Denise Sevigny, 64, of Victoria, BC, passed away peacefully and surrounded by loved ones, at Royal Jubilee Hospital on Thursday, October 3, 2013.
Our beautiful Denise, was born on June 27, 1949 in Victoria, BC to Earl and Lillian Warholm and affectionately called “De”.
De grew up in a close-knit family and shared many wonderful summers with her parents, three sisters and friends at the family cabin on Shawnigan Lake. She was an accomplished tap and highland dancer and as a child, participated in shows at The Butchart Gardens.
Denise first married at the age of 19 years, and from that 18-year union came her four children. In 1986, after spending years as a dedicated housewife and mother, Denise returned to school to study Business Administration at Camosun College.
After earning her diploma, Denise worked at Bay Publishing as a sales and marketing representative. It was while working here that Denise met and fell in love with her Roger. Roger brought with him two more daughters and this was a gift for Denise as she often dreamed of having a dozen children.
Roger and Denise married and spent the next 23 years by each other’s side as they shared adventures of travelling, magazine publishing, operating a hobby farm, boarding dogs and breeding Great Danes.
At 46 years old, Denise suffered a major brain aneurysm that should have claimed her life. Instead, she survived and returned to her life with the same love, generosity, optimism, grace and dedication that ultimately defined her.
Denise dabbled in many artistic outlets and in recent years, focused her creativity on rug hooking. She enjoyed special times with all of her rug hooking friends and created masterpieces that her family will treasure forever.
Her brilliant smile, dazzling eyes and joyful laugh, will be missed by all.
Denise is predeceased by her father when she was 31, and her mother at 59. Denise is survived by her loving husband, Roger and her four children, Cindy (Peter), Scott (Juliana), Bonnie, and Heather, and two step-daughters, Mia (Bob) and Michelle. Denise was an adoring grandmother to her nine grandchildren, Ben, Nina, Lily, Bobby, Charlie, Braden, Jenna, Oliver and Jack. She also shared a special bond with her three sisters, Vana, Penny and Kerry.
While we are grateful to many, a special thank you to Royal Jubilee 8th floor oncology nurses and Dr. Rob Sealey, for their immeasurable love and care shown to our beloved wife, mother, sister, and friend in her final days.
Family have created a memorial website in honour of Denise’s life at www.denisesevigny.com.
A celebration of life will be held on Tuesday, October 15th, 2013 from 1:00pm to 4:00pm at the Sea Cider Farm and Ciderhouse located at 2487 Mt. St. Michael Rd, Saanichton, BC. Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Bros. Funeral Home
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Melanie Hadfield
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Mike & Shannon O'Sullivan Roger and family,
We were so shocked to hear of Denise’s sudden passing, please accept our sincere condolences. We will always remember Denise by her infectious laugh.
Thinking of you,
Mike & Shannon O’Sullivan
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Linda (Nugent) McDonell Having just read Dennis and Maureen’s messages I feel as though the time has come to enter mine! I cannot express the sadness I have felt since hearing about Denise’s passing. The memories have been flooding in. I remember so well the weekend sleepovers at Denise’s. While many of us all had ‘rumpus’ rooms and took turns having weekend parties, it was the Warholm’s who hosted our gatherings most often. It seems impossible that it was so long ago now. Denise’s smile, laughter and friendship will always be remembered. I feel for all of you – what difficult days ahead as you come to grips to losing that sparkly smile, infectious laugh and generous nature from your lives. I remember well the obvious love and affection you had for each other and the laughter that was always a part of the visits at ‘your house’. How wonderful to imagine all of that being shared with this next generation of children. Take care of yourselves and loved ones over this difficult time and thank-you for the opportunity you have provided to share our thoughts with you – and each other!
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Heather and Dennis Carpenter To say that I will always remember Denise fondly would be a huge understatement…….for who ever forgets their first love…..their first girlfriend…..and that is what Denise was to me……my first love…..my first girlfriend…….it may sound trivial to some but we had what can only be called a ” teenage love affair “………we met when i was starting Grade 7 at Oak Bay Junior and she was still at Willows Elementary in Grade 6……….those were the days of after school sock hops, weekend parties in friends rumpus rooms and last dances in the dark in those same rumpus rooms……..we were together for three years…….a lifetime at that age…….we were ” Den and De “……….we met when her family home was on Estevan and continued when her parents bought the house on Cranmore which was very conveniently located across the street from my last delivery on my paper route……..the gods were smiling……it is so long ago now…..but i still remember listening to the radio with her beautiful mother Lil to Cassius Clay fight Sonny Liston…… I felt so comfortable with her whole family and became almost part of the family……probably because I had three sisters of my own……some favourite memories of those times are staying at Shawnigan in the basement ” boat room ” with water skis, lifejackets, inner tubes and other water sport items next to my makeshift bed as the only other male in the cottage other than her wonderful father Earl……a true man’s man……and someone who could have given Humphrey Bogart a run for his money as the ” real thing “……………being there with four gorgeous sisters ( Vana, Penny, Denise and Kerry ) was an experience made for the movies……I will never forget her father’s generosity in letting me drive the family’s mahogany lake boat
” Who Cares ” with its throaty and purring engine over a mirror of water up the west arm and over the lake to Hamilton’s marina to pick up some gas, a paper, a coffee and some smokes……( before the girls woke up ) .as well as his incredible patience teaching me how to slalom ski behind her…….heaven couldn’t have been better for a fifteen year old boy……I eventually went on to new friends and new adventures at Oak Bay High and Denise went on to new friends and new adventures too………..although it has been 50 years this year since we parted ways and have had virtually no contact since then I will always cherish those ” halycon days of youth “……..to this day I don’t think that I have ever met anyone who was was happier and more comfortable being who they were……it was a delight to know Denise ( and her family )……..she will be well remembered and missed by everyone who truly knew her and loved her……i send my sincere condolences to her family and friends for their incredible loss……sincerest regards, Dennis Carpenter
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Maureen Murphy-Dyson I cannot believe that Denise is gone. From the time I met her, in Grade 8, she was the girl we all wanted to be…full of joy, laughter and ever so beautiful. I can’t imagine the size of the hole left in everyone’s life with her passing. I send my deepest sympathy and wish you Strength and Peace during this terrible time.
Kindest Regards, Maureen
Cindy, Scott, Bonnie & Heather – you were all Grace today, just as your Mum was. Bravo. She left a mark, and will be missed, mostly by each of you. Heather, the adages you referred to are brilliant words we should ALL live by – thank you for sharing. Live well. Hugs, melanie