Here is one story that was recalled by her sister Kathy:

Denise’s mother-in-law Alice had just come to the US from Lebanon and they were riding in the car in Portland. It started raining and Alice said shitty, shitty which means rain in arabic.  Denise said yes, it is shitty outside, thinking Alice was saying it was crappy out. For years to come,  when it was raining out Denise could be heard saying shitty shitty remembering the words of her late mother-in-law and would tell that story.  

Mom was an amazing cook. I always tell people that she could make anything taste great!  My all time favorite dish was seafood fettuccine alfredo with shrimp and scallops. She knew it was my favorite and put the recipe in the cookbook she made for me when I got my first house!  Knowing it was my favorite she would make it for me fairly often. One day she was making it and I stopped in to check in on the progress, enjoy the smells and discovered that she was using pre-made alfredo sauce. I was in such shock that she was making my favorite dish from a jar.  I was in shock.. My favorite dish came from a jar. I had witnessed her making it from scratch in the past and couldn't believe my eyes!

I asked her if she always made it that way, have I been living a lie my whole life. (she always had a great sense of humor could fire back with a wise cracky comment)  and she told me only if she was in a hurry and that I wouldn't know the difference. She was right, she dressed it up pretty good and It was still great. She still mad it from scratch after that,  but I may have secretly checked the trash whenever she made it just to be sure. I am grateful for the time she took to make this and so many great dishes, even if she used a little help from time to time. I am grateful she took the time to make and send me a cookbook with all my favorites.  To this day it is the most used cookbook in the house and filled with all the stains to prove it!   

-Joseph 

When I was in high school I would spend a lot of time at Denise’s house because Leila, Vanessa and I would spend time together there, with sleep overs, going out. Growing up without a mom I had no clue what moms did. I knew what dad’s did. I had no idea how relationships worked or what they looked like. What did married couples do? I often saw Denise take care of the home, cook, clean, shop and listen with grace to what everyone had to say. I remember her cutting vegetables and leaving them out for Sam. She honored and cherished him and the love was mutual. While it took me a few dating life years I always remember her setting cooking or setting out food, cleaning, and making sure everyone was okay. As I’ve grown, and I freeze and don’t know what to do I think of the examples of how Denise was a mother, wife and friend and what she did and I go with that. I haven’t seen her since I was 19 in Las Vegas but her lasting impressions really have played an important factor in my life to guide me. I grew a lot from watching her. I would see pictures on fb Vanessa would post and there was the smiley Denise her energy radiates through the pictures. From what I knew and experienced with her, she was very lovely. She was so kind. My condolences to the family because she was remarkable 

-Lisa