Marisa Ann LaSpaluto January 27, 1995 - January 14, 2017 Apex Marisa Ann LaSpaluto, passed on from her family and friends Saturday, January 14. Known to family as Sissy or Sister Bear all her life, even when it embarrassed her to be called such, she was given the nickname by her beloved Nana, Flora LaSpaluto, when she was born on January 27, 1995 as the younger sister of Nick. Close in age, Nicholas and Marisa never fought unless it was over who was looking out whose window or who was "almost touching" whom in the back seat of the truck on long trips to the mountains or beach--both of which she loved. She also loved spending time with her Grandmother, Gerri Carraway, and Papaw, Ted Carraway, at their pool every summer and loved all the fun trips they took. She adored sitting beside Papaw in his chair as a child and was deeply saddened when he passed away in March of 2016. We are happy that Papaw is there to share his favorite chair again with her now. Marisa had a great love of all animals but was never happier than when Sampson, her favorite pibble, was adopted in 2013. Sampson can be found sleeping in her bed every afternoon curled against her pillow as he used to rest against her legs when they were napping buddies almost every day she was home. Marisa was an artist, an avid reader, a vegetarian, and a great cook who enjoyed farmers markets and cooking healthy foods when she wasn't thrift store shopping with her mom, DeAlva. As a child she was often happiest when she would hang out with her mom, lunching and shopping; with her Dad exploring and fishing; or watching tv with her brother. She and Nick watched cartoons together and loved The Angry Beavers, Cow and Chicken, and Sponge Bob Squarepants as kids and King of the Hill, Beavis & Butthead, Bob's Burgers, and all things Adult Swim as adults. Marisa loved to be outdoors with the sun in her face and she enjoyed walking, camping, and being active with her Dad, Chris. Lately, she enjoyed spending time doing yoga with Margaret Myers, her Dad's fiancée, and she gained a lot of peace during their time together. Marisa was known to her friends as silly, shy, determined, outspoken (especially when she saw injustice in the world), sensitive, and a bit wild by turns. She felt things deeply, she always championed the underdog, and she was fiercely independent. She is missed by her Uncle Tim and Aunt Michelle and cousin Alexis, as well as Uncle Denis and Aunt Suzanne and cousins Ben and Grey, her friend Steven and countless other friends and family members. A Memorial Service will be held 2pm Saturday, January 21, 2017 at Apex Funeral Home Chapel, 550 W. Williams St, Apex, NC 27502. The family will receive friends immediately following the service at the funeral home. Please donate to the Wake County Animal Adoption Center 919-212-7387 or consider sponsoring a pet and please share remembrances of her to sustain her family through this time at www.ApexFuneral.net.