Lisa Marie Milonovich was an award-winning nurse practitioner at Children's Medical Center in Dallas where she cared for sick children and mentored countless colleagues. When she wasn't caring for ill children, Lisa lectured at conferences across the country, taught future medical professionals, and was an accomplished writer.Lisa died from breast cancer after an 18-month battle on Friday, April 13 at her Dallas home. She was 49. As a child growing up in Bridgeport, Ohio, Lisa learned early on that she wanted to become a nurse. After graduating from Bridgeport High School, Lisa earned a bachelor of science degree in nursing from the University of Akron in 1984.In the early days, Lisa focused her nursing career on liver transplant. She began working for Children's Medical Center in Dallas in 1985. Lisa later achieved a master of science in nursing in 2002 from the University of Pennsylvania. Lisa was a member of the adjunct faculty for two pediatric acute care nurse practitioner programs at the Rush University College of Nursing in Chicago and the University of Texas at Arlington College of Nursing.She was the recipient of the Preceptor of the Year award in 2012, an award given by the University of Pennsylvania; the Texas Nurses' Association's Great One Hundred Nurses in 2009; and the Clinical Excellence award from the Dallas Beta Beta Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau in 1999 to name just a few. Lisa was also an extensive writer, rewriting chapters for medical textbooks and publishing numerous articles for medical journals. Lisa was happiest when she was at work, but she also enjoyed her pets, photography, traveling the world, and spending time with her nieces and nephew. She is survived by her parents, Ted and Sylvia Milonovich of Bridgeport, Ohio; sister and brother-in-law, Leslie and Timothy Hughes of New York, New York; brother and sister-in-law, Steve and Sheila Milonovich of Overland Park, Kansas; nieces and nephew Amanda, Sydney and Nick of Overland Park, Kansas.Visitation is from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday, April 15 at Sparkman/Hillcrest Funeral Home, 7405 W. Northwest Highway in Dallas. Mass is 1 p.m. Monday at St. Rita's Catholic Church, 12521 Inwood Road in Dallas. Private burial will be in St. Clairsville, Ohio on Wednesday, April 18, followed by a Memorial Mass open to everyone at St. Anthony's Catholic Church, 630 Main St. in Bridgeport, Ohio at 12:30 p.m.In lieu of flowers donations can be made in Lisa's name to the Children's Medical Center of Dallas or the Susan G. Komen Foundation. A charitable foundation in Lisa's name is forthcoming. Wilson Funeral Home 920 National Rd. Bridgeport,Oh is assisting family with arrangements.