Beloved mother, Mémé, Denise Louise Santerre, 96, of Colchester, Vt., passed peacefully on Thursday, January 30, 2025, surrounded by loved ones.
Born in Bedford, Québec, to Charles Dery and Antoinette Lanoue, she was the fifth of 14 children. She was married on December 11, 1948, to Francis Santerre. They moved to Vermont in the early 1950s, eventually settling in Colchester, where they raised their seven children, showing them daily what strong family love is and what faith in God can do.
In addition to raising seven children, she worked in the food industry. In her later years, she attended the VNA Adult Day program, helping staff with food preparation.
Denise showed love for others by welcoming them into her home as if they were family, offering a warm home-cooked meal. She left recipes of love that will be cooked for generations to come. She had a special place in her heart for her grandchildren, who will miss hearing her sweet French accent.
She was predeceased by her husband, Frank; son Ronnie; and great-grandson Alexander Owens. She leaves five siblings; six children, Gaston Santerre (Michele), Diane Scichitano (Dale), Carole Santerre, Lorraine Knapp (Donald), David Santerre (Jacklyn) and Chuck Santerre (Mary); and daughter-in-law Joni Santerre. She was loved by grandchildren Chadd Santerre (Christine), Janel Maud (John), Neil Scichitano, Renee Kuehn (Brett), Erin McKenna, Tyler Santerre (Julia), Nick Santerre (Danielle), Brooke Herrera (Stephen), Mallory Geesey (Zach), Luke Santerre (Olivia), Brady Santerre, Duncan Santerre and Gavin Santerre (Madelyn); and great-grandchildren: Taylor and Lance Santerre; Tessa Maud; Mayzee Scichitano; Blake, Carson and Ripley Kuehn; Olivia Owens and Xander McKenna-Staley; Kiara, Tieren, Gwen and Griffin Santerre; Stella and Summer Santerre; Stella, Avila and Bennett Herrera; Weston Santerre; and, soon, baby girl Santerre.
A celebration of life will be held at a later date.
This article appears in Feb 5-11, 2025.