The family of Lisa Ruttenberg Stebic has this response to Drew Peterson’s arrest yesterday:

Only another family in such a tragic situation can fully understand the agony that the Savio family has gone through waiting all these years for justice.

– Lisa’s Family

Thoughts from Lisa’s Sisters on this Two Year Anniversary of her Disappearance

My seven and a half year old son tells me quite frequently that he misses his Aunt Lisa. I give him a big hug and tell him. “I know you do, I do too.” Several years ago Lisa took him to Build- A- Bear for his birthday, he still has this bear and I told him that he should save it forever, so he started sleeping with it every night. He tells me frequently that my pumpkin muffins aren’t as good as Aunt Lisa’s. She was a terrific cook!

I was hugging my four year old son before he went to sleep recently and he said to me “Let’s talk about Lisa”. I asked him what he would like to talk about and he told me, “I love Lisa and God is with her.”

My four year old daughter, who was just two at the time when Lisa vanished from her home, talks about her Aunt Lisa often. She says she misses Lisa so much. My daughter said, “When I go to Heaven I will hold hands with Lisa.” A four year old saying this? How do you not break down?!

One day I was playing a CD in the car. I looked in my review mirror and my four year old daughter was crying, so I pulled the car over to find out what was wrong. I didn’t even realize that the song was talking about Heaven and it reminded her of Lisa. It just breaks my heart that my children are going through this!

All three of my kids ask me frequently if the police are looking for Aunt Lisa. They ask, “If she is lost- then why can’t they find her?” I tell them she isn’t lost, because adults know where they are going. I also tell them she would never have left Lexi and Zac. They wonder why they aren’t able to see their cousins like they used to. These smart, innocent kids with all of these questions! What am I supposed to tell my three children?!

There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t think about my sister and how much I miss the bond that we had. I look at her picture hoping that I will talk to her, put my arms around her, but knowing that is not realistic. She was such a positive influence in all of our lives. She definitely was in my children’s lives and they miss her so much! I tell my children that Aunt Lisa watches over them, to keep them safe, and protect them. I watch them as they soak up all of this information, trying to figure out what could have happened to their Aunt Lisa. I feel so bad for what my children are going through and I can’t imagine what Lexi and Zac are feeling. If only Lexi and Zac could have their mother back.

Last May 19, 2008 for Lisa’s 39th birthday, my children and I wrote a message to her, attached it to balloons and watched as it went up into the air. My children asked if we can do it again. Of course I tell them. May 19, 2009 would have been Lisa’s 40th Birthday, and this special day has been taken away from her. As we watch the balloon rise up into the air, we close our eyes and continue to pray for you day and night, pray that you get the justice you deserve, pray for your children Lexi and Zac. We love you!

Love your sister Jamie

April 30, 2009. Two years have passed since Lisa Ruttenberg Stebic went “missing”…

Because my sister Lisa, an incredibly wonderful soul, was taken without regard for her life…which was on the cusp of becoming free. Lisa was taken without regard for her children’s lives, who love her and need her.  Lisa was taken without regard for her family’s lives, who love and miss her deeply at every moment of every day. Lisa was taken without regard for her friends’ lives, who are touched by her sensitivity and fun loving nature. We are all changed forever and we all miss Lisa terribly. Sadly, it just keeps getting more difficult as time goes on.

How can I deal with such a tremendous gaping hole in my life?

My daily life is so very hard without Lisa as a part of it. I miss her so much! I am full of pain and know it will never ever go away. Lisa left an intense impact on me, but one with a lasting impression of hope and celebration. Lisa always looked towards a positive resolution, even with all of the intense struggles she encountered.

I can only try to manage this constant feeling of emptiness, by doing my best to think positively and really enjoy each and every day. I celebrate Lisa’s life by trying to emulate the sweet, good, giving and fun person she was.

My grandma tells our family frequently, “Living in the past is a reference for learning- and living for the future takes you away from today.” We don’t know how long we will be privileged to be on this earth, but living for today as a good person and positive impact to our world is the only way I can be.

Lisa was also living this same truth. Thank you sister for also helping to teach me this, your energy and strength will always inspire me…

Debbie

America’s Most Wanted used Lisa Stebic’s case as an example on how to “Make Noise” and keep a missing person case in the public eye and headlines.

Visit the America’s Most Wanted Safety Center website for more video and information about publicizing your family’s missing loved one.

They have also published a fantastic Making Noise Guide that you can download here.

We hope that what our family has learned in the last difficult year and a half may help your family find your missing loved one.   America’s Most Wanted has always been in the forefront of helping families of missing persons, and we appreciate that they are making this resource available on their website to help anyone faced with a similar tragedy.

Fox’s America’s Most Wanted, on Saturday, September 27th, will air a segment called “Making Noise.”  Correspondent Michelle Sigona came to Plainfield to interview Melanie Greenberg, and friends of Lisa, about the media campaign that we waged when Lisa Stebic went missing back on April 30th, 2007.  This will inform other families, who may face a tragedy similar to ours, what steps they should take to get the word out about their missing loved one.  It will highlight all the many ways we used to raise public awareness about Lisa’s story:  the website, billboards, videos, YouTube, press conferences, vigils, and fundraisers for the reward fund.

Please tune in to FOX (channel 32 in the Chicago area) at 8 p.m. Central time on 9/27 to watch.  The piece will be about 6 minutes long and towards the end of the show.   After the segment airs, America’s Most Wanted will post this information as a resource to other families on their website.

