Lindy Lizenbery

Lindy Sorrell Marie Lizenbery, 77, Topeka, Kansas, died Thursday, June 4, 2026. Lindy was born January 8, 1949, in Los Angeles, California, the daughter of Carl J. and Leone Kuhn Lizenbery. When Lindy was two years old she and her parents moved to Lakewood, California where she attended kindergarten through second grade at Stephen Foster Elementary School and third through sixth grades at St. Cyprian School in Long Beach. In the summer following, the family that now included her younger brother, returned to Los Angeles where she attended seventh and eighth grades at St. John the Evangelist School. In the fall of 1963, Lindy entered St. Mary’s Academy, graduating in June 1967. As a child, Lindy loved music. As she grew older she attributed that love to her maternal grandmother, Katherine Braun Kuhn, who played the piano and sang in English and German. Lindy took piano lessons for over two years before begging her mother for a guitar. Her first guitar was redeemed with 7 ¾ books of S&H Green Stamps that Lindy licked and placed in the books herself. In grade school, Lindy sang in the school choir. She played softball and tennis. In sixth grade, she was a relief pitcher for the eighth grade girls’ softball team. During the summers she played with the neighborhood boys who liked her ability to catch fly balls and pitch without walking a batter or allowing home runs. In 1958, the Brooklyn Dodgers moved to Los Angeles and Lindy became an avid and dedicated fan of her boys in blue. Through the years she attended games at the LA Coliseum and Dodger Stadium. Before baseball games were televised, she listened to them on her small transistor radio. She loved it when Vin Scully, the “Voice of the Dodgers”, announced the play by play. After moving to Topeka, Lindy watched the Dodgers every time their games were televised here. After graduation in 1967, Lindy went to work for the County of Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department as a civilian employee where she stayed for ten years. Several part-time jobs followed: with an employment agency, Beverly Hills Bank, a Japanese insurance agency and a mobile auto glass company. In September of 1984, Lindy began working for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, first as a counselor at the San Fernando Mission Cemetery in Mission Hills and then in January 1985, at St. Genevieve Catholic Church in Panorama City CA. Lindy worked as secretary from 1985 until 2000 when she was appointed business manager after completing the Parish Administration Certificate Program at Loyola Marymount University. She retired in June 2009. Lindy first walked into St. Gen’s on Holy Saturday of 1978. She had found a church home. Within a short time she became an active, conscious, participating member of the parish. She enjoyed taking part in the ministries and programs that the parish offered. During that time she attended her first Charismatic prayer meeting. Lindy’s love of music, which had been dormant since high school, was re-awakened, and not too long after she became an integral part of the prayer group music ministry. Two years later, with the help of the Holy Spirit and a friend, Lindy formed the Daughters of Yahweh. That ministry grew into the Daughters and Sons of Yahweh. After several years, the death of one member and others moving out of state, the group became Yahweh’s Daughter. Lindy and Theo, her guitar, led music for Masses, penance services, parish workshops, retreats, funerals, weddings, anniversaries and for many years, at the SCRC Catholic Renewal Convention at the Anaheim Convention Center. In the mid-1980s, Heart of the Nation established a west coast office in Hollywood. Lindy was a volunteer phone minister for their prayer line. She also provided music for some of their Masses and training workshops for their volunteers. In October 1988, Heart of the Nation hosted a pilgrimage to Medjugorje for 205 people from the USA. Lindy was the music minister. In May 1992, she was given the huge blessing of being the music minister for Fr. Jim Clarke and 60 people from the Archdiocese of Los Angeles for a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, Egypt, Assisi and Rome. Lindy realized the desire in her heart, to sing for the Lord and see where He was born, lived, died and rose from the dead. The Lord added Egypt and Italy. Theo was on both pilgrimages and got to travel first class each time. For many years, Lindy was the principal care giver for her parents who suffered from multiple health issues. Her Mom died in January of 1997 and her Dad in February 1998. When Lindy was contemplating her retirement from St. Gen’s, she realized that her limited income would not be adequate if she remained in California. While it was difficult to move away from her brother and many friends, she arrived in Topeka in August 2009, eager to begin the next chapter of her life. Lindy found a home at the First Apartments, making many friends. She was given the opportunity to work part-time in the apartment’s office, which she enjoyed very much. Lindy is survived by her brother, Randy Lizenbery of Topeka; and many cousins. She also leaves beloved friends in California and Kansas. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at Most Pure Heart of Mary Catholic Church at 7 p.m. on Monday, June 15. Lindy will be cremated. Her graveside service will be at San Fernando Mission Cemetery in Mission Hills, California at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library, Red Carpet Services or to Catholic Charities, sent in care of Kevin Brennan Family Funeral Home, 2801 SW Urish Road, Topeka KS 66614. Condolences may be sent online to www.kevinbrennanfamily.com.

Lindy Lizenbery

January 8, 1949 - June 4, 2026