Dear Denise,
It’s been over six weeks since you passed, and I’m still struggling for the words… If you were here you’d tell me to get a grip, sit next to the keyboard & get my act together…If I didn’t have a keyboard you’d find one for me, failing that shove a pencil in my hand…
Miss you so much…
Or I could say I was waiting to write after all of your Emmy Award winning writer friends had added their thoughts… and used all the good stuff… You had amazing friends & I’m proud to be one of them. I’ll never forget your very last words to me – I had said my final goodbyes and you pulled me back, to tell me what an influence I was in your life… You were the totally giving person down to your last breath…
From kayaking on the Russian River to bicycling in the Netherlands, you were the inspiration that got us all going and brought us back. On stage, you were my Go-To Girl…Always ready to jump in to a performance with 200% life & energy.
Bottom line… We laughed…and laughed and laughed and laughed…! You discovered those precious gems of comedy in life and showed it to us every day…
You’ve been likened to Sophie Tucker / Jessica Rabbit - Lauren Bacall / Eve Arden…
(I always thought it was Terri Garr!)
But nothing compares to you…
Love from John Elk
Friday, April 18, 2008
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Funny and Fearless
Like a lot of other people I first saw Denise at the Old Spaghetti Factory. I had performed at The Intersection, and instead of doing a set at The Coffee Gallery, which, to me, was akin to doing comedy in the lowest rung of Hell, I decided to take in the improv show. I normally was not that big a fan of improv, but Denise lit up the stage whenever she was on it. She was funny and fearless and not afraid to take comedic chances and she was the reason it turned out to be a very funny night. I was a fan of hers from that night on.
Offstage she had a great smile, was quick to laugh, and always made you fell welcome and special. She was thoughtful and kind and I miss her.
Bill Farley
Offstage she had a great smile, was quick to laugh, and always made you fell welcome and special. She was thoughtful and kind and I miss her.
Bill Farley
Our Denise
Even though Denise was only 6 years younger than me, I was always Aunt Kathy. What a niece she was! I have always admired Denise's uninhibited style …her adventurous travel, acting, her love of the theater and books, hiking and exploring …going her own way in a fearless, confident manner.
Denise always made us feel better about ourselves because she made us feel comfortable and made us come out of our confines and enjoy her exuberant style. I remember she and Sharkey swimming in the Pacific when it was too cold for words. Celebrating Mother's Day, graduations, birthdays (or whatever was on the calendar) in her Mom's backyard …singing "you're the end of the rainbow"…Denise always making it a party. Denise dancing and laughing at Tesa and Jesse's wedding...throwing up her hands in surrender when she couldn't get the crowd to "get the beat". Traveling to North Dakota and Minnesota to visit relatives and fitting in like she had grown up there.
I have read the "to thy own self be true" motto that Denise lived by but she also encouraged us …no insisted that we do the same. She had a special sensitivity that made us feel free. She was such a loving daughter and so close to her Mom …our family was blessed with her love
Denise died way too young. We will miss and love her forever.
Kathy Furst
Denise always made us feel better about ourselves because she made us feel comfortable and made us come out of our confines and enjoy her exuberant style. I remember she and Sharkey swimming in the Pacific when it was too cold for words. Celebrating Mother's Day, graduations, birthdays (or whatever was on the calendar) in her Mom's backyard …singing "you're the end of the rainbow"…Denise always making it a party. Denise dancing and laughing at Tesa and Jesse's wedding...throwing up her hands in surrender when she couldn't get the crowd to "get the beat". Traveling to North Dakota and Minnesota to visit relatives and fitting in like she had grown up there.
I have read the "to thy own self be true" motto that Denise lived by but she also encouraged us …no insisted that we do the same. She had a special sensitivity that made us feel free. She was such a loving daughter and so close to her Mom …our family was blessed with her love
Denise died way too young. We will miss and love her forever.
Kathy Furst
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Magic Inside You
Dear Aunt Denise,
It’s been just over a month since you passed away. Sometimes I catch myself "forgetting" that you are gone though...I know, that seems so stupid.
I never thought that when I eventually get married, you wouldn’t be part of that day. I always knew that you would be there to calm my nerves and make me laugh through the tears that I will inevitably be shedding. Plus, you would most likely have found the most wonderful necklace or pair of earrings that would have been perfect for me.
I was so looking forward to seeing you with my children. You have magic inside of you. I really don’t know how else to explain what you are so able to express through your eyes, words, laugh and world famous hugs! Every day spent with you growing up was like summer vacation...and every kid knows how valuable summer vacation is! You never got tired of playing, you never made me feel like a child and you never ran out of fun! I pictured you with my own children and was so excited for the aunt they would be lucky enough to share with me.
I told mom the other day how sad I was for all the things that you aren’t going to be a part of, and she reminded me to think of all the things you were there to share with us. We always had so much anticipation for how you wrapped our gifts at Christmas! All the summers we spent in Yosemite, you never said no to hiking or swimming...no matter how cold the water in the river was.
