Words cannot express how deeply she will be missed by her children, Jamie Anfenson-Comeau and Cassondra Bonsaint, her daughter-in-law Michelle “Shelby” Anfenson-Comeau, her adoptive son Tyler Turner and her grandchildren Cordelia, Miriam and Malakai.
She was preceded in death by her life-partner Arthur H. Bonsaint, her mother Barbara (née Art) Comeau, her father Ernest Comeau Sr., stepfather Robert Blue, her sister-in-law Marion (nèe Burruel) Comeau and her niece Marty Burruel.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Denise’s name Lupus Foundation of America or TMC Hospice.
Denise was the youngest of three children born to Barbara and Ernest Comeau of Eastern Massachusetts. Her parents separated when she was three years old, and she spent much of her childhood as the child of a single mother in Wellesley, Mass. With two older brothers, she grew to be a tomboy, much to the chagrin of her mother.
She never graduated high school, but entered the workforce alongside her mother and followed her when the family moved to California in 1971, looking for better opportunities.
She welcomed the birth of her son in 1973, whom she raised with assistance from her mother and stepfather.
Shortly thereafter, she was diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus, an autoimmune disorder that caused skin rashes, high blood pressure and other health complications, including two heart attacks she would suffer in her 30's and 50's.
Denise never left home, but in 1980, her mother’s sudden and unexpected death left her suddenly head of the household with a small child and a disabled stepfather to care for and support.
She returned to Massachusetts in 1982; through setbacks and challenges, she gained the strength of will and determination she was known for.
Realizing she needed to further her education, she obtained her GED and went to college, graduating from Springfield Technical Community College in 1989 with an Associate of Science degree.
The same year she suffered her first heart attack and also met Arthur Bonsaint, her life partner. In the following year, they welcomed the birth of their daughter Cassondra, Denise.
For the next two and a half decades she worked as a medical transcriptionist for various hospitals and medical systems.
After her son finished college, she, Arthur and Cassondra moved to Arizona, where they spent the bulk of their remaining years.
In 2006, Arthur was diagnosed with bladder cancer, and Denise supported him throughout his 16-month ordeal until his death in February 2008, when she found herself alone again.
Due to worsening lupus conditions leaving her disabled, as well as changes in her field, Denise retired early.
In 2012, she was present for the birth of her first grandchild. Two more followed, in 2014 and 2016.
After being diagnosed with an aggressive, incurable cancer in March 2018, she made the decision to confront her impending death on her own terms.
Of all the things that could be said of her, her children described her thus: She walked through fire to make sure her children were never burned, and in the process forged a spirit of steel.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.11.0