Denise Small
It is with a heavy heart that we honor the passing of our long-time member and friend, Denise Small. Her spunky, free-spirited way of inspiring us to always maintain a zest for life even when things are really challenging, will always keep her spirit close.
You left this world so swiftly,
Like a whisper on the breeze,
Yet your laughter lingers softlyIn the rustling of the trees.
The echo of your kindness
Still warms the hearts you knew,
And even in your absence,
Love keeps leading us to you.
No farewell was ever spoken,
No chance to say goodbye—But the bond we shared remains,
Unbroken by the sky.
So when the stars are shining,
And the night is still and deep,
Know you're held within our hearts,
In every tear we weep.
And though you've journeyed onward,
Beyond what we can see,
Your light is always with us—A quiet, sacred memory.
From Karen L It’s been a short time since Denise’s passing and it doesn’t quite seem real. From the moment I met her years ago in our HN group I adored her. Denise was beautiful inside and out. She was a larger than life force who brought a fun and positive energy to every encounter, whether zoom, phone or text. She was extremely bright and witty and absolutely hilarious. I loved how she referred to herself in the 3rd person or by geography- “West Coast here”. She was an adventurous spirit, planning a Summer of Denise one year, and even though some plans were thwarted, she basked in the ones she could do, including trips in her RV with her partner Randy and a spa trip with girlfriends. She was honest and raw and real about her struggles but extraordinarily positive and funny almost at the exact same time. At the end of a short hospital visit she let us know she was discharged by texting “They are busting me out”. I would comment- “How is it you that are making me smile when you are going through the tough time now?” She supported others even at times when she could barely support herself. In fact her last text in our group text chain was one of encouragement. The dedication and love she had for her mom was extraordinary. She also was extremely passionate about the nonprofit she worked for and the work they did, commenting on it even after she left the job. She was relentless and extremely courageous in her pursuit of healing. I always told her she was a superstar because she was and her light was so bright that for me she is not gone. Maybe physically she has moved on but her soul and spirit touched me in a way that will make her live on in me in a wonderful butterfly effect. I am a better person because I knew her. Love you Denise. Xoxo