Obituary of Denise D. Arena

Denise D. Arena, age 50, of Rome, passed away August 4, 2011, at home, with her loving family at her side. She was born August 20, 1960, in Rantoul, IL, a daughter of Joseph and Nadette Dufresne Landry of Lewiston, ME. Denise was devoted to her husband, Paul, and their three children. In addition to being a stay-at-home mom, she enjoyed homeschooling her children and was very proud watching them graduate from college. As a leader in the "Loving Education At Home" (LEAH) group she organized a gym & swim weekly program for the local homeschooled families. Denise started a new career working at the "New York State School for the Deaf" (NYSSD) as a house-mother for adolescent boys and girls at the deaf school dormitories, in Rome NY. Despite her illness, Denise enjoyed this labor of love, which sustained her being and gave her great satisfaction of caring for "her boys" as she would call them. The Arena family would like to give a special thanks to Denise's deaf school staff for all their generous donations and support, along with the staff at Faxton Regional Cancer Center. Denise is also survived by one daughter and two sons, Renee Lynn, Curtis Lance and Gauvin Lear Arena of Rome, as well as her two sisters, two brothers and her parents. Funeral services will be held Saturday at 11:15 AM from Barry Funeral Home, 807 W. Chestnut Street, Rome, NY, and at 12 Noon at the Church of the Transfiguration, 111 Ridge St, Rome NY. Burial will be in St. Peter's Cemetery, Rome, NY. Relatives and friends may call at the funeral home, Friday 4 to 7 PM.