Dena Rose Brown

NEWTON, Mass. Dena Rose Rosebud Brown died Sunday, January 16, 2005 at 7:00 p.m. after a courageously fought battle with Melanoma. She passed away peacefully with grace and dignity and was surrounded by her loved ones, who held her hands, caressed her head and whispered sweet beautiful messages of encouragement and remembrance into her ears until the end. Originally from Schenectady, N.Y., Dena graduated from Mohonasen High School where she was a stellar student. She continued her education by attending Bryant University, Smithfield, R.I., where she graduated in 1997 with honors. She earned a B.S. in business administration with a combined major of accounting/computer information systems along with a minor in English. She had recently been employed at Workscape, Inc. as a systems analyst for the past four years. She spent all of her time doing something. From playing for the company softball team to dancing out with her friends, to shopping with her mom or friends and, most importantly, working on charitable events that would help to find a cure for cancer. She was dedicated to raising public awareness of Melanoma and promoting the importance of skin examinations and the use of sunscreen. She was an active member of the Wellness Community in Newton, which offers a special place for those with cancer and their caregivers to find solace in the fact that they, in fact, are not alone in their struggles. Dena loved to travel and had the opportunity to travel within the United States to places like Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New Orleans, Miami and others. She also traveled internationally and spent time in Canada, Europe and the Middle East. She consistently made herself available to people in a time of need without ever being concerned about her own personal needs. It was commonplace to receive a card from Dena for any and all occasions, as she didn't miss many. Her organizational skills were second to none and she would have lengthy lists that would consist of work-related necessities, shopping essentials, cards that needed to be sent, friends that needed to be called and future seedling plants that needed to be planted so that they could blossom at just the right time. Dena showed us all the true face that courage wears and she has taken us all to the edge of the world where only she was allowed to cross the invisible bridge over into a world that we can only dream of and hope to meet her in again one day. To say that she is an angel is no longer just a term of endearment, but also our belief that she has now moved on to receive her real angel wings in another world and she will continue to live in the heart of all who had the chance to be close with her and even many of those who did not. Dena is survived by her mother and stepfather, Katherine and Allan Greene of Galway, N.Y.; father and stepmother, Dennis and Marie Brown of Rotterdam, N.Y.; her brother, Dennis Brown of Rotterdam and sister, Dyonne Pahl of Schenectady, N.Y.; Dena's special uncle, Raymond Tidball of Albany, N.Y.; her grandparents, Clifford and Catherine Tidball of Rotterdam, Rose Rubino of Latham, Russell and Betty Brown of Amsterdam; uncles, Douglas Brown, Russ Brown, Chris Brown and aunts, Darla Pucheu and Kim Conti; stepbrothers, Josh and Randy Greene; aunts and uncles, Clare and Joe Reynolds and Linda and Howard Moore; step-grandmother, Hazel Greene and many great-aunts and uncles; cousins; nieces and nephews. Dena is also survived by her beloved fiance Paul Piccioli of Natick and her spiritual sister and best friend, Karen L'Ecuyer of Newton. Also, she leaves an immeasurable number of caring and loving friends. Funeral services will be Saturday morning at 11:00 at New Comer-Cannon Family Funeral Home, 343 New Karner Rd., Colonie (Rt. 155-south of Central Ave). Calling hours will be Friday from 5 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home. Interment will be in Memory's Garden. Memorial contributions may be made to the Wellness Community of Newton, Mass., 1039 Chestnut Street, Newton, MA 02464 To read more about Dena and her valiant fight with Melanoma, please visit: www.denabrown.com