A Mass of Christian Burial for Sister Denise Williams, D.C., was celebrated January 12, 2018, at DePaul House Chapel in Albany, N.Y.; burial followed at St. Agnes Cemetery in Menands, N.Y. Sister Denise died at St. Louise House in Albany, on January 10, 2018. Sister Denise was 71 years of age and 52 years vocation. Born in New Rochelle, N.Y., on December 2, 1946, Sister Denise (baptized Denise Anne) was one of three children born to Charles Monroe and Lillian C. (Fawcett) Williams. Sister Denise graduated from Holbrook High School, Holbrook, Mass., in 1964. She entered the Community of the Daughters of Charity in June 1965 from St. Joseph Parish in Holbrook. Sister Denise completed her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Chemistry with a Minor in Mathematics from St. Joseph College, Emmitsburg, Md., in 1969. She earned her Master’s Degree in Science Education from the State University of New York, Oneonta, N.Y., in 1979.
Following initial formation, Sister Denise taught at Seton High School, Endicott, N.Y., (1969 to 1970); Cathedral Academy School, Syracuse, N.Y., (1970 to 1972); Utica Catholic Academy (merged with Notre Dame High School in 1976), Utica, N.Y., (1972 to 1983); Bishop Maginn High School, Albany, N.Y., (1983 to 1985). Her next mission was to Philadelphia, Penn., where she taught at Gwynedd Mercy Academy in Gwynedd Valley, Penn., (1985 to 1991); during which time Sister Denise served as the Local Community Superior (1988 to 1991). Following Philadelphia Sister Denise was missioned to Pottsville, Penn. where she served at the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary High School (1991 to 1993). For the next ten years, Sister Denise ministered as Registrar and Instructor at Labouré College in Boston, Mass., (1993 to 2003); during which time she served as Local Community Superior at St. Joseph’s Residence, Holbrook, Mass., (1998 to 2003).
In fall 2003, Sister Denise was called to serve as the Provincial Secretary for the former Northeast Province of the Daughters of Charity in Albany. She served there until the unification of four former U.S. Provinces of the Daughters in July 2011. During this time, she also served as the Local Community Superior at DePaul Provincial House (2003 to 2009). Early in 2012, Sister Denise was missioned to Bridgeport, Conn., where she served as Registrar at St. Vincent’s College. Sister was appointed Coordinator for Mission Integration at the Daughters’ Albany Campus in September 2012. She first lived in Troy, N.Y., while serving in this role (2012 to 2013), then moved to St. Joseph’s on the Hill Residence on the Albany Campus as she continued in Mission Integration and as Spiritual Moderator of the Ladies of Charity. In September 2017, Sister Denise was missioned to Niagara Falls, N.Y., to serve at Catholic Academy of Niagara Falls and as Local Community Superior.
Sister Denise returned to St. Louise House on the Daughters’ Albany Campus just prior to her death.
An avid gardener and bird-watching enthusiast, Sister Denise enjoyed singing, cooking, quilting, “fixing things,” watching reruns of MASH, and Harry Potter and Star Wars movies.
Sister Denise was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her brothers, Charles M. Williams (Constance) of Vero Beach Fla., and John R. Williams (Elizabeth) of Brewster, Mass.; two nephews, Derek Williams (Kelly) and Brian Williams (Jennifer); grandnieces; grandnephews; and her Sisters in Community.