ForeverMissed
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Denis was an important man to the many who called him husband, father, father-in-law, grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin, neighbor and friend.  This memorial website was created in his memory.  Services are not yet confirmed, but there will be a burial service at a minimum in the spring at the Fairview Cemetery in Calais.  Until then we hope that you will share your favorite memories and photos with everyone here.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Denis' name may be made to the Vermont Chapter of The American Parkinson Disease Association or you might consider giving to the Woodbury Conservation Commission, P.O. Box 10, Woodbury, VT 05681.  Please reference Denis Parker with your contribution.

Obituary for Denis R. Parker
February 25, 2021
February 25, 2021
Happy Birthday Den...  Trust you have most of the phones in heaven working more efficiently by now.....  Jim McWilliam
November 18, 2020
November 18, 2020
Denis and I were classmates graduating from Hardwick Academy in 1963. Though years have passed my memories of Denis are still very clear. Both his personality and smile would make him difficult to forget. My condolences to his family.
Best Wishes, Jim McWilliam
November 17, 2020
November 17, 2020
Denis and Ilene moved to Williston right after I moved to Georgia. I would meet up with them in Florida in the winter and Vermont in the summer. In Florida Denis and I would walk the beach and look for seashells. On my Vermont trips after dinner Denis and I would play the card game Casino, which he taught me. In addition to being a good husband, father and grandfather, he was a good friend.
November 10, 2020
November 10, 2020
I am so sorry to hear about Denis passing. It has been years since I have seen him, but the memories I have are great. I always thought Denis and Ilene were just the nicest people. They were the kind of people that made you feel welcomed. I remember our families getting together occasionally, and I also remember going to St. Norbert's parish together. My condolences to all the family!
Cara
November 7, 2020
November 7, 2020
Denis always greeted us with a friendly smile and a genuine inquiry about how things were. Almost always a story followed. A family man - who will surely be missed.
November 6, 2020
November 6, 2020
It is difficult to sort out all the stuff of someone’s passing - the paperwork that needs filing, the details that need to be worked out, the decisions that need making, and the emotions that accompany it all. Thinking of what I wanted to share about Denis got me thinking about the meaning of that word SORT. Sort, sorted, sorting, sorts - there are so many ways this word weaves through my memories of him. Sorting stuff literally kept Denis going in his later years. Denis was a hardworking, no nonsense, practical sort of man. Faced with a problem, he would tackle it with all sorts of creative solutions. There wasn’t much that couldn’t be sorted out with a tie wrap here or a length of cord there. I imagine if he heard me say so, he would give me one of his soft, eye-reaching sort of smiles, and I would hear his gently-rolling, sly sort of giggle as proud acknowledgment of his ingenuity! Denis was the sort of man who would step in and help without being asked, and the sort of man who would make personal sacrifices in service to someone in need. He was just the sort of father-in-law that treated me like his own daughter, the sort of father who would toil alongside his son, and the sort of Papa that would soothe fussy babies, freely pass on knowledge, play with, and cheer on from the sidelines his grandsons. He was also the sort to lick off the frosting of a maple glazed donut and put it back on the counter to enjoy later with his coffee in the smallest sort of mug…

Denis was his own sort of unforgettable man, and I will greatly miss him.

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Recent Tributes
February 25, 2021
February 25, 2021
Happy Birthday Den...  Trust you have most of the phones in heaven working more efficiently by now.....  Jim McWilliam
November 18, 2020
November 18, 2020
Denis and I were classmates graduating from Hardwick Academy in 1963. Though years have passed my memories of Denis are still very clear. Both his personality and smile would make him difficult to forget. My condolences to his family.
Best Wishes, Jim McWilliam
November 17, 2020
November 17, 2020
Denis and Ilene moved to Williston right after I moved to Georgia. I would meet up with them in Florida in the winter and Vermont in the summer. In Florida Denis and I would walk the beach and look for seashells. On my Vermont trips after dinner Denis and I would play the card game Casino, which he taught me. In addition to being a good husband, father and grandfather, he was a good friend.
His Life
November 5, 2020
Denis passed away in November 2020 after fighting Parkinson's Disease for nearly 20 years.  He was born in Woonsocket, Rhode Island in 1945. He spent several years in Williston, but he will always be from Woodbury, Vermont.   He grew up there, causing all kinds of trouble, and later returned to raise a family.  In between, he spent time with the Coast Guard in telecommunications, which he thoroughly enjoyed. He tried his hand at UVM thereafter, but soon returned to his training and spent three decades as a telephone repairman.  He was known to be kind, a hard worker, and a family man. 

Over the years he kept busy with all sorts of pursuits, from coaching youth baseball when Jonathan and Douglas were young, to supporting the local snowmobile club and conservation committee.  He really liked to help people, through activities at St. Norberts, assisting Ilene with various Women's Relief Corp events, driving for the Hardwick Rescue Squad, and working in the soup kitchen during the warm winters in New Smyrna, FL.
Recent stories
November 7, 2020
So sorry for your loss, you’re all in our thoughts and prayers

Things that remind me of Denis:
-Toast with peanut-butter
-“Little fishy by the brook, daddy catch it with a hook, mama fry it in a pan, baby eat it like a man.” 

Lots of love
-Christina Tucci and Spencer Houston

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