Denise Marcelle Arino

“Like pieces of a puzzle, Mary and I are building together. I am a little child, and she is helping me put together the ‘Puzzle of Life.’” ~ Denise Arino

In the later years of her life, Denise consecrated herself to Mary. She worked to live more fully in the present, centered on her faith and her family, and to surrender her worldly worries and anxious heart to Mary, our Immaculate Mother.

That was Denise. She was humble to her core, gentle in spirit, and generous with her time, talents, and love. She prayed constantly for the people she loved. Her faith, family, and friendships were the center of her life, and through every season - both joyful and difficult - she continued to seek and trust in God.

Matthew 5:8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”

Denise Marcelle Arino was born on June 7, 1957, in Savannah, Georgia, to Alice Mary Fredette and Regis “Fred” Adrien Fredette. She was the oldest of four children, followed by her brother Daniel “Danny” and her sisters Diane and Marcelle “Marcy.”

Because her father served in the United States Air Force from 1954 to 1974, the family moved often throughout the country. Denise always remembered their childhood fondly, especially the simple family camping trips and her father’s love of being outdoors and in nature.

After graduating from high school in 1975, Denise began working as an office assistant at Frederick Fisher Jewelers in Tucson, Arizona. It was there she met Manny.

Their love story was perfectly them. By their third date, Denise finally looked at him and asked, “Well, are you going to kiss me or not?”

Manny eventually went to Denise’s father and asked for her hand in marriage - although Denise would happily remind everyone that he never actually gave her a proper romantic proposal. Apparently, it did not matter. It was love by the third date.

Denise and Manny were married on February 17, 1979. Manny was 25 and Denise was 22. They honeymooned in Durango, Colorado, where they went skiing.

For the first seven years of their marriage, they worked, traveled, and built their life together before becoming parents.

Their first child, Brandon Michael Arino, was born on September 3, 1986, in Austin, Texas. Twenty-two months later, Christina Marie Arino was born on July 12, 1988, in Carrollton, Texas, after Manny’s career with IBM moved the family to the Dallas/Fort Worth area.

Almost five years later, IBM brought them back to Austin, where their third child, Stephanie Lauren Arino, was born on January 26, 1993.

They settled into their home in Northwest Austin, the place that would become the heart of their family for more than three decades. A home where they raised their children, welcomed their grandchildren, celebrated countless milestones, and created a lifetime of memories.

Faith was woven deeply into Denise’s life and into the home she created.

From 1992 to 2005, Denise and her family were active members of St. Thomas More Catholic Church. She volunteered, taught faith formation classes, and intentionally guided her children in their Catholic faith. She joined prayer groups with other women who helped deepen her own faith and who became lifelong friends.

In 2005, the Arino family began attending the more traditional Mass and education classes at St. Mary Cathedral in downtown Austin.

Denise’s devotion extended far beyond church. While raising her children, she was involved wherever they were - PTA programs, Girl Scouts, school activities, and anything else that allowed her to support and encourage them. She showed up. Again and again, she showed up.

Her faith also carried her through profound loss.

Her mother, Alice, became ill and passed away on December 8, 1993 - the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, a Marian Holy Day. Alice had been deeply devoted to her own faith and had taught her children, especially through her example, how to pray.

In 2003, Denise lost her brother Danny after his battle with stage IV melanoma. In April 2024, she lost her sister Marcy after Marcy’s long battle with COPD and just four months later, in August, Denise’s father, Fred, passed away.

Through those losses, Denise continued to turn toward her faith.

And then came one of the greatest joys of her life: becoming a grandmother.

On October 10, 2011, her first grandchild, Jonah Finn Lierman, was born to Christina. Denise played a tremendous role in helping Christina raise Jonah into the wonderful and faith-filled young man he is today.

In 2015, the family grew when Stephanie married Justin Rackley. Their daughter, Emery Lauren Rackley, was born on September 13, 2018.

In 2020, Brandon married Caroline Leigh Peña at St. William Catholic Church in Round Rock, Texas.

Then the grandchildren seemed to keep coming - a blessing Denise absolutely delighted in. Benjamin River Rackley was born on September 3, 2021, followed by Olivia Grace Arino on October 4, 2021, Preston James Arino on November 12, 2023, and Evangeline Rose Matheson, born to Christina on May 11, 2024.

Nothing lit Denise up quite like her grandchildren.

She lived to be with them. Her face, her voice, her whole spirit radiated joy when they were near. She became just as involved in their lives as she had been in the lives of her own children. She never missed an opportunity to help, guide, teach, encourage, or simply be present.

Earlier in 2026, Denise’s doctors advised her to have her mitral heart valve repaired while she was otherwise healthy and strong. Denise believed the surgery would strengthen her heart and give her many more years with Manny, her children, her grandchildren, her family, and her friends.

She had so much she was looking forward to.

In October, she was to make a Marian pilgrimage to Portugal, Spain, and France - a journey that reflected so beautifully where her heart and faith had led her.

On July 21, 2026, Denise entered the hospital for her scheduled minimally invasive mitral valve repair. The repair itself was successful, but afterward, devastating complications developed. The right side of her heart failed, sending her into a cardiogenic shock.

For more than three weeks, Denise fought with tremendous strength as specialists at three different St. David’s Hospitals tended to her. In each hospital, Denise was surrounded by extraordinary love, prayer, family, and friends.

On August 13, 2026, with those she loved near her bedside, Denise went home to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ and Blessed Mother.

Denise leaves behind far more than memories. She leaves us a way of living.

She showed us the importance of faith. Of prayer. Of family. Of friendship. Of being present. Of showing up for the people we love. Of remaining gentle and humble even when life is difficult. And of trusting God, even when we cannot understand His plan.

There is tremendous grief in losing her because there was tremendous love in having her.

But there is also peace.

The faith Denise carried throughout her life - the faith she shared so freely with all of us - now gives us the assurance that this is not the end of her story.

1 Peter 3:3–4 “Do not adorn yourselves outwardly; rather, let your adornment be the inner self with the lasting beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in God’s sight.”

Those words could have been written for Denise.

Her gentle spirit, her quiet faith, her love for her family, and the countless prayers she offered for all of us will remain woven into this family forever.

We love you, Mom.

We will carry you with us, honor the beautiful legacy you gave us, and miss you always.