Denise Elisabeth Semenovich

Denise Semenovich, 91, beloved daughter, sister, wife, mother, and grandmother

Hopewell Junction - Denise Elisabeth Semenovich, 91, of 45 Brookmeade Drive died on March 16th. She was surrounded by her loved ones.

Denise was born to Joseph and Josephine Merg on August 19, 1931 in the town of Cernay in Alsace, France. At the start of WWII, the family fled Alsace to Clermont-Ferrand, in the center of France. In school, she learned to be a seamstress and to sew perfect stitches. After the War, at the age of 18, she boarded the Isle De France and arrived in NYC on June 6th. She lived with an aunt in Queens, NY and soon found work as a maid to a maid, then as a nanny to the children of Russell Crouse, the playwright best known for his work on the broadway musical, The Sound of Music. She met many interesting people while in his employ, including Albert Einstein.

Denise met her husband, Tony Semenovich (predeceased 1992), while living in Queens. They moved to Hopewell Junction where they built their home from the ground up and raised their children. Denise worked as a waitress for many years at Gino’s Cafe, Fishkill, NY and retired at the age of 70. Years after Tony died, she moved to Virginia and more recently, back to New York. The past year, she lived at Brookmeade in Rhinebeck where she met the incredible people who cared for her and became her friends.

She is survived by her 7 children. Alan Semenovich of Poughkeepsie, N.Y., Denise Rood (Richard) of Pelham, N.Y., Pamela Alexander (Frank) of New Fairfield, CT., Renee Finn (Bob) of Poughkeepsie, N.Y., Anthony Semenovich of Palermo, Maine, Diane Insley (Scott) of Topping, VA., and Elizabeth Mattern (Randy) of Virginia Beach, VA.

Denise was an extraordinary grandmother to her sixteen grandchildren. Britney (Matt), Michael, Nicki (Sam), Jason(Erin), Shane, (Brooke) Lee, Sean, Erin, Daniel (Shikha), Erica (Ken), Alina, Marissa, Cory, BJ (Rhonda), Stasi (Greg), and Ivan (Danielle). She was an inspiration to her 22 great grandchildren. Kira, Natalie, Olivia, Maliah, Griffin, Chloe, Owen, Enzo, Maeve, Anna, Jordan, Austin, Lauren (Kenan), Trinity, Amara, Myribella, Evelyn, Elyri, Rowan, Ryleigh, Tyler, and Robyn. Denise is survived by her sister, Georgette, of Nice, France and predeceased by her brothers George, Joseph, Gerard, and a sister Elisabeth. She will be missed by many nieces and nephews who loved her dearly, including Francis, Anika, Josephine and Marilyn. Tony’s Ukraine family, Maria and Klara, are always grateful she visited them with Tony before he died.

Denise was a loving mother and grandmother. She loved sewing, knitting blankets and hats, cooking, teaching her grandchildren about history, caring for them, reading, walking, and listening to classical music. She loved telling everyone about her life. Most of all, she loved being around people, especially her family. Our beautiful and gracious mother taught us how to love unconditionally and forgive easily. She led an interesting, full and adventuresome life. A life well lived!

Funeral services will be held at McHoul Funeral Home in Hopewell Junction. Please go to their website for more information regarding services for Denise Semenovich.

In lieu of flowers please consider donating to the following charities:

Noonans Syndrome Foundation (teamnoonan.org)

Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (jdrf.org)

Autism Speaks (autismspeaks.org)

American Heart Association (heart.org