despite the efforts of her loved ones and medical teams, Koppel could not be saved. Her family expressed its gratitude to the doctors, nurses and healthcare professionals who cared for her throughout her illness, both locally and internationally.
The family said Koppel had made a conscious decision to keep her diagnosis private, choosing not to seek public sympathy or attention. Her priority, they said, was protecting her children and allowing them to maintain a sense of happiness and innocence for as long as possible.
“Lisa chose to keep her illness private. She never wanted pity, attention or sympathy. Above all, she wanted to protect her children and preserve their happiness and innocence for as long as possible,” the family said.
Even as she endured the most difficult stages of her illness, Koppel remained, according to her family, gentle, humble and courageous.
“Even through the hardest moments, she remained gentle, humble and remarkably brave, inspiring everyone who walked this journey beside her,” they said.
The decision to publicly reveal her diagnosis following her death is rooted in a desire to encourage greater awareness of colorectal cancer, particularly as cases increasingly affect younger people.
The family pointed out that colorectal cancer screening was traditionally recommended from the age of 50, while international guidelines now recommend routine screening from age 45 for people at average risk. They also urged people experiencing persistent symptoms to speak to a doctor and ensure they are properly investigated.
The family said Koppel had hoped to eventually turn her experience into an opportunity to educate others about the disease and the importance of early detection.
“She hoped that one day she would use her experience to raise awareness of this disease and help others through early detection. She never got that opportunity. Her family will now carry that purpose forward in her name,” they said.
Koppel leaves behind her husband, Danny, and their three children, as well as the wider Koppel and Gundelfinger families and a community mourning a devastating loss.
“The Koppel and Gundelfinger families have been left shattered,” the family said, asking for prayers, compassion and privacy as they navigate their grief.
While her cancer battle was ultimately a defining part of the final years of her life, her family is determined that it should not become the legacy she leaves behind.
“Lisa’s illness will never define her. She will be remembered for the way she lived and loved: with kindness, humility, courage and an unwavering devotion to the people who meant everything to her,” the family said.
