Obituary of Denise R. Beckerle
Denise Ronye Beckerle (nee Duross)
Denise Beckerle passed away unexpectedly, but peacefully at her home in Pearl River, New York on October 20 2020 at 88 years young with her loving husband of 66 years Laurence Jr, known to most as Pete, faithfully at her side. Proudly born on the Fourth of July in New York City in 1932, the oldest child of Neil and Emily (O’Reilly) Duross. Denise grew up in the exciting, bohemian world of Greenwich Village, NYC. She was high school valedictorian at Marymount High School and graduated from Marymount Manhattan College where she studied Drama. At a “Tea Dance” Denise and her two college BFFs met 3 young men from the College of the Holy Cross. These 3 couples: Denise and Pete Beckerle, Peggy and Jack Kenny and Anita and John Kapp have celebrated a combined 190 years of marriage! Denise and Pete married on October 2, 1954 at St Francis of Assisi Roman Catholic Church on W. 31 Street, NYC. They lived in Newport, Rhode Island where Pete was a US Naval Operations Office on the destroyer USS Fred T Berry. Following Pete’s Navy stint the growing family crossed the Hudson on the opening day of the new Tappan Zee Bridge on December 16, 1955 and moved “sight unseen” to their new home in the Rockland County suburbs where Pete joined the family business. In this home Denise dedicated herself to her role as home maker, wife and mother and raised her sons. In this all-male environment Denise found outlets for her creative and theatrical muses playing piano, teaching piano, songwriting, acting and directing. Denise worked collaboratively with other songwriters in the New York area. She is the longest member of the Elmwood Community Playhouse in Nyack and in 2000 was recognized as an Elmwood “Life Member” for her contributions as an Actor, Director, Musical Director, and Lighting Designer. In 1981 in a time of need Denise found her way to Beckerle Lumber and pitched in “temporarily” in the office and continued to work there for the next 33 years. In 1983 Pete and Denise purchased a second home in Jensen Beach, Florida eventually becoming “snowbirds” enjoying winters there with a community of friends.
Denise is predeceased by her parents Neil and Emily, her brother Charles and her son Michael who passed as an infant in 1958. Denise is survived by her devoted husband Laurence Jr “Pete”, sons Laurence III, Stephen (Breda), Michael Charles (Maureen) and Matthew. Grandma Denise cherished her grandchildren and is fondly remembered by Emma (Ryan), Kristine, Brian, Julia and by Patrick, Daniel and Catherine and their mother Jean. Denise is survived by her sister Suzanne Kelly of Westhampton Beach and her sisters-in-law, Mary Alice Mascola of West Nyack, Judith Duross of Florida and Mary Walsh Duross of PA., as well as 20 nieces and nephews.
Denise always radiated grace, beauty, and kindness. She was a great friend who was never heard to speak a bad word about anyone. She had a great sense of humor. She needed it surrounded by all those boys. She never sought the limelight in her day to day life but when she assumed a role on stage she became that character and filled the spotlight. Pete and Denise are a beautiful love story. Raise a toast to Denise at sunset! Beloved Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Aunt, Sister, Friend, World Traveler, Actor, Director, Musician and Composer.
In lieu of flowers donations to: The Elmwood Community Playhouse, 10 Park Street, Nyack, New York 10960
Funeral arrangements handled by Sorce Assuma and Shankey
Joseph W. Sorce Funeral Home, 34 North Summit Street, Pearl River, NY 10965 Calling hours: Saturday, October 24, 6 -9 pm and Sunday, October 25, 2-4 pm and 7-9 pm
Mass of Christian Burial: St Aedan’s Church, 23 Reld Drive, Pearl River, NY 10965, Monday, October 26, 10 am
Followed by internment St Anthony’s Cemetery, Nanuet, NY 10954
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ECHOS- Article in New Yorker about one of Denise Beckerle's infamous parties...
June 15th 1981.
by Elizabeth Cullinan.
Click HERE to
download the PDF file.
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NYC MARATHON 2021 click HERE to see Beckerle Lumber entry.