Dena Teresa (Philpott) Vegter

Mrs. Dena Vegter, age 45, of Conroe, Texas, passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by her loving family, on April 25th. Dena was born on December 02, 1973, in Rockledge Florida, to Donna Byrd and Jay Philpott. Dena grew up in Melbourne, Florida and graduated from Palm Bay High School (Class of '92). After High School she enrolled in Harding College of Nursing in Arkansas, later transferring to the University of Central Florida in Orlando where she completed her Bachelors of Science in Nursing in 1997. While celebrating the passing of her nursing boards, Dena met her husband of 20 years and went on to have two amazing boys, Kael and Kasen. Dena’s devotion in life was driven by growing and caring for her family, as well as helping the sick and saving lives as an accomplished Cardiac and ICU nurse. She was the driving force behind her family, supporting and loving her husband and two children like no other could while also advancing her career as an RN. Having grown up on the coast of Florida, Dena loved the beach and spending every summer with her family at the place they called home, Amelia Island. Most of all Dena enjoyed watching her sons grow up. She spent many mornings and evenings watching her son Kasen compete in swim and her oldest son Kael play competitive tennis. Her boys were her world! There are no words to adequately describe the exceptional human being that Dena was. She was an amazing mother, wife, sister, daughter and friend. Those that knew her well know that she had the ferocity of a Lion, wisdom of a Sage and the caring and loving touch of an Angel. A brilliant and proud nurse of 23 years, Dena set an extremely high standard wherever she worked. Dena performed her duties as both a floor and charge nurse in Cardiac, PCU, ICU critical care hospital units, as well as developing nurse education for Orlando Regional Medical Center, and heading two critical care units as nurse manager at Osceola Regional. Dena touched and saved many lives! Dena’s loss creates a huge hole that cannot be filled but her wishes are for those around her to carry on in her memory. In Dena’s practical “a matter a fact” manner she said to her family before she left us, “It is what it is…you guys must carry on...I have served my purpose here and soon have to start serving a new purpose upstairs…but I will still be the voice in your head guiding you all!” Dena is preceded in death by her grandparents Walter Duett Woodard, Mary Eudell Woodard, John Lenard Philpott, and Collette Ray Philpott. She is survived by her husband, Ross Vegter; her two boys, Kael and Kasen Vegter; her mother Donna Byrd; her father Jay Philpot; brother David Philpott ;special puppy dog Sava, and many amazing friends including Trisha Guerrier who helped guide us through Dena’s illness, lifelong friend Tanya Cohoon, Toni Rodio, Teresa Fisherkeller, and her swim mom friends at the pool. Services to honor Dena’s life will be held on May 10, 2019, at 2:00PM in the Chapel at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Conroe, TX with Father Emmanuel Akpaidem officiating. A Celebration of Life Reception will directly follow the services at Dena and Ross’ home located at 2063 Brookmont Drive in Conroe for all family and friends. Dena’s favorite foods will be served. In lieu of flowers, Dena’s wishes are that donations be made to the St. Jude Children’s’ Research Hospital supporting pediatric cancer research. Donations can be made online at www.stjude.org/donate or by phone at (800) 805-5856.