I wish now I had taken you up on all the invitations you extended to stay with you in SF and that I had found a way to spend this past Christmas with the family. I knew that it could potentially be the last, but I’m not sure if I really believed that it would be.
You’re the most honest person I’ve ever known. Not only because you tell the truth, but because you have no reservations about telling people like it is. I’m having a hard time figuring some stuff out right now and I wish I could ask for your opinion. I may not necessarily like what you have to tell me, but I would know that it’s the truth and it’s coming from your heart.
There’s someone that I wish you could meet, but unfortunately the timing just didn’t work out right. I got really lucky this time around and I’m sad that you can’t tell me what you think.
More than anything, I want to be loved the way you were. A huge part of that was the result of all the love you gave. You knew what was truly important in life and it had nothing to do with possessions. Granted you knew a lot of the right people, but it was the experiences with those people that made up your life. It’s funny how you never shared with me who your neighbors in NYC were when you and Jim were sharing that apartment. But that’s because they were just people to you. Who they became was essentially irrelevant. That’s just the life you lived.
I was fortunate enough to call you my aunt. You were my mom’s baby sister. But I got so much more than just an amazing family member out of your presence in my life. I hope everyone has the opportunity to know someone like you at some point in their life...if even just for a day. I was lucky enough to get you for 31 years. My life has been blessed more each day that you were a part of it. And you didn’t even do anything special, you were just you. Thank you for all your love.
Anne-Marie
It’s been just over a month since you passed away. Sometimes I catch myself "forgetting" that you are gone though...I know, that seems so stupid.
I never thought that when I eventually get married, you wouldn’t be part of that day. I always knew that you would be there to calm my nerves and make me laugh through the tears that I will inevitably be shedding. Plus, you would most likely have found the most wonderful necklace or pair of earrings that would have been perfect for me.
I was so looking forward to seeing you with my children. You have magic inside of you. I really don’t know how else to explain what you are so able to express through your eyes, words, laugh and world famous hugs! Every day spent with you growing up was like summer vacation...and every kid knows how valuable summer vacation is! You never got tired of playing, you never made me feel like a child and you never ran out of fun! I pictured you with my own children and was so excited for the aunt they would be lucky enough to share with me.
I told mom the other day how sad I was for all the things that you aren’t going to be a part of, and she reminded me to think of all the things you were there to share with us. We always had so much anticipation for how you wrapped our gifts at Christmas! All the summers we spent in Yosemite, you never said no to hiking or swimming...no matter how cold the water in the river was.
I wish now I had taken you up on all the invitations you extended to stay with you in SF and that I had found a way to spend this past Christmas with the family. I knew that it could potentially be the last, but I’m not sure if I really believed that it would be.
You’re the most honest person I’ve ever known. Not only because you tell the truth, but because you have no reservations about telling people like it is. I’m having a hard time figuring some stuff out right now and I wish I could ask for your opinion. I may not necessarily like what you have to tell me, but I would know that it’s the truth and it’s coming from your heart.
There’s someone that I wish you could meet, but unfortunately the timing just didn’t work out right. I got really lucky this time around and I’m sad that you can’t tell me what you think.
More than anything, I want to be loved the way you were. A huge part of that was the result of all the love you gave. You knew what was truly important in life and it had nothing to do with possessions. Granted you knew a lot of the right people, but it was the experiences with those people that made up your life. It’s funny how you never shared with me who your neighbors in NYC were when you and Jim were sharing that apartment. But that’s because they were just people to you. Who they became was essentially irrelevant. That’s just the life you lived.
I was fortunate enough to call you my aunt. You were my mom’s baby sister. But I got so much more than just an amazing family member out of your presence in my life. I hope everyone has the opportunity to know someone like you at some point in their life...if even just for a day. I was lucky enough to get you for 31 years. My life has been blessed more each day that you were a part of it. And you didn’t even do anything special, you were just you. Thank you for all your love.
Anne-Marie
Friday, April 4, 2008
Missing My Sis
Well, it's been a month my dear sweet Denise and I still cannot believe you're not here anymore. I've been wanting to post something but can't seem to find the right words, but here goes.
Thank you for always being there for your family and others. Thank you for inspiring me to travel more......I'll never forget our trips to New Orleans and NYC (before the tragic events), our week long camping trips to Yosemite, talking me into hiking the Panoramic Trail(even though I thought I would have to be carried back to the campsite)!! Even though I was your "older sister" you were the one always so protective of me - I was afraid of everything.....YOU were afraid of nothing!!
You were a wonderful Sister, Daughter, Aunt, Niece, Friend who lived to make others happy. I will forever and always miss my sis.
Jeneine
Thank you for always being there for your family and others. Thank you for inspiring me to travel more......I'll never forget our trips to New Orleans and NYC (before the tragic events), our week long camping trips to Yosemite, talking me into hiking the Panoramic Trail(even though I thought I would have to be carried back to the campsite)!! Even though I was your "older sister" you were the one always so protective of me - I was afraid of everything.....YOU were afraid of nothing!!
You were a wonderful Sister, Daughter, Aunt, Niece, Friend who lived to make others happy. I will forever and always miss my sis.
Jeneine
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