Donna Frances Deneen

"...time and chance happeneth to them all" -- Ecclesiastes 9:11

This favorite quote of Donna's befits her life's journey. Born into a French Quebec and English family near the St. Lawrence Seaway area in Massena, New York, Donna Deneen passed away peacefully in her sleep at home with her family nearby. She got her wings and went to walk with the angels. Donna's departure reminds us that angels are watching over us. She lived a full 82 years and was ready to go home.

From her early childhood, Donna dreamed of having a large family and being the "Ann Cleaver" of the house. During her high school years in Massena, she met up with B. Jerome Gustafson, who was working on the dam projects on the St. Lawrence Seaway in 1956. Their relationship grew and Donna and Jerome married in Massena in 1957. Jerome then moved to Colorado for work in 1959 and Donna made her home in Colorado since then.

Donna and Jerome were blessed with three Children, Tammy in 1960, Brenda in 1962 and Byron in 1966. Donna's focus on the family helped her to work with the doctors at the time to find out that Byron had had a hearing loss since his birth. Her dedication and fortitude in getting through the obstacles of there being no true facilities to help pre-school children with hearing loss is a testimony of her resolve. Because of Donna and Jerome's work with Bea Romer in early childhood education and their belief that Byron should be mainstreamed into the public childhood education system, they gave him the opportunity to be an independent and successful adult.

As their children grew into adulthood, Donna's love for children continued as she became a tour guide for school children touring the old Keebler Cookie Factory in Denver. Her work with Byron led her to work with pre-school children at the St. Thomas More Catholic Church and the pre-school at Fitzsimmons Army Medical Center.

Donna enjoyed traveling and made many trips to North Dakota and New York in the early years visiting family and friends.
In 1997, Donna moved to Windsor Gardens to start a new chapter in her life. She joined the Windsor Gardens Red Hat Society, travelled extensively, was active in quilting and in building and designing Afghans for her family and friends. Her daughter Tammy continues this tradition of sewing, crocheting, painting and all the arts that Donna loved to do in her free time.

In 1998, she met a Windsor Garden's neighbor, Richard (Rick) Deneen, CMSGT USAF (ret) and they became friends. After a courtship of over a year, Rick and Donna took the plunge and got married. The next few years Donna and Rick traveled all over the world, going to United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Italy, Germany, Canada, Hawaii, and Alaska including numerous locations in the United States.

She enjoyed that her granddaughter, Jennifer, completed high school and continued in her education at the University of New Mexico completing her MBA. She was so proud of her when she passed the CPA exam and was awarded her CPA license.

For Donna's appreciation for our men in the Armed Forces and her dedication to helping those at Buckly ANG now Buckly AFB, she was awarded numerous citations from the base commanders.

And even with all those activities keeping her busy, she had time to complete her crossword and puzzle books. Donna probably did over 1000 books in her days with us. There was no word that she could not find or use.

When Rick passed away on April 16, 2015, and was buried at Fort Logan National Cemetery, a third chapter in Donna's life began as she readied herself for her moment to rejoin Rick. She focused on her sewing and word puzzles to keep her mind active.

Donna lived a full life and started from humble beginnings and never forgot those in need. Donna was preceded in death by her parents, Rodney and Vivian (Ledue) Brown, her brother Rodney Brown Jr., her first husband B. Jerome Gustafson, her husband Richard (Rick) Deneen, her daughter Brenda and one grandchild. She is survived by her daughter Tammy VanDerbur (Tony), her son Byron Gustafson (Sonia) and granddaughter Jennifer Goble and her life partner John Solomon.

Even though Donna was a quiet woman, she was very in touch with current events and took pride in keeping up with politics. She was not afraid to speak her mind when she had something to say and was willing to take a stand for something she felt was important. She placed God first and loved her family most of all.