LAKEPORT, Calif. — Dana Lynn Billig of Lakeport passed away on March 19, 2023, from a brain tumor.

Her battle with cancer was short; she was diagnosed in January and left us in March.

Dana was born in Kittanning, Pennsylvania on May 25, 1947, to Daniel and Sarah Yapp.

Dana graduated from Thiel College in 1969. Shortly after she graduated college, she married the love of her life, Gary Billig.

Eventually the two of them moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, where they raised their two children and Dana went on to teach high school special education for 28 years.

In 2015, she and Gary moved to Lakeport to be closer to her grandkids. She adored her grandchildren and rarely missed a game, band concert or school meeting.

She also loved reading and enjoyed going to the dog park with her dog Milo (and her grand-dog, Zoey).

She was known for building bridges between people — she was inclusive of everyone she met and always wanted to bring them home for family dinner.

She is survived by her husband of 53 years, Gary; sister, Carol Heider; two children, Joshua and Sarah; her daughter-in-law, Karen; and her two grandchildren, Aydan and Kaylah.

She will be remembered for her loving and kind heart and her ability to bring people together — often over a family meal. Dana was the heart of our family.

Dana will be remembered at a celebration of life ceremony on March 31 from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Chapel of the Lakes in Lakeport.

Care entrusted to Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary FD1336, 1625 N. High St., Lakeport, www.chapelofthelakes.com, telephone 707-263-0357.