Obituary of Denise Elaine Stathopulos

DENISE ELAINE STATHOPULOS

Denise was a resident of Boonton, NJ since 1999 with her husband Bob and their Maltese, Dooley. It was a second marriage for both, and they were life partners for 32 years. Denise had been hospitalized seven times in the last seven months of her life, and on 4 January 2024, she had a heart-to-heart conversation with her Creator and decided it was finally time to return Home. Denise peacefully transitioned shortly after seeing both her children and Bob’s children at her bedside, after a brief stay in hospice at Saint Clare’s Hospital in Denville, NJ.

Denise was born Denise Elaine Struck on 20 August 1945 in Morristown, NJ and raised in nearby Millington by her parents Douglas and Dorothy Struck. She is survived by her husband Bob, her daughter Tracy and granddaughter Meadow.  She is also survived by her son David and his wife, Jerri and Bob’s son George and wife, Holly and their son Nicholas, as well as Bob’s son Peter and wife Alina and their son, Leonidas. Her granddaughter and grandsons will miss their Grammy terribly. She is also survived by her brother Donald Struck, his wife Lorraine and their children and grandchildren.

Denise graduated from Watchung Hills Regional High School and mastered baton twirling to become the lead majorette in the school’s marching band. She worked for American Cyanamid and its succession of acquiring companies for 13 years in the Law, Marketing, and Information Technologies departments in various administrative assistant and executive secretary roles. Denise retired when her parents returned to New Jersey from Florida, after a storm destroyed their home, and secured them in an assisted living facility until they passed. She returned to the workplace in a new career in sales, customer service and merchandising for Walpole Woodworkers for 9 years.

While the birth of her two children were among her most cherished moments in life, Denise was present at the home birth of her granddaughter Meadow, which proved to be her most profound experience, cementing the bond grandmother and granddaughter had for the rest of Denise’s life. The bravery her daughter demonstrated during natural childbirth was duplicated in Denise’s dealing with debilitating disease.

Denise was raised Episcopalian and studied spiritual development in her early 40s. Denise and Bob attended many classes at the Metaphysics Center of New Jersey and the Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, NY. She traveled to Sedona, AZ twice, first with her daughter Tracy and years later with her husband Bob.

Denise was cremated and her husband and their children journeyed to New Hope, where she and Bob visited often, to scatter her ashes on the Delaware River. Denise characterized her courtship with Bob with the Fleetwood Mac song “You Make Loving Fun.” She believed in the ways of magic.