Denise Coplin Beck

Denise Elaine Coplin Beck, age 75, peacefully passed away at her Hammond residence on Friday, October 17, 2025, surrounded by her loving family after a courageous battle with Alzheimer's. During her final time with the family, they embraced and shared genuine love and care until her last breath. In this time, she gave instructions and wishes to the family which are being honored. Denise was a wonderful woman, sweet and soft-spoken, who left behind a legacy of love and beauty, is how she will be celebrated every day. She's home now, where we will all reunite one day! Denise left gifts of love that will forever be in our hearts.

She retired as a Cafeteria Manager in the School System after many years of dedicated service. In 1973, Denise became a born-again believer at the 1st Baptist Church in Luling, Louisiana. She learned to live life to the fullest, enjoying every moment. Denise loved traveling the world, from Alaska to Hawaii to Germany, going on cruises sailing on the beautiful open oceans. Spending time with family made her heart happy, watching her grandchildren at their soccer games. She joked that she had joint custody of her daughters preciously spoiled dachshund, Bella. Denise had a close-nit girlfriend group who routinely went to lunch together. In her younger years she enjoyed dancing and letting the music whisk her cares away. Denise loved animals, collecting angels, and keeping things tidy. She was known to be quiet, reserved, frugal, and always dependable.

She is survived by her daughter, Sheri Elaine Beck; grandchildren, Gavin Donovan (Ashley), Kelsey Elmore (Adriene), and Cheyenne Watanabe (Tiffani); great-grandchildren, Avery Donovan, Gannon Donovan, Brody Donovan, Connor Lanter, and Arya Elmore; companion of 20 years, Mal Theriot Jr.; son-in-law, Edward Dewhirst; former husband of 32 years, Robert Beck.

Preceding her in death was her daughter, Tracie Beck Dewhirst; grandchildren, Dawson Neff, Tyler Neff and Carson Lanter; brother, Thomas Coplin; and her parents, Thomas "TJ" Coplin and Norma Jean Coplin.

The family would like to thank everyone for their love, thoughts, and prayers during this tough time.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held by the family at a later date.

This poem is dedicated to Mrs. Denise by her daughter in honor of a life well lived.

-The Dash-

I read of a man who stood to speak at the funeral of a friend.

He referred to the dates on the tombstone from the beginning...to the end.

He noted that first came the date of birth and spoke the following date with tears,

but he said what mattered most of all was the dash between those years.

For that dash represents all the time they spent alive on earth

and now only those who loved them know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not, how much we own, the cars...the house...the cash.

What matters is how we live and love and how we spend our dash.

So, think about this long and hard; are there things you'd like to change?

For you never know how much time is left that can still be rearranged.

To be less quick to anger and show appreciation more

and love the people in our lives like we've never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect and more often wear a smile...

remembering that this special dash might only last a little while.

So, when your eulogy is being read, with your life's actions to rehash...

would you be proud of the things they say about how you lived your dash?