We had a fantastic turnout at Lisa’s Walk for Guardian Angel Community Services.  It was a cool day, but thankfully the rain held off.

Lisa’s family express our profound gratitude to the Plainfield Exchange Club for making our dream a beautiful reality.  We raised money for a very worthy cause and raised awareness about domestic violence and child abuse prevention.

The speeches that Lisa’s parents, Lawrence and Judy Ruttenberg gave thanked the Plainfield community for all they have done for our family in the past year.  With the dove release honoring Lisa’s spirit, accompanied by beautiful music by Joe Cantafio, there wasn’t a dry eye in the crowd.  It was a beautiful and moving remembrance for Lisa Michele.

The families of other missing loved ones came out in support of our family, including those of Stacy Peterson, Brad Olson, and John Spira.  Some came from long distances, including Canada and Arizona.  We appreciate all who came and joined us, and give thank to the many volunteers who gave of their time and energy for this event.

Visit Recent News to see articles and video of the event.

(Courtesy:  Michael R. Schmidt/Joliet Herald Staff Photographer & Rosemary Fontaine)

Joe Cantafio will play before and after Lisa’s Walk on Sunday, April 27th in Plainfield.

Post-Walk Live Concert

Come enjoy the music of Joe Cantafio of

101^st Rock Division at

Front Street Cantina restaurant at about 3 pm. 

Admission is free -  

but a donation of $5 per family is requested with

proceeds going to Guardian Angel services.

Cantafio is an accomplished artist who with

101^st Rock Division entertains troops throughout

the world.

(www.joecantafio.com/).

Plainfield TV will be rebroadcasting the Melanie Greenberg conversation with Reid Paxson on their April 25 broadcast, and will mention our April 27 fundraiser.

The program will be shown on Friday, April 25 and 7pm, and again on Saturday and Sunday at 1pm.

Thank you to CBS and Without A Trace for featuring Lisa during the new show that aired Thursday night, April 10th!

She is also featured on the front page of their website:

CBS Without A Trace

This is the second time that Without A Trace has featured Lisa as their missing case of the week.

The Family of Lisa Ruttenberg Stebic would like to announce

a special event to remember and honor Lisa on the one-year anniversary of her disappearance.

There will be a Fundraiser Walk in Plainfield, IL

benefiting the Guardian Angel Community Services of Joliet

*in Partnership with the Exchange Club of Plainfield

Where: Village Green, 648 West Chicago Street, Plainfield, IL

(Mapquest link of Village Green location)

When: 1:00 pm Sunday, April 27th
Registration begins at 12:00

Same day registration $20 per individual, $35 for a family.

Post-Walk Live ConcertCome enjoy the music of Joe Cantafio of 101^st Rock Division at Front Street Cantina restaurant at about 3 pm.  Admission is free but a donation of $5 per family is requested with proceeds going to Guardian Angel services. Cantafio is an accomplished artist who with 101^st Rock Division entertains troops throughout the world. (www.joecantafio.com/).

The one year anniversary of the disappearance of Lisa Ruttenberg Stebic is fast approaching. Lisa went missing without a trace on April 30^th, 2007. Lisa’s parents and family have decided that they would like to give back to the community that has done so much for our family. To remember Lisa, we are holding a Fundraiser Walk called “Lisa’s Walk for Guardian Angel Community Services“ on Sunday, April 27^th.

The purpose of Lisa’s Walk will be to remember Lisa Stebic, to raise awareness of domestic violence and to assist in the prevention of future domestic violence by donating the proceeds from this event to the Guardian Angel’s Community Services’ Groundwork Domestic Violence Program, Sexual Assault Service Center and Exchange Club Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse.

April is National Child Abuse Awareness month, and the newly chartered Plainfield Exchange Club will partner with Lisa’s family to hold this event. Exchange Clubs is known as America’s service club whose members make a difference within their communities through programs of service in Americanism, youth, community service and their National program of preventing child abuse.

Guardian Angel Community Services, formerly Guardian Angel Home, was founded in Joliet in 1897 as an orphanage, run by the Sisters of Saint Francis of Mary Immaculate. Guardian Angel Community Services offer Domestic Violence crisis services, counseling, foster care and many domestic and child abuse prevention programs. They strive to help victims become survivors.

“The first anniversary of Lisa’s disappearance will be very difficult for our family. We have chosen to honor her by doing something positive for the community. We hope to raise awareness about domestic violence and child abuse, and raise donations for an organization, Guardian Angel, that works to prevent abuse and offers many services for victims.” – Melanie Greenberg, family spokesperson

The Plainfield Exchange Club encourages area businesses to become sponsors of the event.

“As our first signature fundraising event, it is a tremendous honor and privilege to assist Lisa’s family while also building awareness of the domestic violence and child abuse prevention and counseling services that are provided through the Guardian Angel Community Services organization.” - Dave Wentz, Lincolnland Exchange Clubs District President and co-founder of the Exchange Club of Plainfield.

Email us at findlisastebic@gmail.com if you are interested in volunteering or becoming a sponsor for the event.  Some extra t-shirts will be available for same day registration, but will be first-come, first served while they last.

If you cannot attend, but would still like to make a donation, please send your donation here:

 Lincolnland Foundation for Youth

Attn:  Robert Epley

First Midwest Bank

24509 W. Lockport Street

Plainfield, IL 60544