Wife to Roy, Mother to Dan, Derrick, Sarah and Adam Shaefer and Cetacea Stanton, Daughter of Esther Pargeon, Sister to Tovi Daly and Carol Bechen, Grandmother to Hatchford and Hayden.

Denise was born in Akron Ohio, attended Northland High School and Ohio State University. She was born an artist. Her dream was to do animation for Disney. As her dream matured, she moved towards medical illustration, which lead to a fascination with molecular biology and nutrition. Denise decided to obtain a degree in nutrition at a time when nutrition was a small part of Home Economics. So in her usual inimitable style, designed her own curriculum, hand picked her faculty and convinced the administration to approve her a Bachelors of Science degree, which she used to counsel children with behavioral problems, taught workshops in the ways dietary changes and nutritional supplements can correct physical and emotional problems, supported local health food stores and set up networks in her wake.

Her organizational skills were of benefit to the Nissan Corp where she tracked all vehicles imported into the US from Japan to the dealer lots. She was often recognized for her performance and received accolades, less than typical at the time for a woman within that corporate structure. Nissan lost out when Denise left them to take on the challenges of organizing a new business startup. What started out as an option on a warehouse full of used cable boxes and a cigar box full of receipts became 4 separate businesses employing 12 people. The bench test facility was organized to certify and resell cable control boxes. Next came “Head End”, which upgraded small cable systems to allow them to remain competitive with the larger media corporations. This was followed by commercial and residential satellite installation, culminating in building the state’s most profitable cable systems from the ground up.

After moving to Orcas, Denise started her own mail order book business and worked with her sister Tovi and Brother-in-law Greag Daly on Island Pacific Publishing, helping new authors to get published. Denise worked with Children’s House, managing Second Hand Rose and lent her organizational expertise and unique fashion sense to revamping their inventory and relocating the shop to a larger facility. She invited school kids in and taught sewing and design classes, nurturing the aspirations of future “fashionistas”. The Orcas Christian School benefited from motherly nurturing and organizational talents with everything from dispensing band-aids and booboo bears to setting up and receiving certification for the OCS Library. Fire District #2 was also the beneficiary of her ministrations of the Medical Reimbursement Program, the Auxiliary and the Critical Incident Stress Management Team.

Denise’s five year journey with cancer tapped her stamina but not her passion or spirit. While undergoing treatment for her own cancer, she was instrumental in the formation of The Cancer Support Network.

Denise was and her family remains, deeply appreciative of the outpouring of assistance received throughout her treatment. To the Fire District, Auxiliary, Mercy Flight Pilots, Orcas Christian School, the 7th Day Adventists Church, The Cancer Support Network, Rosario Resort and Utilities staff, Lahari and the community at large, they give their sincere and heartfelt thanks for bringing light and hope at a time when both were often hard to find.

Services will be held at the Eastsound Fire Station on Saturday, April 28th 1 pm.