SOUTH BOSTON - Denise was born to the late Ann (Pezzulo) Rentel and William J. Dwyer Sr. in Boston, MA. on January 16, 1943.
Denise Keating 78 of South Boston, MA., passed away peacefully on Wednesday July 14, 2021. She was a beloved Mother, Nana, and Sister, she is loved by many and will be missed by all.
She lived most of her life in South Boston, MA. with a brief time in sunny Florida before her heart returned her to Boston.
She had seven adoring children, the late Denise Massa and husband John, Jenine Keating, Eric Keating and his wife Amy, Kristin Keating, Andrea Keating, the late Anthony Keating and his wife Jen, and Nicole Whelan and her husband Scott. She is survived by 13 grandkids, Tara Mannion, Taylor Linnell and her husband Cody, Scott Hickox, Victoria Lindberg, Cody Keating, Cameron Johnson, Tristan Keating, Shae Keating, Lauren Whelan, Jared Doucette, Sofia Keating, Jordan Whelan, and Lily Keating and 6 great-grandkids, Jameson Brown, Maeve Mannion, Oliver Linnell, Riley Hasty, Leighton Levin, and Nora Denise Linnell.
She is survived by her siblings, William (Billy) Dwyer Jr., Katherine Baika, Suzanne Iarrabino and husband Frank, Mark Rentel and wife Sandy, and Michele Rentel-Gallant and her husband Keith Heckman. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews, as well as great nieces and nephews.
She worked for the Department of Mental Health and retired as an in-house resident worker for special needs group homes. She provided support and supervision to the group residents about stable housing, community participation and self-management and transportation services. In her early years, she worked multiple jobs to provide for her children. Denise also loved managing Dee’s sub shop on D street in South Boston, which garnered her the nickname “Spucky” by her closest friends. Denise also enjoyed playing softball for Teamsters Pub, gardening, and knitting beautiful sweaters for her family and taking care of her grandchildren. You could see Denise on the move each day for her daily coffee run on her way to Curves. She loved being at home with family and for anyone that stopped by to visit any day of the week you would walk into the smell of a London Broil in the oven. When she would take the occasional time for herself, she loved having lunch with her sisters, spending time at the beach in Plymouth, going to her time share and later on trips to NH. All while being a breast cancer survivor! Anyone who knew Denise knew that family always came first. Denise was a strong woman and knew what it meant to be family, and she honored and respected that bond. Alright Now.
A memorial service will be held for family and friends to pay their respects on Wednesday, July 21st from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m., directly followed by a funeral service at St. Brigid at 11A.M., and a burial thereafter.
In lieu of flowers please donate to the American Heart Association.