Obituaries

Lisa Margaret McHugh, née Malloy, of Union, Kentucky, passed away peacefully on September 27, 2026, in Cincinnati, Ohio, surrounded by the love of her family. She was 64 years old.

Born on January 31, 1962, in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, to Jack and Freda Malloy, Lisa grew up in the community where she met the love of her life, Anthony “Tony” McHugh. In a fitting coincidence, Lisa and Tony were born in the same hospital just two days apart, a small detail that seemed to foreshadow the life they would share.

Lisa and Tony married at age 23 and built a remarkable partnership that spanned more than four decades. In 1996, they moved to Kentucky, where they raised their three children and created a home that became a gathering place for family, friends, neighbors, and anyone who needed a seat at the table.

More than anything, Lisa was devoted to her family. She and Tony raised Rachel Helminski, Rebecca (Becky) Robinson, and Brendan McHugh, whom she loved fiercely and supported unconditionally. She was a proud Nana to Liam Robinson, Evelyn Robinson, and Elliot McHugh, who brought her endless joy and were among the brightest lights in her life.

Lisa had an extraordinary gift for creating comfort and belonging. In the summer, her house was famously kept ice-cold with the air conditioning running full blast; in the winter, family and friends gathered around a roaring fire. No matter the season, there was always something delicious on the table. She remembered the little things people loved—a favorite snack, a preferred dessert, or a special treat for one of the grandchildren—and made sure they were waiting for them. More importantly, she made people feel seen. Whether you were family, a lifelong friend, or a first-time guest, Lisa had a way of making you feel valued, accepted, and loved exactly as you were.

Her children still laugh about the “family hold back,” their childhood term for taking smaller portions whenever extra guests joined them for dinner so there would always be enough food for everyone. It was a simple tradition that perfectly captured Lisa’s generous spirit: there was always room for one more person at her table.

When her children were young, Lisa cared for many other children through babysitting, offering them the same patience and kindness she gave her own family. Later, she brought those gifts to her work as an aide in the special-needs classroom at Erpenbeck Elementary, where she formed meaningful bonds with her students and coworkers.

Lisa loved swimming, cooking, and spending time with her grandchildren. Known to them as Nana, or simply “Nan,” she delighted in crafting with them and was always thinking about the next project they could create together. She was also still patiently waiting for Tony to set up the crafting table she wanted in the basement. While that project remained unfinished, those who knew them best can smile knowing she never quite gave up reminding him about it. Her grandchildren will forever remember the “fairy dust” Nan would send with them at bedtime—a little bit of magic to help ensure sweet dreams.

She loved life’s simple pleasures: a good game of rummy with her sister, an episode of SVU (or the Waltons), watching birds from her deck, a table full of family, and a house filled with laughter.

Known for her patience, generosity, and wonderfully mischievous sense of humor, Lisa expressed her love through countless thoughtful acts. She noticed what others needed before they asked, remembered the details that mattered, and found quiet ways to make people feel cared for. She and Tony shared a love of laughter and an appreciation for jokes that occasionally tested the boundaries of what should be repeated at the dinner table.

Her greatest pride was her family. The love she poured into her children, grandchildren, relatives, friends, and community shaped countless lives and will continue to be felt for generations to come.

Lisa is survived by her beloved husband, Anthony “Tony” McHugh; her children, Rachel Helminski and her husband, Garrett Helminski, Rebecca (Becky) Robinson and her husband, Ryan Robinson, and Brendan McHugh and his wife, Brooke McHugh (Maines); her grandchildren, Liam Robinson, Evelyn Robinson, and Elliot McHugh; her siblings, Robert Malloy(Kathy), Dan Malloy (Sylvie), Cathy Irving, and Jacqueline Galdenzi (Perry); and many extended family members and dear friends.

She will be missed and lovingly remembered by all who were fortunate enough to know her.

Friends and family will be received on Friday, October 2, 2026 at St. Timothy Church from 11:30am-1:25pm. A Eulogy will begin at 1:25pm followed by Mass at 1:30pm.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Michael J. Fox Foundation supporting Parkinson’s Disease. Click here to donate https://give.michaeljfox.org/campaign/831853/donate.