Alene Michelle Denes

MENIFEE, CA, March 27, 2024 - Alene Michelle Greenbaum Denes, 74, passed away peacefully at home in Menifee, CA, on Wednesday, March 27, 2024, after a valiant 18-year battle with Parkinson’s Disease. Born on December 1, 1949, in Culver City, CA, to Evylnne and Les Greenbaum, an accountant. Alene was the second of three daughters. Raised in Covina, CA, she lived most of her life in Hemet, CA, and the last 12 years of her life in Menifee. Alene, a classically trained opera singer, showed artistic talents and interests early on, singing in choir and acting in school theatre and musical productions at Charter Oak High School, where she graduated in 1967. A favorite pastime that Alene enjoyed throughout her childhood was going to Disneyland and L.A. Dodgers baseball games with her mother, a huge Disney and Dodgers fan.

At age 17, Alene met the love of her life, Alex Denes, then 19, in Los Angeles, when she rehearsed with Alex’s father, a pianist. Later, Alex, also a pianist, fatefully stepped in as her accompanist when Alene’s then-boyfriend and regular accompanist skipped town just before a performance. Alex accompanied Alene from that day forward and for the rest of her life. They were married two years later on July 26, 1969, in Covina, CA, and would have celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary this July. Shortly after their marriage and Alex’s graduation from UCLA, Alene and Alex moved to Omaha, NE, where Alex attended medical school at Creighton University and Alene earned her bachelor’s degree in Education from the University of Nebraska. She taught 5th grade in Council Bluffs, IA, and was a substitute teacher in Long Beach, CA, where they lived during Alex’s medical residency. It was there that Alene and Alex were blessed with the birth of two sons, Dave, in 1975, and Wade, in 1979. Her greatest joy in life was being mom to Dave and Wade, and a grandmother to her beloved granddaughters, Hannah and Isla.

In addition to her singing and teaching career, Alene worked as an office manager, a life coach, and a small business owner in Hemet, CA, where through her boutique clothing store, Coeur D’Alene, she brought beauty and delight to many through her carefully curated offerings. She also collected antiques – including her favorite antique compacts, lace, and dolls – and would sell them to other treasure seekers through booths at consignment stores and markets. Alene had a passion and gift for all things creative, including singing, decorating, painting, and making flower arrangements and stained glass. She enjoyed flower gardening and her favorite flowers were roses. An accomplished cook and baker, Alene created family favorites such as enchiladas, tacos, lángos, latkes, spaghetti, and sweets of every kind, including her “Special Cookies” and Haystacks. She hosted a cookie exchange for her girlfriends every year at Christmas in her festively decorated house. She also enjoyed shopping at Macy’s and at local independently owned boutiques, and as recently as four weeks ago, spent a fun afternoon shopping with her family.

Alene and Alex loved going to the theater to see musicals and live shows, and had season tickets to the Ahmanson in L.A. and the McCallum in Palm Desert, CA. She also loved tennis and baseball and had season tickets to the Paribas Open in Indian Wells, CA, and to Padres games for many years - but her favorite team remained the Dodgers.

Dave and Wade have fond memories of family trips over the years in their station wagon, dubbed the “Tuna Boat.” Together, the family enjoyed road trips to destinations including San Antonio, New Orleans, Hannibal, MO, Silverton, CO, and the Ozarks. The family also has special memories of family trips to Hawaii and Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Alene also loved Las Vegas and playing the slot machines.

Alene was known for her irreverent sense of humor and her penchant for speaking her mind. She was never afraid to share her opinion, and her directness was a defining and much-loved trait. Above all, she was loving and maternal, and loved to take care of others, She took in several people through the years, including Dave’s best friend, Ken Foster, who was like a son to Alene. She also loved animals, especially dogs, and was a devoted dog mom to many dogs over the years, including Teena, April, Madeline, Gwendolyn, AJ, Olivia, Lucy, and Marigold.

Alene will be remembered for her love of life, her love of family, and her love of all things creative. With her indelible wit and sense of fun, caring spirit, many talents, and incredible internal and external beauty, Alene made the lives of many people better. She will be profoundly missed by her family, friends, and all who knew her.

Alene is preceded in death by her parents and sister, Denise Brayton. She is survived by her sister, Shari Sutton and her husband, Brian, of Menifee; her husband of 55 years, Alex Denes of Menifee; and their sons Dave Denes and partner Alexandra Brell of Glendale, CA; and Wade Denes, his wife Brenda, and grandchildren Hannah and Isla Denes, of Oceanside, CA.

Diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease 18 years ago, she was very active in the fight against Parkinson’s and led the Parkinson’s Support Group of Menifee.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Alene’s memory to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research at https://bit.ly/InMemoryofAleneMichelleGreenbaumDenes.

A Celebration of Life for Alene will be held Friday, May 3, 2024 from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM at Miller-Jones Mortuary & Crematory, 1501 W. Florida Avenue, Hemet, CA 92543, followed by a reception from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM.