Denice

Degroot

In 1951, Deni made a grand entrance into this life in the northern woods of Wisconsin, the daughter of Fritz and Janine Weiss. David, Dana, Debbie and Donna followed along and over the years kindly began to refer to her as "Sarge" for her unique leadership style.

After high school she entered the Women's Army Corp and was stationed at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. There she met Scott Clarkson, got married and along came Eric, the first of a new generation. She parted from the army with son in tow only to discover that Scott had parted from her as well.

She rejoined her family who by this time were living in Whitewater, Wisconsin. There she was invited to choir practice and encountered a skinny, guitar toting music leader who came charging in a bit late. It was Lent with Holy Week approaching. Things developed and perhaps the best way to explain it was three year old Eric's explanation: "Mom loved me, so she had me and then we loved dad, so we had him." Deni and Ed were married 5 months later, July 9, 1977.

While Ed sold life insurance, she worked in janitorial service at the local university. Through her intercession with the archbishop Ed eventually moved back into full time church work with music and religious education, and eventually Campus Ministry in Whitewater. She became active along side Ed and for many was the "heart" to Ed's "head" centered approach to life and ministry.

Eventually they moved to California for other church opportunities and she found herself serving as a teachers' aide and even rectory cook for a while.

Her biggest passion was her family, and that family has grown to include daughter-in-law Noel, Eric's sons Kyle and Jace and now great grandchildren Emma, Caylee, Rosie and Owen. She lived a life filled with love, and while we will miss her, we rest assured in our faith that we shall see her again, sewing away as she checks out her plants.

A Mass of Resurrection will be celebrated at St Francis Retreat in San Juan Bautista on Sunday, June 23rd at 4:00pm. A dinner and reception will follow.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to St. Francis Retreat, 459 Mission Vineyard Rd, PO Box 970,
San Juan Bautista, CA 95045. For additional information please call the retreat at 831-623-4234.