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Dennis Keller Obituary
October 5, 1940 - December 7, 2025
Raleigh, North Carolina - Dennis Benedict Keller, 85, husband of the late Carolyn Keller, passed away on December 7, 2025 in Raleigh, NC.
Dennis Benedict Keller was born the son of Joseph George Keller and Marcella Agnes Depweg-Keller. He is preceded in death by his parents, brother Ralph, granddaughter Evelyn Marie Harrison, brothers-in-law Urban Diller and Carl Dapore, and nephew Kevin Diller.
He is survived by his son, Joseph Clarence Keller (Melissa Mulvaney); daughter, Jennifer Marie Harrison (David Harrison); and three grandchildren, Charles W. Harrison, Willem H. M. Keller, and Anna L. Harrison. He is also survived by his siblings, Mildred Dapore, Helen Diller, Virgil Keller, and Marvin Keller.
Dennis was ordained a Catholic priest in June 1968. After leaving religious life in 1970, he continued to serve the Catholic Church whether as cantor, choir member, member of the Amici, or author of his weekly reflection on the scriptures. Among his scholastic achievements are a Bachelor of Liberal Arts degree from the University of Dayton and fully completed course work and exams for a master's in theology. A talented author, Dennis wrote two novels and host of poems, theological musings, and philosophical explorations.
Dennis married Carolyn Eleanor Lewe on June 19, 1971. They led a fulfilling life together, ultimately establishing their own printing and mailing business in 1998. During this time, Dennis served as vice president and president of the Duluth, GA Merchants Association. They retired in 2007 and relocated to Garner, North Carolina to be close to their daughter Jennifer and her family.
After Carloyn's death in 2022, Dennis was diagnosed with, fought, and overcame stomach cancer. He subsequently volunteered his time at Transitions Hospice, helping those nearing death navigate their final days. In early December, Dennis' cancer returned in the form of leukemia. He remained full of gratitude for his family, friends, and experiences and wished for all to celebrate his life after his passing.
A Mass of Resurrection will be offered on Friday, January 16, 2026 at 2:00pm at the Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral, 715 Nazareth St, Raleigh, NC 27606. Burial will follow in Raleigh Memorial Park, followed by a Reception at Mitchell Funeral Home.
Dennis' life was one of integrity, dignity, and love. Please join us in celebrating the life of this exceptional man and the love he holds for us all.
In lieu of flowers, memorials in Dennis' name may be made to Transitions LifeCare, 250 Hospice Circle, Raleigh, NC 27607. www.MitchellatRMP.com.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memorial Events
for Dennis Keller
Funeral services provided by:
Mitchell Funeral Home at Raleigh Memorial Park7209 Glenwood Ave, Raleigh, NC 27612
Memories and Condolences
for Dennis Keller
Sponsored by Mitchell Funeral Home at Raleigh Memorial Park.
1 Entry
TAMMY STAMBAUGH
Yesterday
I was thankful to have the opportunity to coordinate volunteer assignments at Transitions LifeCare that Dennis accepted for about a yr and a half. Dennis was a very compassionate, caring person with a warm heart that was very dedicated to Transitions LifeCare Hospice patients he visited. He always tried to find the best ways to support the patients and families he met and brought so much joy to our Volunteer Services department. Dennis had such a wealth of wisdom and shared wonderful life experiences that made every conversation interesting and enjoyable. He always did his best to add value and benefit to our patients during their end of life journey. Dennis had so many interesting stories to share with our patients which made them comfortable spending time with him. He was such a great communicator and often shared how his visits went and how much he loved meeting such interesting people. Whenever he had questions or concerns about how to handle different patient situations, he would either text or call for support. He was an amazing person and even wrote a poem for a patient about the life experiences the patient shared with him and presented it at the patient´s 90th birthday. He will always be remembered as such a wonderful giving person who wanted to help others at their time of need. His laugh and smile were very contagious as well as his positive outlook on life. I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to meet and get to know Dennis. He will always hold a very special place in my heart!! Thank you, Dennis, for the great memories.
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