Dena S. Grenell

Dena Schild Grenell died on September 11, 2024 at the age of 94. A native of New Orleans, Dena was raised in Houma, Louisiana, where she graduated from Terrebonne High School before attending LSU and then going to the Ray-Vogue School of Fashion in Chicago. It is there that she met her first husband, Irvin Zimmerman, with whom she had three sons that they raised in New Orleans.

She began working when her sons were in school, including at the Security Office at Touro Hospital and then Tulane University, where she was the executive secretary to the Director of Continuing Education at Tulane University’s School of Medicine. Through this work she met her second husband, Dr. Robert Grenell, leading to her relocation to Baltimore. They enjoyed many years of traveling, cooking gourmet meals, antique shopping, and spending time with family. Following Bob’s passing, Dena moved back to New Orleans, where she made new friends and reconnected with old friends through Shir Chadash Synagogue and the New Orleans Jewish Community Center.

At fashion school, Dena obtained a great sense of style that she never lost, carefully perusing her outfits every day to be sure the colors matched. She also had a love for music. She knew the words to every jazz standard and top-of-the-pops song from the 1940’s and 1950’s, and her happiest times in the last few months, as she began her decline, were singing along to jazz standards with her granddaughter Meryl. She was a wonderful mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, a warm and compassionate person, and she will be missed by all that knew her.

The family wishes to thank the many caregivers whose support and compassion made these last months and days easier for Dena and the entire family. In particular we thank Zoe Tobias, Courtney Smith, and many others at Summerhouse Vista Shores, Sherrise Woods, the caregivers at NOLA Home Care, Rachel Palmer and the staff at Care Associates, and all of the caregivers at the Peristyle at Bucktown.

Dena was the daughter of the late Harry and Hannah Schild. She was predeceased by her sisters, Shirley Slater and Rosalie Ross. She is survived by her sons Alan Zimmerman (Holly), Mark Zimmerman (Janet) and Dan Zimmerman (Rick), grandchildren Micah Zimmerman (Erica), Shoshana Zimmerman (Ray), Lily Zimmerman, Meryl Zimmerman (Trey), Melissa Zimmerman (Yotam), and Amber Hall (Joe), and great-grandchildren Judah and Talia Zimmerman.

The funeral will take place at Jewish Burial Rites Cemetery at 4321 Frenchman Street in New Orleans on Sunday, September 15 at 1:30pm. In lieu of flowers, the family appreciates donations to Shir Chadash Conservative Congregation (https://www.shirchadash.org/) or The New Orleans Musicians’ Clinic & Assistance Foundation (https://neworleansmusiciansclinic.org/) in memory of Dena.