Nancy E. Deni

Nancy Deni was a wonderful wife, caring parent and adoring grandparent. She was loving and kind, generous and loyal. Her deep love for her family spilled over into compassion for other people, and her appreciation for good humor kept everyone laughing. Nancy found great joy in life, and it showed. Nancy was born September 23, 1937 in Standish, Michigan, when American families were recovering from the Great Depression. Her parents, Richard and Mary (Jones) Swain, both worked to support their two children, through his work with AAA Car Insurance and her job in the meat department of Krogers grocery. They lived and worked in Mt. Pleasant, where Nancy and her younger sister Linda attended the citys public schools. Nancy was no stranger to work either. In her teen years, she landed a job as an usher at the Broadway Theater and eventually took over the duties at the popcorn stand. Nancy graduated from Mt. Pleasant High School in 1955 and began working as a switchboard operator for General Telephone in Mt. Pleasant. When the company relocated to Alma in 1962, she elected to part ways with them as she didn't want to make the commute every day. That was an eventful year for Nancy in more ways than one as it was the year she and her husband would marry. She had known a young man named Frank Deni over the years but it wasn't until his tour of duty ended in August of 1959, that their relationship became more serious. Frank proposed in 1961 and on May 12, 1962 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Mt. Pleasant, the two became husband and wife. When they began their family, Nancy stopped working outside the home to attend to her family of two children: Sue Ellen and Frank. As a wife, she was amazing. Frank and she did most everything together and always seemed to have a good time. As a mother, Nancy was generous with her time and attention. She often sat for hours helping her kids with their homework, and she never missed her sons games. Her support was a great encouragement to the children, and her sense of humor made life that much easier. When her children were in grade school, Nancy returned to the work force. She was employed as a cook at Mt. Pleasant High School and then moved to Central Kitchens. When she retired in the late 1990s, Nancy had given 20 years of faithful service to the food industry. At the same time, she and her family made room for fun. Every summer, they traveled throughout the Upper Peninsula, and at other times they visited amusement parks such as Cedar Point and Kings Island. When the children grew up and moved away, Nancy and Frank had more places to visit as far away as California. At home, Nancy also stayed busy. She did ceramics, crocheted, painted and worked with stained glass, even fashioning a lampshade out of the glass. She was a member of Sacred Heart Parish and former member of the Catholic Daughters. She had a caring spirit and was committed to praying for people of the parish through a prayer line that connected one to another. As for sports, Nancy liked any team that her son played on, and she enjoyed watching Detroit Tiger baseball as well. She was a faithful follower of soap operas and watched any funny movie that was on TV. She spread the joy of laughter to her sister-in-law in particular and frequently called Roseann to share a new joke she had heard. Even when Roseanns husband passed away, Nancy sent her a few humorous cards each week to help Roseann cope. She was just that kind of conscientious and giving person. Nancys positive outlook on life was reflected in a common phrase she often recited: Life doesnt stand still for anyone. With those words, she encourages those who will miss her but will also remember the joy she brought into their lives. Nancy Deni, 75, of Mt. Pleasant, Michigan passed away Friday, March 1, 2013, at Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids. A Funeral Mass for Nancy will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 6 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church with Father Loren Kalinowski presiding. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery. The family will receive friends at Lux Family Funeral Home on Tuesday from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. with the Vigil beginning at 7:30 p.m. Visitation continues at the church on Wednesday one hour prior to Mass. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Sacred Heart Academy Foundation. Envelopes are available at the funeral home. Nancy is survived by her husband of over 50 years, Frank R. Deni of Mt. Pleasant; two children, Sue Ellen Deni-Owen and her husband Scott of Mt. Pleasant and Frank D. Deni of Mt Pleasant; two grandsons, Wyatt and Walker Owen; sister, Linda Hamilton and her husband Ron, of Cadillac; her Aunt Dorothy Eaton of Clare; in-laws, Paul and Sharon Deni of Mt. Pleasant and Roseann Bommarito of Saginaw; and numerous nieces and nephews. To sign the online guest book or send a condolence to the family please visit www.LuxFamilyFuneralHome.com