Denise Costa Parton

Survived by her husband of 37 years, Randy, her son, Mark Parton of Beverly, MA., her daughter, Angela Parton Gottschalk of Winter Springs, FL, daughter in law Randi Robinson Parton, grandchildren Harper Parton, Levi Parton, and Garnet Parton, and son in law, David Gottschalk.

Born in Boston MA on New Year’s Day, Denise moved to Florida at age twelve with her parents, the late Angelo Michael Costa and the late Maria DeSouza Costa. She graduated from Coconut Creek High School in 1974 and received an associate degree in business, specializing in machine stenography, in 1978.

Denise met Randy in 1978 and they were soon inseparable. They founded Hanescat, Inc. together in 1980, and were partners in business for the next forty-one years, as well as partners in life for more than 43 years. Theirs’s is a love story that had a beginning, but will never end.

They married in 1983. Mark was born in 1985, Angela was born fourteen months later in 1986. She was a devoted, loving, and nurturing mother. Mark and Angela were the epicenter of her universe, and she devoted her life to their care and well-being to the very end.

Denise and Randy, Mark and Angela moved to Orlando in 1996 and had lived in the same house since.

She was a lifelong Roman Catholic, rarely missing a Sunday mass, never missing an Easter or Christmas mass, always honoring Holy Days of Obligation. She married Randy at St. Vincent Catholic Church in Margate, FL, and they became very active in the parish. They were Eucharistic Ministers, Engaged Encounter Team Leaders, and Advocates for the Archdiocese of Miami. Denise and Randy represented St. Vincent Parish as Eucharistic Ministers at a Papal Mass celebrated by Pope John Paul II on the campus of Florida International University in 1987.

Upon arriving in Orlando, Denise and Randy joined Holy Family Parish. Mark and Angela attended and graduated from Holy Family Catholic School, beginning in the fall of 1996 – the first year of the school. Denise served as chairman of the yearbook committee and class mother during those years.

When Holy Family erected a Perpetual Adoration Chapel on church grounds, Denise signed up immediately. She continued her Adoration every week until 2020 when the global pandemic caused the chapel to close. Denise was a faithful servant of the Lord, giving generously of her time, talent, and treasure.

In 2020, Denise was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, or ALS, better known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. ALS is a degenerative neuro-muscular disease that is incurable and is always fatal. Despite her diagnosis, Denise never lost her faith in God and remained the rock of her family. She battled the disease with great fortitude, unbelievable tenacity, and amazing determination to enjoy every minute of every day that God granted her. She was an inspiration to all who knew her, and her family drew strength and kept their faith through her example. The disease ultimately took her life as it always does, but it never took her dignity.

The celebration of Denise’s life will begin on Wednesday, October 13, 2021, at Woodlawn Memorial Garden in Gotha, Florida from 5 – 8 pm.

The celebration will continue with a funeral mass at Holy Family on Thursday, October 14, 2021, at 10:30 am.

Randy, Mark and Angela request everyone wear Denise's favorite color, any shade of blue.

The Parton family is asking that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Denise’s name to the ALS Association, Florida Chapter. Gifts can be sent to the ALS Association Florida Chapter at 3242 Parkside Center Circle, Tampa, FL 33619 or online at als.org. Please choose the Florida Chapter as the recipient of the online donations.

To leave a memory or special message to the family, please visit our website at www.woodlawnfuneralhomegotha.com